# Variant settings

Each **variant** in Formsort has its own **Settings** tab, where you can control how your form behaves and what users see—everything from how returning responders are handled to the copy shown after completion.

These settings apply **per variant**, meaning changes here won’t affect other variants in your flow.

Settings are divided into three main areas:

* **Strings**: Customizable text that appears throughout the form.
* **Responder Behavior**: Controls the behavior for responders returning to your flow.
* **Group Ranking API**: Manages logic for dynamically ordering groups (see [Group Ranking API](https://docs.formsort.com/form-behavior-settings/variant-settings/group-ranking-api) for more info).

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1036686854-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MJPnL__mOdr_mLZ8nwf%2Fuploads%2Fe27NPsyvhlYU6NT2pZHG%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=1b1e6d48-34ec-43df-9182-b0e58d8d6eb8" alt="" width="404"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Strings

These fields control certain text shown to responders throughout the flow.

**Document title**\
Sets the text that appears in the browser tab when the form is open.

**Answer required text**\
Formsort requires users to answer all questions on a step before continuing (unless the question is marked *optional*). This setting lets you customize the error message shown when a required question is left unanswered.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1036686854-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MJPnL__mOdr_mLZ8nwf%2Fuploads%2FbYfr12sOH0bzOkxasLgD%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=b6fce9f1-fbb0-49af-b56c-e037cd81102a" alt="" width="423"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}
**Hide the "answer required" message**\
While the error behavior can't be disabled, it *can* be hidden visually. In the **Theme Editor**, go to the **color variables** menu and set the `error` color’s **transparency to 0%**.\
If an `error` variable doesn’t exist, you can create one—**note that variable names are case-sensitive**.
{% endhint %}

**Footer text**\
Text placed at the bottom of the form's content area. Often used for disclaimers, legal copy, or other always-visible messages.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1036686854-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MJPnL__mOdr_mLZ8nwf%2Fuploads%2FNhc5NQDLAyka6HWCifTS%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fa54715b-cf70-463c-b22b-14a376047868" alt="" width="419"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

**Optional question label**\
This sets the text that appears (in italics) next to a question label when the question is marked optional. The default is `"optional"`, but you can customize this string.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1036686854-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MJPnL__mOdr_mLZ8nwf%2Fuploads%2FEbJWi1pp0VpTTU5tw8nE%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=f02892b0-1270-43bf-95f3-7d7834ccb131" alt="" width="405"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

***

### Behavior

These settings control the **functionality** and **navigation behavior** of your form.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1036686854-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MJPnL__mOdr_mLZ8nwf%2Fuploads%2FKrOwDlKaVlWNOvvxgU1Y%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7a4a7bde-fa0d-45e4-9344-70d6d5723a85" alt="" width="397"><figcaption><p>The form behavior section</p></figcaption></figure></div>

#### **Returning responder behavior**

Defines how Formsort handles users who revisit your form. For a full breakdown, see [Returning responder behavior](https://docs.formsort.com/form-behavior-settings/variant-settings/returning-responder-behavior). This includes the setting to **Start each session as a new responder**.

#### **Enable URL navigation**

{% hint style="info" %}
URL navigation is not currently supported in **embedded flows**.
{% endhint %}

When enabled:

* Users can use their browser’s **Back** and **Forward** buttons to move through unlocked steps.
* You can link directly to unlocked steps using either the **step index** (default) or the **step ID** (if enabled).

**Example using step index:**\
`https://<client-ID>.formsort.app/flow/<flow-name>/variant/<variant-name>#1`

**Example using step ID:**\
`https://<client-ID>.formsort.app/flow/<flow-name>/variant/<variant-name>#<step-ID>`

#### **Enable restart once flow completed**

When this is on, responders will see the option to **restart** the form once they've completed. Their original `responder_uuid` is preserved, but Formsort clears all saved answers so they can start fresh.

* Previous submissions to your data store remain untouched.
* Useful for forms that need to be filled out multiple times by the same person.
* Responders **won’t** see the restart screen if the form ends with a redirect.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1036686854-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MJPnL__mOdr_mLZ8nwf%2Fuploads%2FVUdKey7TMGur4RvtbbKj%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=7513d351-9951-452a-b841-70a59c47c28b" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

#### **Enable close once flow completed**

If your flow is **embedded** in another web page, this setting adds a link to **close the embed** once the user finishes the form.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="https://1036686854-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MJPnL__mOdr_mLZ8nwf%2Fuploads%2F2oMPFTSe2TuVqdg5tR5A%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=ae264cab-1001-43c0-a4b2-c126d95ef550" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

#### **Enable autosave**

When enabled, answers are automatically saved:

* **3 seconds** after the user finishes typing or selecting.
* Even if they leave and return, their progress will be restored.
* Answers will be sent to connected integrations **if** [submission frequency](https://docs.formsort.com/integrations/getting-data-out/submission-frequencies) is set to *"When the flow is finalized or abandoned."*