Layout groups can be used to move text up when another field is not populated with data (stacking groups in eDoc), hide a label (e.g. “Phone:”) if a user-input field does not have data (this would be the equivalent of using double curly brackets around the label within the field scripting tab of a field in eDoc), and to format fields to appear as one line of text when there are multiple text inputs of varying length (field scripting in eDoc).

Example 1: Move text up when one field is not present

Here we have phone, fax, and email. If phone or fax are missing, we want the others to move up. 

To do this we:

• Group the three fields by selecting all three > right click > Group Selection

• In the right hand side bar (group must be selected) there will be an option on the Design tab for "Layout". Enable this to convert the group to a layout group.

• This layout group will now already work how we want it to however under the option we just enabled there are now additional options for the layout group such as:

  • Orientation: these items are stacked vertically so we will leave this as it is already set.

  • Align Items: this will override the text alignment settings.

    • None: keep original alignment

    • Start: align items to the left side of where the group starts

    • Center: align items to the center of the group

    • End: align items to the right side of the group

  • Anchor point: determines if the text moves up (start) or down (end) when fields are empty. 

  • Margin: adjust the margin between the items

• Leave these fields as they are and click save.

• Now if we test the template (Templates > Example 1) and remove one of the fields, the other text will move up to fill its place. 

Video recording of this process: https://www.loom.com/share/c9aa07d65a8d4d07b9b59b931a49680f

Example 2: Hide labels when a field is not present

Here we have phone, fax, and email, all with labels to the right. If any of these fields are missing, we want the label to be hidden. 

To do this we:

• Group each field with their label by selecting them > right click > Group Selection

• In the right hand side bar (group must be selected) there will be an option on the Design tab for "Layout". Enable this to convert the group to a layout group.

• This layout group will now already work how we want it to however under the option we just enabled there are now additional options for the layout group.

• Lock the field that we need hidden when the other field is missing (e.g. Phone/Fax/Email Heading) under Permissions in the right hand panel.

• Leave these fields as they are and click save.

• Now if we test the template (Templates > Example 2) and remove the data of the fields, the other labels will also disappear.  

Video recording of this process: https://www.loom.com/share/c696cdec0fd642968992d5bb480d1012

Example 3: Merging examples 1 & 2 together: hide labels when a field is not present and also move the other fields (including labels) up.

Here we have phone, fax, and email, all with labels to the right. If any of these fields are missing, we want the label to be hidden as well and the next line of data to be moved up.

To do this we:

• Select all three of the layout groups > right click > Group Selection

• In the right hand side bar (group must be selected) there will be an option on the Design tab for "Layout". Enable this to convert the group to a layout group.

• This layout group will now already work how we want it to however under the option we just enabled there are now additional options for the layout group.

• Make sure that the appropriate fields permissions are locked that we need hidden when the other field is missing (e.g. Phone/Fax/Email Heading) under Permissions in the right hand panel.

• Leave these fields as they are and click save.

• Now if we test the template (Templates > Example 3) and remove the data of the fields, the other labels will also disappear and the next line will move up.  

Video recording of this process: https://www.loom.com/share/93f9c381042c48b0baad816a8d205bc9

Example 4: Format fields to appear as one line of text when there are multiple text inputs of varying length.

In this example, using the data driven editor, we would like the user to use individual fields to fill in address details and format it as shown above (to look like one consistent “paragraph” of text).

To do this we:

• Create a plain text box for each of the fields we would like to have the user fill out (text tool > click to create the field rather than click and drag)

• For each line of data, group the fields

• In the right hand side bar (group must be selected) there will be an option on the Design tab for "Layout". Enable this to convert the group to a layout group.

• This layout group will now already work how we want it to however under the option we just enabled there are now additional options for the layout group. Let’s make some changes.

  • Adjust the Margin so that there is one line of space in between the fields

  • Change the Anchor point to center so that the text will be centered on the design, no matter how long the fields are.

• Now if we test the template (Templates > Example 4) and add additional text to one of the fields, the other field will move over and the entire grouped line will remain centered. 

Video recording of this process: https://www.loom.com/share/bfb485cccb724f50b1e452dc251ca641