how to keep data card layout static regardless of a card being conditionally visible?

[cchan000]

Hi. I have three columns (snap off).

i have a card visible dependent on another card's value.

how do i keep the third column card from shifting LEFT. i want there to be an empty space reserved for the visible/invisible card.

image attached of the before and after.

[jhall]

Take a look at your X positioning for the Notes field.  I'm betting it is calculating its value using the position of the field to the left of it as it's reference point.  You could use pretty much anything else as the reference and it wouldn't be impacted if/when the field disappears/reappears.

[cchan000]

hi! how to i designate a different card to use as a reference point? i can't seem to find it in properties. thanks!

[jhall]

If you click on the Advanced Tab, then type X in the Search field, that will show you how it is building out the horizontal location.  It likely is a function vs. just a value.  If you copy/paste it here, then I can be specific.

[cchan000]

getting closer. i found the X and changed it. in the properties tab, it keeps reverting back to 198. when i do an advance search for x, it shows the correct 395. see images.

[jhall]

You are soooooo close.  

Look right above the Search bar and click that.  Then make the change and you'll be golden.

For most fields, you never do this.  However, for Forms that derive their settings from a data source, the fields are "locked" by default.  

This machine thinks it is better than you!  It thinks you don't know what you're doing!  Teach it who is the boss!!!   

[cchan000]

hi! unfortunately it didn't work. it was already unlocked when i followed your instruction earlier. when i look in advance, it shows my x value as 395. no matter what i put in there, the card does not move.

by the way, i appreciate the help! i'm learning through this site and i would have never even known about sharepoint locking/unlocking for advance!

[jhall]

Oh man.  Sorry.  It's been so long since I've monkey'd w/ Forms layouts tied to SharePoint that I'd forgotten how it automates so much of it.  You can't really change some things because it auto-fills.  Resizing is annoying as well as which "column" things should appear in.  Y controls most of that and I have no idea if you can force X to do certain things.

My only suggestion (beyond abandoning the "Form" and just doing it free-form and a Patch() statement), is to grey out your other control by disabling it instead of hiding it.

[Anonymous]

To keep the 'placeholder' for invisible card try to leave the card 'visible' set to 'true' and instead set all card contents (labels, text inputs, icons etc..) to be visible depending on your condition. This should leave your datacard 'box' visible but contents will not be visible.