Clarification Please: Existing Interest Groups Update Options

Need a little more clarification on the existing interest group settings, under submission settings. I’ll ask the question, provide an example situation (if more context is needed), then ask the question again in the context of that example.

I have multiple interest group categories, each containing multiple checkboxes.
I have a forms that contain only one group category (and only has one checkbox checked – it’s hidden and pre-checked to make sign up a smoother).

If I set the form to ‘Replace’ interest groups, does it wipe out all previous selections for all groups, or just the previous selections for the group in the form?

If I set the form to ‘Update’ interest groups, does it just add the new selection to any other previously selected in that interest group category, or do the blank checkboxes “update” their settings too, essentially wiping out any other selections in that category?

Example Situation:

Let’s say my list is organized like this:

• My List

• Interest Group 1 – Podcast Updates

• Checkbox 1-A – Show 1
• Checkbox 1-B – Show 2
• Checkbox?1-C – Show 3

• Interest Group 2 – Post Updates

• Checkbox 2-A – Daily
• Checkbox 2-B – Weekly Digest

• Interest Group 3 – Content Series

• Checkbox 3-A – Music Playlists
• Checkbox 3-B – Recipe of the Month

All interest groups and options are non-exclusive. Someone could (if they wanted) have every single option checked.

On various pages of my site, I have sign up forms. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for people to sign up for things they’re interested in, but I’m not sure if it’s working the way I want it to.

Each form is set up like this:
First Name
Email Address
Relevant Interest Group
*The interest group field is hidden, and has the related option already checked. So if you’re on the Show 1 page, a button says ‘subscribe to this show’ and clicking it brings up a form with Interest Group 1 – Podcast Updates hidden with Show 1 already checked. On recipes of the month posts, a ‘get each recipe of the month emailed to you’ button brings up a form with Interest Group 3 – Content Series hidden with Recipe of the Month already checked. This way, I figure, as a user goes through the site and finds things they like, all they need to do is type in their name and email, and the desired subscription will be added to their account/mailchimp profile.
Again, to try and make it seamless, opt-in settings for each form are set to ‘single’ opt-in, ‘Yes’ to update existing subscriber, and ‘no’ to sending an update email.

Now the question about Interest Groups:

Let’s say John Smith is already on my list and is in ‘Interest Group 1 – Podcast Updates’ with ‘Checkbox 1-A – Show 1’ checked, as well as ‘Interest Group 2 – Post Updates’ with ‘Checkbox 2-B – Weekly’ checked.

So, his profile or listing would look like this:
Name: John
Email: [email protected]
Interest Group 1 – Podcast Updates
—checkbox 1-A – Show 1 [x]
—checkbox 1-B – Show 2 [ ]
—checkbox 1-C – Show 3 [ ]
Interest Group 2 – Post Updates
—checkbox 2-A – Daily [ ]
—checkbox 2-B – Weekly [x]
Interest Group 3 – Content Series
—checkbox 3-A – Music Playlists [ ]
—checkbox 3-B – Recipe of the Month [ ]

John finds Show 2 and wants to subscribe. He hits the button on the page, and the form pops up. He types in his name and email address, and then hits ‘subscribe.’

The form contains Interest Group 1 – Podcast Update (hidden) with Checkbox 2 – Show 2 already checked. So, the form info would be:
Name: John
Email: [email protected]
Interest Group 1 – Podcast Updates (Hidden in Easy Forms)
—checkbox 1-A – Show 1 [ ]
—checkbox 1-B – Show 2 [x] (selected by default in Easy Forms)
—checkbox 1-C – Show 3 [ ]

If I have the form set up for ‘REPLACE’ Existing Interest Groups,
will all his interest groups (Group 1/Option A, Group 2/Option B, AND Group 3/No Choice) will be wiped out and replaced with the form submission (Group 1/Option B)?

Essentially Going from This:
Name: John
Email: [email protected]
Interest Group 1 – Podcast Updates
—checkbox 1-A – Show 1 [x]
—checkbox 1-B – Show 2 [ ]
—checkbox 1-C – Show 3 [ ]
Interest Group 2 – Post Updates
—checkbox 2-A – Daily [ ]
—checkbox 2-B – Weekly [x]
Interest Group 3 – Content Series
—checkbox 3-A – Music Playlists [ ]
—checkbox 3-B – Recipe of the Month [ ]

to This? (changes in bold)
Name: John
Email: [email protected]
Interest Group 1 – Podcast Updates
—checkbox 1-A – Show 1 [ ]
—checkbox 1-B – Show 2 [x]
—checkbox 1-C – Show 3 [ ]
Interest Group 2 – Post Updates
—checkbox 2-A – Daily [ ]
—checkbox 2-B – Weekly [ ]
Interest Group 3 – Content Series
—checkbox 3-A – Music Playlists [ ]
—checkbox 3-B – Recipe of the Month [ ]

Or will it only wipe out/replace the interest group that was in the form (Group 1) – essentially deleting his existing Group 1/Option A and replacing it with Option B, leaving Group 2 alone?

Ending up looking like this? (changes in bold)
Name: John
Email: [email protected]
Interest Group 1 – Podcast Updates
—checkbox 1-A – Show 1 [ ]
—checkbox 1-B – Show 2 [x]
—checkbox 1-C – Show 3 [ ]
Interest Group 2 – Post Updates
—checkbox 2-A – Daily [ ]
—checkbox 2-B – Weekly [x]
Interest Group 3 – Content Series
—checkbox 3-A – Music Playlists [ ]
—checkbox 3-B – Recipe of the Month [ ]

Now, what if I set the form to ‘UPDATE’ Existing Interest Groups?
His existing group selections are:

Group 1 – Option A [x] Option B [ ] Option 3 [ ]
Group 2 – Option A [ ] Option B [x]
Group 3 – Option A [ ] Option B [ ]

The form submits:
Group 1 – Option A [ ] Option B [x] Option 3 [ ]

So, will it just add a checkmark in option B, making his profile look like this?
Group 1 – Option A [x] Option B [x] Option 3 [ ]
Group 2 – Option A [ ] Option B [x]
Group 3 – Option A [ ] Option B [ ]

Or, do the blanks also “update” that interest group, so his profile would look like this:
Group 1 – Option A [ ] Option B [x] Option 3 [ ]
Group 2 – Option A [ ] Option B [x]
Group 3 – Option A [ ] Option B [ ]

Hopefully I’ve communicated by question well enough and haven’t wasted your time. Any response is greatly appreciated.