# 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](/form-behavior-settings/variant-settings/group-ranking-api.md) for more info).

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/BroR0vIq8P02EUk98cLI" 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="/files/q1MaqRwdqlaSrltSX0al" 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="/files/4Kc3OQ4RHC9aOutz45cg" 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="/files/UnLntDHbCQ4DXoMPXpKi" 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="/files/ADMazMKJo58kxqkAwUvg" 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](/form-behavior-settings/variant-settings/returning-responder-behavior.md). 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="/files/DrqKryWCRN5wHmQPVgoR" 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="/files/9r4WyavAyYzZNyHA1QB5" 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](/integrations/getting-data-out/submission-frequencies.md) is set to *"When the flow is finalized or abandoned."*


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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

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Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.formsort.com/form-behavior-settings/variant-settings.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.