Question

How can I ignore data, but save the field values?

Forms

Updated August 15, 2017

asked on August 13, 2017

I need to be able to hide fields/sections/pages in a form and retain the data in those hidden fields for the rest of the process, but ignore validation checking on them, since many of them are required. If I use the "Ignore..." checkbox in field rules, the data of all hidden fields is cleared when I submit the form, whether the next step uses the same form or a different one. If I select "Save..." in field rules, required fields that are blank and hidden prevent the form from being submitted.

The amount of javascript needed to change all the required fields to not required and back again if the user selects a different option is quite lengthy and becomes complicated because of the number of required fields and the number of rules that determine whether or not each field should be required.

We're running 10.2.1, and I thought that in previous versions with the "Ignore..." and "Save..." checkboxes that the behavior was such that the data is retained and that the validation just doesn't run on those fields.

Is there something else in the rules that will allow me to retain the data while ignoring validation on hidden fields?

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Replies

replied on August 13, 2017 • Show version history

Hi Sheila,

Leaving required field not filled violates the backend validation rule, so if you don't want this validation, you can just turn off the backend validation.

The setting is on Form setting, layout page.

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replied on August 14, 2017

I need the validation to run on any fields that are being shown, but want it to not run on the hidden fields so that the form can be sent back to a previous step in the process for corrections. I can't figure out exactly what the behavior is in Forms yet. In certain circumstances, the data in the hidden fields is retained and in others it's not.

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replied on August 14, 2017

Just to clarify... When backend validation is turned off, front end validation still works, and that's how Forms works in previous versions without backend validation.

Front end validation runs on shown fields and ignores hidden fields, which meets your requests.

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replied on August 14, 2017

Just to clarify.... I'm using the "Ignore the data when the field/section/page is hidden" option in Field Rules to try to accomplish this. I haven't read anywhere in the help that the values in the the hidden field would be cleared. It just says that the hidden field will not be validated, which is exactly what I want.

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replied on August 14, 2017

When ignore the data, the data won't be saved, so data won't be submitted.

I will ask for documentation change to make it more clear. Sorry for the inconvenience.

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replied on August 15, 2017

Thanks for the explanation about the difference between the two validation settings! Now I understand where/when to use each and how to combine them to get the results I need!

In this particular case, I set the backend validation on the form to "no validation" and set the field rules to "Save the data when the field/section/page is hidden". Data is saved when it's in the hidden fields and if the hidden fields are blank, it still allows the form to be submitted.

Thanks so much for your explanation!

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How can I ignore data, but save the field values?

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