Using Formulas in Snippets

Quick Overview Video

At its most basic, formulas can complete static, unchanging math, such as {=10*5} or {=3+3}. Formulas become much more powerful when they interact with other fields within your snippet.

Using the values of other fields with a formula

Re-using the value exactly as it was entered

One of the most popular uses of the formula command is to re-use a value that has already been defined through another field. For instance, if a snippet contains a text field that is used for someone’s first name, a formula can display that first name again without needing to retype it:

To easily create formulas that re-use other values, find the Formula option in the list of dynamic commands on the right side of the Text Blaze dashboard. Any fields already in the snippet that have been given a name will be available:

Modifying the value when re-used

As seen above, I can re-use a value exactly as it was entered into another field. Beyond that, I can use formulas to manipulate and change the original value into something new.

In the example below, the formula command is multiplying whatever number I enter into the formtext field called “amount” by 10:

This snippet’s formula will dynamically calculate that amount for any number entered into the field called amount.

Performing calculations using formulas

Using operators for simple calculations

Operators are used to create your formula, and define what the formula does. Which operators go into your formula depends on what you want your formula to do, and what kind of data it’s interacting with. Your formula may contain multiple operators as it gets more complex.

Math operators power formulas that interact with numbers. Text Blaze uses the most common operators that you might be familiar with from other applications, like Excel or Google Sheets. Those are +, -, /, *, and ^. Additional details about math operators is available here.

Comparison and logical operators allow you to evaluate if a statement is true or false (e.g. 10 > 5). They are primarily used for rules (the if/else command). More information about these types of operators can be found here

Functions inside Formulas

Text Blaze also includes a wide variety of built-in Functions to use within formulas. A built-in function is a contained piece of functionality designed to perform a particular task as part of a formula.

One example of that might be the round function:

Some functions, especially text/string functions, contain a second setting which must be defined when creating the formula. For instance, the left function requires indicating how many characters from the left should be retrieved:

Nesting multiple functions inside a formula

A single formula can contain multiple functions, completing many actions at once. Nesting can be done with both math and text/string functions.

Let’s see how the order of the functions within a formula changes the results:

Combining functions and operators

Functions and operators can be used together inside of a single formula. Simply write the formula using both:

Defining variables

As seen throughout this guide, variables are commonly defined by giving a form field a name, and then using that name as a placeholder for its value.

This is seen in the previous example where ”amount” and ”divisor” are names applied to text fields, and then those names are used in formulas.

You can also define variables "manually". To create a variable, you’ll need to write it out inside of your snippet. The variable will need a name, and it will need a value.

Using variables you’ve created

Variables created through assignment mode can be used just like any other variable, by referring to its name in other formulas.