Question Type: Duration Calculation and Duration Math

Available on all tiers, with more options on the Advanced and Enterprise tiers:

Essentials
Advanced
Enterprise

Contents

About

Duration Calculations and Duration Math produce a Duration value based on the values of other answers. They are often used in timesheets or work orders to calculate time worked, or to estimate the amount of work needed.

The Duration Math specifically calculates the duration between two date or date/time entries. The Duration Calculation is more flexible—it calculates a duration based on other duration questions or numbers.

Both of these question types appear on a mobile device as a simple read-only duration question and will automatically update based on the answers to the source questions. A sample is shown below on an iOS device:

2019-02-21-iOS-DurationMath01.png

If you need to display a date or time, use Date/Time Based Math.

Form Builder

In the Form Builder, the Duration Math and Duration Calculation question types appear as shown below:

2019-02-21-FB-DurationMath02.png

The Question Edit screen for these question types has three tabs: General, Properties, and Help OptionsClosed Help Options are ways to add help content, such as YouTube videos, web pages, text, or images, to questions in a form. Mobile users simply tap the help icon next to a question to see the help that the form designer provided. (Advanced and Enterprise tiers only). This article will go through each of the tabs.

2019-02-21-FB-DurationMath03.png

General

Unique ID

The Unique IDClosed A Unique ID refers to the specific identifier of a question, form page, form section, or Data Destination. Unique IDs are used as reference points when pulling data for conditional logic, Analytics projects, Data Destinations, and Documents. is the reference for the question. For more information on Unique IDs, read: Overview: Unique IDs. It can either be auto-generated based on the question text, or customized.

Data Types

Data Types control what kind of information can be considered an answer to the question. The Duration Calculation and Duration Math question types only accept one Data Type: Duration.

Restrictions

Restrictions control how your mobile users interact with a question. They can be set on the question itself or controlled by Conditional Logic.

The following table shows which restrictions you can set for the question type. Note that:

  • ✓ indicates a restriction that you can configure.

  • ✓* indicates a restriction that is always on.

  • ✘* indicates a restriction that is always off.

Required Read-Only Hidden on Device Hidden on Reports

Keep question width to 100%

(Side-by-Side SectionsClosed Side-by-Side Sections display questions and answers in a condensed, two-column layout. This can make it easier and faster for field users to scan, complete, and confirm the answers in a form. only)
Duration Calculation ✘* ✓* ✓ ✓ ✓
Duration Math ✘* ✓* ✓ ✓ ✓

* The Duration Calculation and Duration Math question types cannot be made Required because they automatically take information from other questions without interaction from the mobile user. It is Read-Only by default for the same reason.

Properties

Properties allow you to set up your question in various ways.

Duration
  • Precision: Determines what unit of measurement is used (Hours, Hours and Minutes, Minutes, Minutes and Seconds, Seconds)
  • Min/Max Value: Set a value beyond which the form cannot be submitted.

Duration Calculation

The Duration Calculation uses the Calculation Builder, enabling form designers to build calculations using questions with numeric data types that come before it in the form.

The properties tab of a Duration Calculation question. The Calculation Builder shows an equation of "Time Worked" multiplied by "Days Worked". The question precision is set to hours and minutes, with a maximum value of 50 hours.

Tip:If you don’t specify a Min Value, the minimum value defaults to 0 to ensure that the result is a positive number.

Note:

  • The calculation works with any questions that use an Integer or Duration data type. Make sure that the questions you select make sense for the result you want.

  • If you want to calculate values other than a duration, use a Calculation question.

Duration Math

Duration Math questions require two previous Date or Date/Time questions to calculate the duration between them. Select the Start Date or Date/Time question, and then select the end Date or Date/Time question.

The Properties tab of a Duration Math question. The Precision unit is set to hours and minutes. The Duration Math uses "Job start date" as the start question and "Estimated completion date" as the end question.

Note:

  • The Start and End questions must both use the same Data Type, either Date or Date/Time.

  • Select a Precision unit that fits the situation in the field. For example, if a field user enters the start and end times of their work, use the Hours and Minutes unit, not Seconds.

Help Options

Available on the Advanced and Enterprise tiers:

Essentials
Advanced
Enterprise

Adding "Help" content to forms gives mobile users access to support and other resources out in the field. Help content is available to users through a button embedded beside a question. Any question in the form can include a link to YouTube videos, web pages, or work instructions.

For more information on Help Content, please read: Add Help Options to Questions