Conditional questions let you add follow-up questions that appear only when a specific response is selected for the main question. The main question is called the parent question, and its follow-ups are called nested questions.
Any question that has nested questions linked to it carries a Conditional tag next to the question text. The nested questions stay hidden until the response that meets the condition is selected. For example, if a Yes/No question is set up so that Yes reveals a follow-up, the follow-up asking for more detail appears only after Yes is selected.
How a conditional question works
Why use conditional questions
- Shorter questionnaires: Responders only see the follow-ups that apply to their answer.
- Context where it matters: ask for an explanation, a process description or a time period right after the answer that calls for it.
- Easier reviews: nested questions are numbered under their parent (for example, Q 14.1 and Q 14.2 under Q 14), so related answers stay together.
How Conditional Questions Appear to Responders
- A question with nested questions shows the Conditional tag beside the question text.
- When the response that meets the condition is selected, the nested questions appear directly below the parent question, indented and numbered as its sub-questions.
- If a different response is selected, the nested questions stay hidden and do not need to be answered.
Selecting Yes reveals nested questions Q 14.1 to Q 14.3
Setting Up Conditional Questions in a Template
The setup takes six steps from the template page. Each step is explained in detail below.
Setup at a glance
Navigation path
From the left navigation panel, go to Diligence > Templates, then open the template you want to update.
Step 1: Open the template for editing
- The template opens in Preview mode. Click Edit in the action bar at the top right.
Click Edit to open the template in edit mode
Steps 2 and 3: Select the parent question and open its nested logic
- In the Categories and Sub-categories panel, select the sub-category that contains the parent question, for example Track Record > Affirmations.
- In the Questions panel, locate the parent question and click the Nested Logic icon (the hierarchy icon) among the question's action icons.
The Nested Logic icon in the Questions panel
Step 4: Add nested questions
- The View Nested Logic Hierarchy panel opens on the right and shows the selected question as the Parent Question. If no follow-ups exist yet, the panel shows No nested questions found.
- Click Add Nested Questions.
The View Nested Logic Hierarchy panel
Step 5: Configure each nested question
The Configure Nested Question Logic window opens. The category and sub-category path appears below the window title, so you can confirm you are in the right section.
- Under Reveal this question when response is, select the condition, for example Equal To.
- In Enter a value, select the parent question response that should reveal this follow-up, for example Yes.
- In Question text, enter the follow-up question.
- Select Mark question as mandatory if the question must be answered whenever it appears.
- Choose a Response type, for example Text Explanation - Paragraph. The Response type preview shows how the answer field will look to Responders.
- Click Add to preview. The question moves to the Preview of questions panel on the right, with a note showing the condition that reveals it, for example "This question is revealed when response = Yes".
- Repeat these steps for each follow-up you want under the same parent question. Use the edit (pencil) or delete (bin) icons in the Preview of questions panel to adjust a question before saving.
The Configure Nested Question Logic window
Step 6: Save and review
- Click Save to confirm your changes, or click Cancel to close the window without saving.
- The View Nested Logic Hierarchy panel now lists every nested question under the Parent Question, along with the condition that reveals it, for example if = Yes. Use the edit and delete icons next to each condition to make changes later.
Saved nested questions in the View Nested Logic Hierarchy panel
- To check the Responder experience, click Preview in the action bar. The parent question shows the Conditional tag, and selecting the condition response reveals the nested questions.
Need Help?
Please reach out to ask@diligencevault.com for any questions!