Forms have proven to be a popular tool, enabling churches to engage with their members and collect data for a wide range of purposes in an organised and effective way. Today, we're excited to announce a new Forms feature that elevates this experience to a new level of personalisation and effectiveness: Conditional Fields!
A tailored experience
Conditional form fields allow you to craft a highly personalised form journey. Rather than using a generic one-size-fits-all method, your forms dynamically adjust, displaying only the questions that matter based on the responses given. For example, answering 'Yes' or 'No' to a volunteering question can unlock relevant follow-up queries, transforming your forms from merely functional to genuinely engaging.
Possible uses
The versatility of conditional fields open up numerous possibilities. Here are some practical scenarios where they shine:
Join a Small Group - When someone expresses interest in joining a small group, the form can immediately display a list of available groups, allowing them to select which ones they want more information on.
Join a Team - Similarly, if someone shows interest in serving, the next step could be a question offering a selection of teams they might like to join, tailoring their experience to their specific interests.
Mileage Claim - For an internal staff mileage claim, the form could adapt based on the mode of transport or the purpose of the trip, asking only the relevant questions to streamline the process and ensure accuracy.
Other (please specify) - A classic occurrence on any form where selecting a checkbox option of 'Other' could surfaced a required 'Please specify' text field ensuring that you get the information you need in all circumstances.
Case study: Church of England Electoral Roll
The possibilities are endless! But, in order to best showcase what this looks like in practice, here's an example of how a Church of England might set up an Electoral Roll form.
As you'll be able to see, Conditional fields is perfect for the job:
If a user confirms they are 16 or older, the form progresses without further ado. But if they indicate they're under 16, the church will need their birthdate. Instead of asking everyone for this information, the "birthdate" field appears only when necessary. Here's the scenario when someone selects they are under 16:
A new form field is now shown, asking for their exact birthdate! Best of all, it's required, so you'll be sure to get the right information and you'll never need to chase a respondent for more information or something that might have gone missed!
If you're looking for this exact Electoral Roll form then we've got your covered. A new-for-2025 example with conditional fields is ready to be installed on your account today - just look in the 'Examples' drop down on the 'Forms' page.
Setting up a Conditional form field is easy
It's incredibly straightforward to implement; just add one or more conditions to any question you want to appear conditionally.
Conditional form fields personalise every interaction, enhancing engagement by customising questions to each member's answers. We're thrilled about the opportunities this opens up! Dive into more details in our support article: Creating forms.
