Text field to record default answer if left blank

Question

I have a survey with a select_multiple that queues different text fields based on their relevance. When these fields are relevant, I want them to remain blank. They are required fields and will be completed.

However, if the field is not relevant, I want the survey to record a default answer and NOT leave the field with a 'null' response.

if((string-length(${textfield})=0),'text',.) doesn't work - any other ideas? is my syntax correct? Do I need a different formula or approach?

Thanks!

RyanE

KayleeRivera · Answer

Hi @JessicaShue,

The select_one fields are string field by default, so you'd likely need to amend your calculation to wrap your 0 in quotes. Something like: if(selected(${spcode},'ALPE'), '', '0')

JessicaShue · Answer

Thank you for the suggestion! I had tried using a select expression, but not within an if statement in the body::esri:visible field.

I now have the select_one field appearing when the option is selected. But the default value when the choice is not selected is showing as the formula of the default field. This is a snapshot for the select_one field:

typenamelabeldefaultbody::esri:visibleselect_one list_name_cover_ALPEcover_ALPEALPE cover if(selected(${spcode},'ALPE'), "", 0)if(selected(${spcode},'ALPE'),true,false)

KayleeRivera · Answer

Hi Jess,

I might need to see the XLS Form to get a better understanding of what you've got going on, but there are a couple of things you can check if your formulas aren't working out here.

The string-length function is going to output the number of characters in an answer. It looks like your formula of string-length(${select_multiple})='choice' would never evaluate to true, since it's comparing a number to a text string.

So if I'm understanding correctly, you would want a formula in your select_one field's body::esri:visible column that looks something like: if(selected(${select_multiple},'choice1') or selected(${select_multiple},'choice2') or selected(${select_multiple},'choice3'), true, false). This would make it so that your select_one question only shows if choice1, choice2, or choice3 are selected in your select_multiple question. (Note: please remember to use the "name", as opposed to the "label" of your choices for these calculations)

Then you can use a similar formula in the default column for your select_one question to populate a 0 if the select_multiple doesn't meet your critera. Something like: if(selected(${select_multiple},'choice1') or selected(${select_multiple},'choice2') or selected(${select_multiple},'choice3'), "", 0).