What Are Rules For Calculations?
When specifying a calculation in a field, there are several formatting and order of operation rules to be aware of to ensure you obtain the expected result. These rules can apply to adding calculations for number fields or pricing calculations. A collection of these rules have been collated into this article.
Number Formats
This article refers to the number formats decimal dot and decimal comma. Decimal dot is when a number is formatted to use a dot (period) as the decimal separator, and a comma is sometimes used as a thousand separator.
| Format | Description |
|---|---|
| Decimal dot | 3.142 or 1,234,567.89. |
| Decimal comma | 3,142 or 12.345.678,9 |
Rules For Field Order
Note: Calculations are rerun during submission using saved values. If the field hasn’t been saved yet or has been ignored due to logic at form submission, it won’t have a value available for the calculation, leaving the result either incorrect, empty, or zero.
| Category | Rule |
|---|---|
| Field Order | It must be positioned in the form before the calculation field |
| Field Order | The field cannot be hidden by logic. |
Examples
If you have three Number fields defined on your form as follows:Field 01 has no calculation
Field 02 calculation is Field 01 * 2
Field 03 calculation is Field 02 * 3
Putting them on your form in order:Field 01
Field 02
Field 03
would work as expected.
But putting them on your form in order: Field 03
Field 01
Field 02
would produce unexpected results for Field 03. This field would be undefined at calculation time and likely saved to the entry as a 0.
Rules for Entering Numbers
Decimal Dot Format
| Category | Rule |
|---|---|
| Entering Numbers | When creating or editing a calculation formula in the Form Editor, any number entered directly in the formula must be entered in decimal dot format. You cannot include a thousand separator positioned in the form before the calculation field. |
Examples
1.2 works, but 1,23 or 1,234 or 1,234.56 do not. This rule applies even if your site’s native number format is set to decimal comma format.
Preceding Zero
| Category | Rule |
|---|---|
| Entering Numbers | When creating or editing a calculation formula in the Form Editor, any number entered directly in the formula must use a preceding 0 if the first digit is a dot. |
Examples
0.2 is a valid number for use in a calculation. .2 and 0,2 are not.
Rules for other fields included in a calculation
| Category | Rule |
|---|---|
| Other Fields | When creating a formula that refers to a field of type Drop Down or Checkbox, the values defined in those fields must use the same format as the field that contains the formula. |
| Other Fields | If the number field is configured with a “Currency” Number Format, the drop-down values must be formatted with the same decimal separator as the currency. |
| Other Fields | When using a Quantity field configured as a drop-down, any fractional values (such as 5.5) on the drop-down must be formatted with the same decimal separator as the website currency. |
Examples
If you have a calculated number field in decimal comma format (i.e., 1.234,56) that references a Drop Down field in its calculation, the values of the Drop Down field must also be in decimal comma format.
Rules For Not Supported Fields
Some field types are not supported for calculation use, even though they may produce numeric output. They include:
- Total field type
- Survey field type
- Quiz field type
- Coupon field, unless it is used as intended with other Pricing fields.
Rules For Field Validation
| Category | Rule |
|---|---|
| Field Validation | When a user enters data into a number field on a form, they must enter the format configured for that field to pass validation, even if that field is used in a calculation using a different number format. |