I’m trying to hide a custom field box when the custom field is blank. The value placeholder itself works perfectly:

${salesorder.cf_distribution_reference_numb}

If the Sales Order has a value, it renders correctly. Example: 45488045.

But when I wrap that same field in Zoho’s documented conditional rendering syntax, both the “exists” and “missing” blocks render at the same time.

Test code:

${#salesorder.cf_distribution_reference_numb}
  <div>EXISTS BLOCK RENDERED</div>
${/salesorder.cf_distribution_reference_numb}

${^salesorder.cf_distribution_reference_numb}
  <div>MISSING BLOCK RENDERED</div>
${/salesorder.cf_distribution_reference_numb}

Expected:

• If the field has a value, only EXISTS BLOCK RENDERED should show.
• If the field is blank, only MISSING BLOCK RENDERED should show.

Actual:

• Both blocks render on Sales Orders with a value.
• Both blocks render on Sales Orders without a value.

I also tested equality syntax from the help guide:

${#`salesorder.cf_distribution_reference_numb = 45488045`}
  <div>Equals 45488045</div>
${/`salesorder.cf_distribution_reference_numb = 45488045`}

${^`salesorder.cf_distribution_reference_numb = 45488045`}
  <div>Does not equal 45488045</div>
${/`salesorder.cf_distribution_reference_numb = 45488045`}

Same issue — both render.

My actual goal is to show this layout when the reference number exists:

Order Date | Payment Terms | Reference Number

And this layout when it’s blank:

Order Date | Payment Terms

Zoho’s help guide says conditional rendering is supported in HTML PDF templates, but support told me they don’t help with implementation. Has anyone gotten this working specifically in Books transaction templates like Sales Orders or Invoices? Is there a different syntax for Sales Order custom fields, or does conditional rendering only work in Custom Module HTML PDF templates?