storing-data.md

Storing data for later use

You can use the precalculate, next_node_calculation, save_input_as and calculate methods to store data for later use. These values are stored in the state and are available in the rest of the flow and in the ERB templates.

• precalculate values are available in:
  • The question template
  • The next_node_calculation block
  • The validate block
  • The next_node block
  • The calculate block
  • All subsequent questions and outcomes

NOTE. precalculate blocks are not evaluated in the first question. This is because they're evaluated during the transition of one question to the next.

• next_node_calculation values are available in:

  • The validate block
  • The next_node block
  • The calculate block
  • All subsequent questions and outcomes

• save_input_as values are available in:

  • The calculate block
  • All subsequent questions and outcomes

• calculate values are available in:

  • All subsequent questions and outcomes

The flow below illustrates the data available to the different Question node methods.

multiple_choice :question_1? do
  option :q1_option

  next_node do
    question :question_2?
  end:

  calculate :q1_calculated_answer do
    'q1-calculated-answer'
  end
end

multiple_choice :question_2? do
  option :q2_option

  precalculate :q2_precalculated_answer do
    # responses            => ['q1_option']
    # q1_calculated_answer => 'q1-calculated-answer'

    'q2-precalculated-answer'
  end

  next_node_calculation :q2_next_node_calculated_answer do |response|
    # response                => 'q2_option'
    # responses               => ['q1_option']
    # q1_calculated_answer    => 'q1-calculated-answer'
    # q2_precalculated_answer => 'q2-precalculated-answer'

    'q2-next-node-calculated-answer'
  end

  validate do |response|
    # response                       => 'q2_option'
    # responses                      => ['q1_option']
    # q1_calculated_answer           => 'q1-calculated-answer'
    # q2_precalculated_answer        => 'q2-precalculated-answer'
    # q2_next_node_calculated_answer => 'q2-next-node-calculated-answer'
  end

  next_node do |response|
    # response                       => 'q2_option'
    # responses                      => ['q1_option']
    # q1_calculated_answer           => 'q1-calculated-answer'
    # q2_precalculated_answer        => 'q2-precalculated-answer'
    # q2_next_node_calculated_answer => 'q2-next-node-calculated-answer'
  end

  save_input_as :q2_answer

  calculate :q2_calculated_answer do |response|
    # response                       => 'q2_option'
    # responses                      => ['q1_option', 'q2_option']
    # q1_calculated_answer           => 'q1-calculated-answer'
    # q2_answer                      => 'q2_option'
    # q2_precalculated_answer        => 'q2-precalculated-answer'
    # q2_next_node_calculated_answer => 'q2-next-node-calculated-answer'
  end
end