{Simple Optional/Options} blocks are, well, simple. They are simple to create and simple to understand.

Here's a quick review on how to create {Simple Optional/Options} blocks:

•To create a {simple optional} block of text, surround that text with curly brackets. The text can be of any length.

•To create a {simple options} block of text, surround that text with curly brackets. If the choices are mutually exclusive, insert '/OR' (caps required) between each choice. If you want to be able to select one or more choices, insert /ANDOR (caps required) between each choice.

•To 'group' simple blocks (so the first selection of a simple options/optional block will automatically determine the selection for the remaining ones), insert a !groupname! (any text, any length up to 20 characters) immediately inside the opening curly bracket.

Remember: "Optional" means the entire block of text is keep or delete.

"Options" will list choices, one or more of which you intend to keep.

   But with this simplicity come some limitations. They just don't have the robustness and flexibility that the more 'elaborate' <<*Options/Optional*>> blocks possess. Examples: You cannot attach questions to {Simple} text blocks. You cannot nest {Simple} blocks with each other to obtain a cascading answer pattern.

   There likely will come a time that you wish to convert at least some your {Simple Optional/Options} text blocks to <<*Options/Optional*>> blocks. This will be especially so if you want to take advantage of Pathagoras' <<*'AskOptions*>> table and more immediately, the <<*AskOptions*>> wizard that Pathagoras provides to automatically create those tables.

   It is easy to convert {Simple Options} to robust <<*Options/Optional*>> blocks:

1.From Pathagoras' dropdown features menu, click "Editing/Clause Creation Tools' and then 'General Editing Tools".

Click to enlarge.

2.Select the <<*Options/Optional*>> tab from the screen that next appears.

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3.Click the Convert {Simple)t button.

4.Pathagoras will quickly identify and then convert any {simple options} blocks into the appropriate <<*Options*. . .>> or <<*Optional*. . .>> block. If no !groupname! has been assigned to the {simple optional} block, Pathagoras will ask for one as it converts each block. (If the {Simple} block already contains a !groupname!, it will be carried forward.)

See Also:

  !GroupNames!