Adding conclusions

The Conclusion is the end of the initial decision-making process.

Creating a Decision Tree Conclusion

Users can create a Decision Tree Conclusion right from the "Customize Decision Tree" menu, which appears at the very bottom of the Decision Tree page when viewed in edit mode. Users will not see this menu as a field in the CMS, and the menu will not be visible to the public once the page is live. Users will click on “Create new decision tree conclusion" to create a Conclusion.

Decision Tree Conclusions can also be created from the "Add Content" button at the top of the editing screen, just like any other type of content on Mass.gov.

Title and Description

The Title of a Conclusion tells Decision Tree users the result of their journey. A Description can be added to expand on the result and recommend next steps.

Key actions

Think of Conclusions as endpoints and starting points at the same time: They’re endpoints because they form the ends of the decision-making process the Tree aimed to outline, but they’re starting points because the answer provided often begins new stage in the user’s journey.

Use Key action links to usher people to whatever content the Conclusions imply might be right for them. For example, if a Tree is designed to help them determine their eligibility for a product or service, and they are eligible, this is where they can be linked to the relevant application page.

Linking Conclusions to Branches

To link Conclusion to a Branch, users will need to:

Publish both pages
Enter the Conclusion into the Branch’s Option A or Option B Answer Path using the autofill.

Branches can be linked to Branches this way, too.

As we’ve already seen, users can add content to a Decision Tree via the “Customize Decision Tree” menu. They also can use it to move Branches and Conclusions around, to edit them, and to get an overview of the tree:

To edit a Branch or Conclusion, use the "Customize" menu, or the “edit” option that appears next to the Branch’s banner.

Reorganizing a Tree

Sometimes, Decision Trees have to be complicated in order to reflect a complex real-life process. This could result in a need to move steps around or to add questions and Conclusions to the Decision Tree over time.

To stay organized, click on each Branch to expand or contract it.

Click Branch to expand:

Expanded Branch:

You can drag and drop each item into a different place on the Tree by using the crosshairs to the item’s left.

Use row weights

A “row weights” column may be used to order Branches and Conclusions using numbers instead of clicking and dragging using the crosshairs. If a user prefers to use row weights to reorganize Decision Tree content, here’s how to enable them:

1. Open the Decision Tree in edit mode.

2. In the related services section, click “show row weights.” This should replace the crosshairs with numbered row weights.

3. Save, or simply click “view” in the top left, to return to the “Customize” menu. You can turn row weights off and return to using crosshairs by going to the related services section and clicking "hide row weights."