Logic: Rules

Rules define how a form behaves dynamically. They are triggered by conditions and, once activated, execute one or more steps.

For example:

• If a field is left empty → Then display an error message.
• If a user selects “Manager Approval Required” → Then make the “Approval Comments” section mandatory.

Rules allow you to automate form behaviour, ensuring fields, sections, and actions respond appropriately to user input.

📌 Before You Start: To use rules, ensure the Logic feature is enabled in Settings.

🟠 1 – Creating & Managing Rules

To create a rule:
1️⃣ Open the Logic screen in Sintel Forms Designer.
2️⃣ Click “Add Rule”.
3️⃣ Configure the rule by setting the following properties:

• Name – A descriptive name for the rule.
• Is Active – Controls whether the rule is currently enabled (active by default).
• Condition Check Method – Defines whether all conditions or just one condition must be met before the rule triggers.
• Run Once – Controls whether the rule runs only once or continuously updates as users interact with the form.

📌 Tip: Rules can be copied, deleted, or reordered using drag-and-drop. To improve readability, rules are collapsed by default, which is helpful for complex forms.

🟠 2 – Understanding the “Run Once” Flag

The Run Once setting changes how a rule behaves:

• Disabled (Default): The rule runs every time a condition is met.
• Enabled: The rule runs only once when the form loads, but it changes the default state of a field, section, or element.

Example

Changing a Field Label
Let’s say we have a form with two fields: “Text” and “Text2”.

🔹 If “Text” is empty, change the label of “Text2” to: “This is another title”.

 

Without “Run Once” Enabled:

The label changes dynamically when “Text” is empty, and resets if the user modifies the form.

 

With “Run Once” Enabled:

The label changes only once, and remains that way even if “Text” is later updated.

 

🟠 3 – Rules Must Have Steps – Conditions Are Optional

For a rule to work, it must always include at least one step—this defines what action will be performed when the rule is triggered.

A rule can also include conditions, which determine when the rule should run, but conditions are optional.

📖 Example Scenarios:
✔ Rule with a condition: If “Approval Required” is ticked → Show “Approval Notes” field.
✔ Rule without a condition: Make the “Submit” button disabled by default.

📌 A rule must have at least one step, but conditions are optional depending on whether the rule should run in specific situations or always.

🔗 Next Steps

Now that you understand Rules, explore:

📖 Logic Conditions – How to trigger rules.
📖 Logic Steps – Actions performed when a rule runs.

By combining conditions, rules, and steps, you can create smart, interactive forms that guide users and automate workflows.