Question Type: Time-Based Math

Time-Based Math calculates a date based on a Start Date/Time Question and a Duration Question. This can be useful when you need to calculate estimated completion dates on projects, for example. This topic describes the Time-Based Math question settings and properties.

Tip:Not sure if you need to use Time-Based Math or Duration Math?

  • Use Time-Based Math if you want to calculate a date and time (for example, July 18, 2023 at 10:32:00 AM).

  • Use Duration Math if you want to calculate a duration (for example, 8:30, meaning 8 hours and 30 minutes).

Available on all tiers:

Essentials
Advanced
Enterprise

Info:Enterprise customers have additional options. The section Additional options for Enterprise customers describes these options in more detail.

Contents

Mobile App

Time-Based Math is a read-only question. This means that field users can’t interact with or edit the displayed value.

An example of a Time-Based Math question on an iOS device is shown below:

2019-02-11-iOS-Date-TimeCalc03.png

Form Builder

In the Form Builder, the Time-Based Math question appears as shown below:

2019-02-07-FB-Date-TimeCalc01.png

The Question Edit screen for the Time-Based Math 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.. This article will go through each of the tabs.

2019-02-07-FB-Date-TimeCalc02.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.

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)
Time-Based Math ✘* ✓* ✓ ✓ ✓

* Time-Based Math is Read-Only by default, as the mobile user can’t interact with a Time-Based Math question.

Properties

Properties allow you to set up your question in various ways. Some Properties are due to the Data Type chosen for the question. The Time-Based Math question type has two data types:

  • Date/Time (All tiers)

  • Date (Enterprise tier only)

Date/Time and Date (Enterprise tier only)
  • Range Validation

Note:(Enterprise tier only) You can’t change the data type after you create a Time-Based Math question. If you want a different data type, you must create a new question and delete the old one.

Calculate a Date/Time

This section allows you to set your source questions for the calculation, and what kind of calculation you are doing. For example, if calculating a projected end date for a construction project, you would want to select Add Duration.

2019-02-25-FB-TimeDateCalc01.png

Start Date/Time Question: This dropdown will allow you to select any questions using a Date/Time data type that come before the Time-Based Math question.

Operator: You can add or subtract the duration from the Start Date/Time question to get to your answer.

Duration Question: This dropdown will allow you to select any questions that use a Duration data type that come before the Time-Based Math question.

Additional options for Enterprise customers

Data Types

Enterprise customers can create a Time-Based Math question that has one of the following data types:

  • Date—The result is a date, rounded down to the nearest day. For example, if the calculation adds 26 hours to the start date 2023/10/17, the result date is 2023/10/18. The calculation adds only the 24 hours of a day and excludes the remaining 2 hours.

  • Date/Time—The result is a date and time. The calculation adds the exact amount of time based on the set time unit. For example, if the calculation adds 26 hours to the start date and time 2023/10/17 9:05:34, the result is 2023/10/18 11:05:34.

Note:You can’t change the data type after you create the question. If you want to change the data type, you must delete the question and create a new one.

Properties

The following image shows the additional properties available on the Enterprise tier.

Time-Based Math properties tab that shows the settings for fallback values and time units. Time-Based Math uses the fallback value if the referenced question isn't answered.

Tip:The field labeled Duration Question is the value to add or subtract. You can select a question that has a Duration or Integer data type, or enter a constant.

The following table describes the additional properties in more detail.

Property Description
Start Date/Time Question
Start Date/Time Question

Select one of the following question types:

  • Date/Time Selector (Date or Date/Time data types only)

  • Date/Time Stamp

  • Time-Based Math

    Note:Questions only show in the list of options if they come before the Time-Based Math question in the form.
Fallback Value Source

Choose whether to include a static fallback value for the start question. If a referenced question isn’t answered and doesn’t have a default value, the Time-Based Math calculation uses the fallback value.

When you add a start question fallback value, you can either:

  • Manually enter the values.

  • Select the calendar icon (and clock icon for questions with a Date/Time data type) and select values from the lists.

The fallback value time zone is the time zone set in your User Profile.
Duration Question
Duration Question

Choose one of the following options:

  • Enter a constant numeric value.

  • Select one of the following question types that uses a Duration data type:

    • Aggregation

    • Duration Calculation

    • Duration Field

    • Duration Math

  • Select one of the following question types that uses an Integer data type:

    • Button Group

    • Calculation

    • Card List

    • Digit Extraction

    • Dropdown

    • Slider

    • Stepper

    • Text Field

    Note:Questions only show in the list of options if they come before the Time-Based Math question in the form.
Units

Select a time unit.

The time unit applies to the fallback value when the Duration Question is:

  • A constant value.

  • A question that uses a Duration data type.

  • A question that uses an Integer data type.

The time unit applies to the answer value when the Duration Question is:

  • A constant value.

  • A question that uses an Integer data type.
Fallback Value

If you select a question that uses a Duration or Integer data type, you can set up a static fallback value. If a referenced question isn’t answered and doesn’t have a default value, the Time-Based Math calculation uses the fallback value.

Help Options

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