Logic operations explained

Understanding automation logic

Tallyfy’s automations work like smart decision-makers - they watch what users enter and automatically adjust your workflow accordingly. Simple logic rules adapt your processes to different scenarios. Nothing falls through the cracks.

Why Tallyfy uses simple logic instead of flowcharts

We chose simple “if-this-then-that” logic instead of flowcharts on purpose. Flowcharts can get very complicated and hard to understand or change, especially for big processes. Simple “if-this-then-that” rules are easy for anyone to understand and use, even without technical training. This approach lets you build smart processes that ask for user input and modify their flow based on responses, handling different situations automatically.

Basic “IF… THEN…” structure

All automations follow this basic idea:

IF [something is true]
THEN [do this action]

You already think this way every day. It’s natural.

The condition (IF part)

The condition is your automation’s trigger - it checks what users enter and watches for specific responses. Think of it as your workflow’s eyes and ears.

Examples:

• IF a user selects “Urgent” in a form field
• IF a customer chooses “Premium Service” level
• IF a task is approved by a manager
• IF user input indicates special requirements

The action (THEN part)

Here’s where the magic happens. Your process changes its behavior based on what users tell it.

Examples:

• THEN show additional steps for urgent handling
• THEN assign the task to a specialist team
• THEN adjust deadlines based on service level
• THEN hide steps that aren’t relevant to this user’s situation

Combining multiple conditions

Real business decisions rarely depend on just one thing. Your processes shouldn’t either. Tallyfy lets you combine conditions using AND or OR - just like you’d explain rules to a colleague.

Using AND logic

AND means ALL conditions must be true. Everything needs to line up.

IF [condition 1 is true] AND [condition 2 is true]
THEN [do this action]

Example: IF the user selects urgent priority (condition 1) AND the amount entered is over $1000 (condition 2) THEN modify the flow to include executive approval

Makes sense, right? Big urgent requests need extra attention.

Using OR logic

OR means AT LEAST ONE condition needs to be true. More flexible.

IF [condition 1 is true] OR [condition 2 is true]
THEN [do this action]

Example: IF the client selects VIP service (user input 1) OR the order amount exceeds $5000 (user input 2) THEN modify the flow to show premium processing steps

Either way, they get the white-glove treatment.

Combining AND and OR logic

Now here’s where it gets interesting. You might wonder - what happens when you mix AND with OR? Tallyfy keeps it simple by evaluating conditions sequentially from left to right¹, exactly in the order you add them.

How evaluation works

When you create a rule like:

IF [condition 1] AND [condition 2] OR [condition 3]
THEN [do this action]

Tallyfy reads it like a sentence:

1. First checks condition 1
2. If that’s true, checks condition 2 (needed for the AND)
3. If either path fails, checks condition 3 (the OR gives you another chance)

The action triggers if:

• Both condition 1 AND condition 2 are true, OR
• Condition 3 is true by itself

Simple.

Note: Unlike some programming languages, Tallyfy doesn’t use operator precedence (where AND would be evaluated before OR). We process conditions in the order you add them - straightforward and predictable.

Best practice for complex logic

Got really complex requirements? Don’t try to cram everything into one massive rule. Break it up. Create multiple separate automation rules instead.

Why? This approach:

• Makes your logic clearer and easier to understand
• Simplifies troubleshooting and maintenance
• Avoids confusion about evaluation order

Trust me on this one - your future self will thank you when you need to update these automations six months from now.

How empty and null values affect conditions

Understanding how Tallyfy evaluates empty or missing values prevents unexpected automation behavior:

Empty field evaluation

When a form field is empty or hasn’t been filled yet:

• Text fields: An empty text field is treated as “not equal” to any specific value
• Dropdowns: No selection is considered different from any specific option
• Checkboxes: Unchecked is evaluated as false
• Numbers: Empty number fields don’t match any numeric condition

Common troubleshooting scenario

Problem: A task shows up even though none of your conditions seem true.

Likely cause: Check if you’re using OR logic with “not equal” conditions. Remember:

• “Field A is NOT ‘Option 1’” evaluates to TRUE when the field is empty
• “Field B is NOT ‘Option 2’” also evaluates to TRUE when empty
• With OR logic, if ANY condition is true, the action triggers

Solution: For “not equal” conditions with empty fields, consider:

1. Making the field required so it’s never empty
2. Adding an explicit check for empty values
3. Using positive conditions (“equals”) instead of negative ones (“not equals”)

The bottom line? Tallyfy gives you the flexibility to build processes that actually think. They ask for user input at just the right moments and adapt their flow to match what’s really happening in your business.

Related articles

Automations > Conditionals

Conditional logic in Tallyfy enables automated decision-making within processes through simple IF-THEN rules that respond to form answers step completions user roles time triggers and other conditions to create adaptive workflows while reducing manual work and ensuring consistency.

Conditionals > Conditionals (IF) explained

Tallyfy automations use conditional logic to automatically handle tasks and decisions by checking step statuses or form field content with various operators like “contains” “is completed” or “is approved” to trigger specific actions without manual intervention.

Power Automate > Using conditional logic in Power Automate

Power Automate’s conditional logic enables automated flows to make intelligent decisions based on Tallyfy data using IF-THEN structures Switch controls and nested conditions to create adaptive workflows that respond differently to various task statuses form field values and process conditions.

Templates > Automations

Tallyfy automations enable intelligent workflow adaptation through conditional IF-THEN rules that automatically modify processes based on user input form responses task completions and other triggers to create dynamic workflows that route tasks assign responsibilities and show or hide steps without manual intervention.

Footnotes

1. Processing order differs from standard programming operator precedence where AND typically evaluates before OR ↩