Field settings are configurable properties you can apply to individual fields in a Gatheroo request.
They control how a field behaves, how its data is handled, and how it appears to clients.
You can apply settings when you create a field or edit them at any time.
This article gives a quick overview of every field setting currently available in Gatheroo, with links to the detailed guide for each.
1. Mandatory Field Setting
The Mandatory setting makes a field required.
This setting removes the ability for clients to select “n/a” on a question.
This means a clients cannot complete the request without filling in a mandatory field.
Use Mandatory for any information you genuinely cannot proceed without.
For everything else, leave it optional so clients can complete what they have and come back to fill in the rest.
Available on: All field types.
Read more about Mandatory Field Setting in Gatheroo
2. Field Encryption
Field Encryption adds an extra layer of security to sensitive data.
When enabled, the field’s content is encrypted at the field level and scrambles the displayed information on the screen until you actively unscramble it.
Use Field Encryption for highly sensitive information such as tax file numbers, bank account details, identity document numbers, or any other data with strict privacy or compliance requirements.
Available on: Single Text Line.
More about Field Encryption in Gatheroo
3. Horizontal / Vertical Display
The Display setting controls how answer options are laid out for the client, either side by side (horizontal) or stacked one per line (vertical).
This is a visual preference only and does not affect how responses are collected or stored.
Horizontal works well for short options (Yes / No, A / B / C).
Vertical is cleaner for longer option text or more than four or five choices, and is generally the safer choice for mobile.
Available on: Multi-Choice and Single Select fields only.
Find out more about Horizontal and Vertical Display in Gatheroo
4. Conditional Logic
Conditional logic lets you show or hide a field based on how a client answers an earlier question. This keeps your request clean — clients only see the fields that are relevant to their situation.
How it works
The conditional logic toggle lives on the follow-up field, the field you want to show or hide.
You set a rule on that field saying: “Show this field if [Single Select field] answer is [value].”
The catalyst must be a Single Select field.
The follow-up field being shown or hidden can be any field type.
ANY vs ALL conditions
You can add multiple conditions to the same follow-up field. When you do, you choose whether ALL conditions must be met or ANY single condition is enough to trigger the field:
- ALL: every condition must match. Example: client must answer “0-25” on an age question AND “Black” on a hair colour question for the field to appear.
- ANY: just one condition needs to match. Example: either “0-25” or “Black” will cause the field to show.
When to use it
Use conditional logic whenever different clients need different follow-up questions. Common examples: business structure (sole trader vs company), residency status, service type, or age group — any situation where one answer changes what information you need to collect next.
Learn how to set up conditional logic in Gatheroo
5. Hide/Show Rich Text Editor
The Hide/Show Rich Text Editor setting controls whether clients see a formatting toolbar on a Text Area field.
When turned off, the toolbar is hidden and clients get a plain text input, no bold, colour, bullet points or other formatting options.
This makes the field feel cleaner and less intimidating, and ensures all responses come back as plain text, which is easier to read and process.
Leave it on if formatting genuinely adds value to the answer; turn it off for most everyday text responses.
Available on: Text Area fields only.
Questions We Are Asked All The Time
Can I apply multiple settings to the same field?
Yes, settings are independent of each other.
For example, you can make a Single Text Line field both Mandatory and Encrypted at the same time.
Just apply whichever settings are relevant for that field.
Do field settings affect all clients, or can I vary them per client?
Field settings apply at the field level within a request template.
They apply the same way for every client who receives that request.
If you need different rules for different clients, you can create separate templates with the appropriate settings for each, or manually amend the request you spin up to differ from the template.
Where do I find field settings in Gatheroo?
Field settings appear in the field configuration panel when you add or edit a field in your request.
Each setting is shown with a toggle or dropdown, you can turn them on or off without leaving the request builder.
Some More Common Questions
How do I make a form field required?
Look for a ‘required’ or ‘mandatory’ toggle in the field settings.
When enabled, clients must fill in that field before they can submit the form or complete the request.
In Gatheroo, this is called the Mandatory setting and is available on every field type.
Can I encrypt specific fields in a client intake form?
Yes, if your intake tool supports field-level encryption.
This is different from standard HTTPS encryption (which protects data in transit) — field-level encryption protects the stored data itself. Gatheroo’s Field Encryption setting does this for text-based fields, making it suitable for collecting sensitive information like tax IDs or financial data.