Using Standard and Repeatable Groups

Groups are a type of layout field that you use to collect fields together and organize your form. There are two types of Group:

• Standard groups: Add fields to this group so you can move, copy, and delete them together, and apply display logic to the whole group of fields at once. They differ from Sections in that Sections are used to organize your form into logical chunks to make it easier for respondents to interact with them.
• Repeatable groups: Repeatable groups allow you to collect multiple answers to the same questions without creating the same fields over and over. Use them in the same way as a standard group but allow respondents to generate additional iterations of the group fields.
  

OpenForms also allows you to add standard or repeatable office use only groups. These work the same was as groups do, but are for reviewers to complete the fields as part of the workflow process.

Some fields, logic, and piping options are unavailable for groups, and these limitations can differ between standard and repeatable groups.

Add a Standard or Repeatable Group to a Form

To add a standard or repeatable group to your form:

1. Create or edit a form.
2. Expand the Layout fields and drag a Group into your form.
3. Set the type of group by selecting Standard group or Repeatable group. You cannot change this later.
4. Select Add group, name it, and start dragging fields into the group.
5. Select the gear icon to change the group's settings, if required.
   
6. Save your form.

You can drag fields from the Basic, Advanced, or Layout fields, but there are some restricted fields. Please take note of the group limitations.

Standard Group Settings

The settings for a standard group are the same as for most fields. You can select the gear icon to add a Description and apply Display Logic to the complete group of fields. 

You can also use the break icon to split the group into separate fields. Any settings that you have applied to the group will no longer apply to the individual fields; you must reapply them separately. 

Repeatable Group Settings

Like a standard group, you can apply a Description and Display Logic to the complete repeatable group. There are also some additional settings when you select the gear icon:

• Repeat label: Add a label for each repeated group to display to respondents and we will automatically number each instance (e.g., “Contact 1” and “Contact 2”).
• Minimum number of repeats: Set the minimum number of times respondents must complete these fields. Set this as “0” to make the group optional.
• Minimum repeat error message: Enter an error message to display if a respondent doesn’t meet the Minimum number of repeats before submitting or proceeding.
• Maximum number of repeats: Set the maximum number of times respondents can repeat the group.
• Maximum repeat error message: Enter an error message to display if a respondent attempts to exceed the Maximum number of repeats.
• Set repeats for a printable form: Set the number of instances this group will display on a printable form.

We recommend applying these settings as soon as you create the group, as they may be essential to the function of the repeatable group.

You cannot currently break a repeatable group or move fields out of it once they have been added. You can instead delete the repeatable groups entirely or hide them with display logic.

If you want a deeper understanding of how repeatable groups work, or want some hand-on experience, please check out the repeatable group example in the form template library.

Group Limitations

Some functions are not available for groups, or work differently. The following restrictions apply to standard and repeatable groups, respectively:

What Else?

• Use Office Use Only Groups to Add Data after Form Submission

• Repeatable Group Examples

• Show or Hide Fields Using Display Logic

• Use Answer Piping in Forms, Emails, and Comments

• Layout Field Settings