The value of my formula is not updating when fields are changed

Question

I created a template form that includes a number field (let’s call it “DAYS”) and a formula field, which is supposed to return 1 if DAYS is less than 30, or else it returns 0. I’m using the 0 or 1 value to trigger conditional fields. The DAYS value can be a number from from 0 to 366, but I want the recipient of the form to provide the value, even if it’s 0.

I find that if I leave the DAYS field blank, the formula result stays stuck on 1, even when updating the DAYS field to a number that should change it to 0. If I prepopulate the field to 0, the formula functions as expected, but I would rather not provide a prepopulated default value. Is there something I’m missing? Am I doing something wrong here?

DillonCotter · Answer

Hi ​@jlopezBy making the Number field ‘Required’ the recipient will need to input a number before they are able to finish the form. Which in turn will make the fomrula and associated actions madatory.If it’s an aestetic choice, where you do not want the formula to show an incorrect number, I would suggest making it so that the formula is conditional upon the DAYS field being filled in.To do this create a conditional rule on the DAYS field, and for the trigger press the cog icon to select ANY TEXT, then click on the forula field.This will make it so the formula number will not appear unless text is input into the number field, then dependant on that text the formula will return the value (There is a small delay as the formula is slower to calculate than the conditional field)