How to add a simple calculated field to a google form?

This is a common question from Google Forms users who take orders or bookings. For example, you want people to see the total before they submit. In Google Forms, each answer stays on its own. The form cannot multiply the price by the quantity, so your users work it out themselves or you do it later in a sheet. With Formfacade, you can write an expression for a short answer question and your users will see the value as they fill in the form. Even better, the form will have your own branding instead of Google's and the value is saved in your Google Forms with the rest of the response.

Let's start. Create your form and follow the steps below.

Google Forms does not support dynamic calculations, but you can use Formfacade for calculating and displaying calculated values in your form. For example, you can calculate the total amount in order form based on the price and order quantity entered by the user.

How to use form fields in the Calculate option?

  • On the page that opens, name your form, click Build form and click Proceed. It can take about a minute.
  • You will land on the form's "Preview" tab.
  • Click on "Edit" tab
The tabs Edit, Preview, Share and Responses, with Edit marked
  • Click on the + icon (Add field) in the toolbar on the right. A new question will be added.
  • Enter "Price" as the question. It is already a Short answer.
  • Click on the + icon again
  • Enter "Quantity" as the question. It is already a Short answer.
  • Click on the + icon again
  • Enter "Total amount" as the question. It is already a Short answer.
The toolbar on the right of the Edit tab, with the + icon marked
Click on the Total amount question, then click on the gear icon to open field settings screen.
The form in Formfacade, with the Total amount question and the gear icon at the bottom right of its card marked
Select the "Answer" tab and write the text/expression in the "Calculate" option. When you enter @, you will see the list of all the fields in the form. Select the required form field. It will automatically insert the field. If no list appears on your form, make your form here instead: name it, click Create form and click Proceed, close the Assign points dialog and add these questions. The @ list opens on a form made there.
The Answer tab with @ typed in the Calculate box and a list of the form fields, Price, Quantity and Total amount, with Price marked

How to do simple calculations using form data?

Let's calculate the total amount by multiplying order quantity & price form fields.
The calculations can only be performed on number fields. Close the field settings with the X. For the Price and Quantity questions, click on the gear icon, select the "Answer" tab, click Configure under Validation, select Number and select Is number. Click Save. Any question with this validation will be automatically treated as number so that you can do calculations on those fields.
Click on the "Total amount" question, then click on the gear icon. Field settings screen will be displayed. Select "Answer" tab and write the formula Price * Quantity in "Calculate" as shown below. Click Save.
The Answer tab marked, with the formula Price * Quantity in the Calculate box
The form calculates the total amount from the price and quantity and displays this in real-time to the user filling the form.
The Simple calculation form with a Price of 5, a Quantity of 10 and a Total amount of 50

Summary

If you want a total or any other value worked out in your form, Google Forms cannot calculate it. With Formfacade, you can write the expression in the Calculate option and the value will be displayed in real-time to the user filling the form. Create your form and complete the steps above. If you have any questions, write to support.

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