Empty
Introduction
Feature(s)
Empty means that the hidden field in a form is empty when you submit the form. Meanwhile, in editing a form, the original value of the hidden field will be deleted and empty.
Application Scenario(s)
Empty is often applied in the form which has been configured Field Display Rules. For example, when editing the form, you may change the option of a field, and you need to clear the fields displayed corresponding to the original option. This can ensure that the data collected in the form is correct and will not contradict each other.
For example, in the case of task management, when your progress updates, the task progress and the associated options need to be updated as well. After being updated, the original task progress and corresponding contents will be deleted, and only the latest task progress value is retained.
Preview
1. In the Task Schedule form, set Task Progress as Not Started and fill in Estimated Processing Time which is a hidden field. When Task Progress is updated to In Progress, you can fill in Current Progress and submit it. Then, Estimated Processing Time, the originally hidden field, is now empty.
2. If you select Original Value from the drop-down list of Hidden Field Default Value, the Estimated Processing Time field will maintain its original value after Current Progress is updated.
Setting Procedure
Designing a Form
Create a Task Schedule form. The fields in the form are set as follows:
Field Name | Field Type |
Task Name | Single Line |
Task Progress | Radio |
Estimated Processing Time | Date&Time |
Current Progress | Number |
Feedback | Single Line |
Setting Field Display Rules
1. Go to Form Properties and set Field Display Rules:
2. Add the following three display rules:
- When Task Progress equals Not Started, Estimated Processing Time is displayed;
- When Task Progress equals In Progress, Current Progress is displayed;
- When Task Progress equals Completed, Feedback is displayed.
Setting Hidden Field Default Value
Go to Form Properties > Hidden Field Default Value, and select Empty from the drop-down list.
Note(s)
Rules for Fields
For fields like Single Line, Multi Line, Number, Date&Time, Radio, Checkbox, Single Select, Multi Select, Image, Attachment, Select Data, Signature, Member, Members, Department, and Departments, the following rules are applied when a hidden field is set to Empty:
1. For a regular form:
- If a field has been set as an initial value and is invisible, the field value is empty when the form is submitted.
- After setting initial values for the above fields, you can add Field Display Rules: The above fields will be visible when Option 1 is selected, and hidden when Option 2 is selected. It means when Option 2 is selected and the form is submitted, the values of these fields are empty.
2. For a workflow form:
- Suppose you have set the above fields to be visible and editable at the start node and invisible at the approval node. Members can fill in fields and submit the form at the start node. These fields are empty if the approver submits the form directly at the approval node.
- Suppose you make all fields visible and add Field Display Rules: some fields will be visible when Option 1 is selected and hidden when Option 2 is selected. Members can select Option 1 and fill these fields at the start node. If the approver selects Option 2 at the approval node, these fields are empty.
- Suppose you add a Single Line field to the form, and you configure formulas for all the other fields based on the Single Line field. Besides, the Single Line field is set as visible while other fields are visible at the start node and hidden at the approval node. Members can fill in the Single Line field at the start node. If the approver updates this field at the approval node, other fields will be empty after the form is submitted.
Possible Risk(s)
1. Hidden Field Default Value can be applied in the following scenarios:
- Fields that have been set invisible in the form/workflow/permission sets.
- Fields that have been configured with display rules.
2. If a hidden field is set as Empty, and in the permission set, some fields are set to be hidden for members. When the member edits/updates existing data and submits the form, all fields hidden to that member will be Empty. If the original data is very important, be careful with this procedure.