The Text Block value allows you to add custom text to your module. The content of this text block value, usually text in the content field or in conditional blocks, can be referenced in another node or when creating a document.
Text Block Updates come in handy when you need to establish a link between a certain user response and two or more custom Text Blocks.
One blank Text Block value node is placed first and serves as the source for all other nodes. Additionally, it determines the shared name of all linked nodes. Other Text Blocks are then placed and updated in order to overwrite the original blank ‘source’ node with the input from the relevant custom Text Block.
Let us look at two use cases before learning how to use Text Block Updates step-by-step.
Example use cases
Use the right salutation
Let’s assume that within your module you ask the user to disclose their gender. While you may need this information as part of your inquiry, you can also use this input to add a personalized touch to your module. As a bonus, you keep the questionnaire lean by not including unnecessary questions.
In this case, you can create two or more separate Text Block value nodes with varying salutations. Depending on the previously input information, the ‘source’ node can be overwritten with either ‘Dear Sir’, ‘Dear Madam’, or 'Dear {Name}.
Referencing inside and outside of the module
Building on the above, you have a Text Block value node that will either read ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Dear Madam’ but where do you put it? Your custom Text Block can be placed in Input and Result nodes, as well as in Send email or Create document action nodes.
While the use of custom Text Blocks in Input and Result nodes creates a personalized touch inside the module, referencing custom Text Blocks in Send email or Create document action nodes takes it outside, into the user’s inbox or their Word processing program.
Pro Tip: Make it even more personalized by referencing the user’s name in the Text Block nodes: ‘Dear Ms Doe’ or ‘Dear Mr Doe’ or 'Dear Jay Doe'.
Procedure
In this example, we will build a basic ‘Know Your Customer’ checker module that includes the preceding use cases.
Create your module as you would until, maybe starting with an Input node asking users for they name. Keep on building until the point where you would like to integrate Text Block Updates. Insert a Value node and select ‘Text Block’. Give the node a distinctive name. This helps you later when referencing. In our case, we name the node ‘Title’. Leave the Content blank. Think of this node as an empty field that collects its information while moving through the module’s paths.
Next, create a new Input node. For our example, we ask the user to disclose their gender, choosing between ‘female’, ‘male’, and 'other'.
Then, create additional Value nodes following on from the new Input node. You will need to create a Value node for each of the available options. In our case, we will create one for ‘female’, one for ‘male’, and one for 'other'. These will store the different salutations – ‘Dear Ms’, ‘Dear Mr’, and 'Dear {Name}'. Additionally, we will reference the Input node in which we ask the user to provide their name, ‘Dear Ms @Personal Details -> Name,’ ‘Dear Ms @Personal Details -> Name,’, and 'Dear @Personal Details -> Name,'.
For each Value node, set it as a Text Block and begin typing the name of your original Text Block value. An option to update the selected Value node will appear. An icon of two arrows forming a circle will show up next to the node title confirming that the Value node has been updated.
Then, select the transition to set the appropriate condition. To set a condition, select the transition line and then ‘Add Condition’ to specify the logic required.
In our case, the user’s path through the module always leads from the original ‘Title’ Value node through the ‘Personal Details’ Input node. At this point, the user makes their selection regarding their gender.
For example, Jane Doe selects ‘female’ as her gender. She will continue her path via the transition that is set to the condition ‘Personal Details -> Gender = female’. The path will lead her through the updated ‘Title’ Value node where the module will pick up that the appropriate salutation for Jane Doe is set to ‘Dear Ms Doe,’.
Finally, you can reference your Text Block Value node in Input and Result nodes, as well as in Send email or Create document action nodes. In this case, even though we have four different Text Block Value nodes named 'Title', only one (the most recently passed through) will appear in the drop-down menu when referencing.
Find more information here: Text Block Value - add custom text to your module