Using conditions

Conditions enable the user to build client letter templates, which display certain subsections depending on the tax status of a given tax return. Conditions are then assessed when printing or previewing so that only the subsections regarding the tax status of the return appear.

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Conditional blocks

A conditional block is a subsection that only appears in a letter when certain conditions have been met.

A conditional block starts with the instruction [IF THEN] and ends with the instruction [END]. The intermediate instructions [ELSE] and [ELSE IF THEN] are used to create conditions on several levels.

The following example illustrates the various elements that make up a conditional block:

  1. The first condition in this block contains three elements:
    1. The cell [Balance (amount A minus amount B)], which is the first comparison value.
    2. The "less than" (<) operator.
    3. The numeric value 0, which is the second comparison value.
      In an actual letter, the condition may be far more complex and include several tax fields and operators.
  2. The expression [IF ... THEN] is a starting point in a conditional block.
  3. The conditional block is defined by the instructions [IF ... THEN] and [END].
  4. The [ELSE IF ... THEN] expression is only executed if the previous expression [IF ... THEN] and any other previous [ELSE IF ... THEN] expressions are assessed to be false, and your [ELSE IF ... THEN] expression is deemed to be true.
  5. The [END] expression is the final element in the conditional block.
  6. The [Balance owing] field is used to print the amount of the cell if the condition in the [ELSE IF … THEN] expression is true. The entire paragraph will be printed, including the value in the [Balance owing] cell.

Conditions with several levels

Using the [ELSE] and [ELSE IF ... THEN] expressions, you can insert a condition within a condition. You can then specify a general condition, then define the subsections within the general condition, which must meet an additional condition.

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Inserting a condition

To create a condition, please proceed as follows:

  1. 1. Enter the instructions for the condition desired (e.g., [IF THEN]), or use one of the already created conditional blocks, which you can access in two different ways:
    1. by clicking Insert Condition from the shortcut menu; or
    2. by clicking the Insert tab on the toolbar in the letter editor, then clicking Condition.
  2. Insert a cell and set a condition:
    1. Select the logical operator.
    2. Select the comparison operator (only compatible operators will appear).
    3. Enter a comparison value.
    4. Click Insert.
  3. To insert several conditions, repeats steps 1 and 2.

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Deleting a condition

To delete a condition or an entire conditional block, please proceed as follows:

  1. For a condition, select the text after [IF, and select until THEN]. For a conditional block, select the [IF … THEN] expression at the beginning of the block, then extend the selection until the end of the expression [END].
  2. Press Del or Backspace on your keyboard.

Be careful, since deleting an [IF ...] instruction without deleting the corresponding [END] instruction (and vice versa) may generate errors when displaying or printing the letter.

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