Show signers only the fields that apply to them.

Not every signer needs every field. Conditional fields let a document adapt to the person filling it in, so a field stays out of the way until an answer elsewhere makes it relevant. The result is a cleaner document, less confusion, and information collected only when you actually need it.

What a conditional field is

A conditional field is shown only when another field on the document has a particular value. Instead of showing every possible field to every signer, you set a rule and the field appears when the rule is met.

Take a service agreement with an optional rush delivery clause. Most signers will never choose it, so rather than leave a surcharge acknowledgment that most people skip, you set a rule: if the rush delivery box is checked, show the rush surcharge acknowledgment. Everyone else never sees it.

The conditions you can use

• Checked or not checked. For a checkbox. Example: if "Acting on behalf of a company" is checked, show the company name field.
• Equal to, or not equal to, a value. The field appears when another field's answer matches, or does not match, the value you enter. Example: if "Employment type" equals "Contractor", show the invoicing terms field.
• Filled in. The field appears once another field has any value at all. Example: if "Phone number" is filled in, show "Preferred contact time".

Setting one up

1. Upload your document and open it in the field editor, where you place signature, text and checkbox fields.
2. Place the source field. This is the field whose answer controls the rule, such as a checkbox asking "Is this a company?".
3. Place the target field. This is the field that should only appear when the rule is met, such as "Company name".
4. Add the rule. Open the target field's properties, switch on conditional visibility, choose the source field and the condition, and enter a value if the condition needs one.
5. Test it. Send a test envelope to yourself and fill it in as a signer would, checking that the field appears and stays hidden when it should. Then send it for real.

Where conditional fields help

Employment agreements

Show the fields that apply to the type of engagement. A contractor sees invoicing terms that an employee never needs.

Leases

Reveal the pet deposit field only when "Pets" is checked, and show company guarantor fields only when the tenant is a business.

Service agreements

Display optional add-on fields only when a particular service is selected.

Insurance forms

Reveal vehicle details only when "Motor vehicle" is chosen as the asset type, and dependent information only when the "Dependents" box is checked.

Keeping your rules reliable

• Keep each rule simple. Most fields need only one condition, and simple rules are easier to check.
• Use a checkbox for yes or no decisions. It is the clearest choice for signers and the easiest rule to set up.
• Always test before sending. Walk through every answer that changes what appears, not just the most likely one.
• Avoid loops. Do not make field A depend on field B while field B depends on field A, or neither can appear.