To start the creation you need to add a name and select a category. The name is administrative and the receivers won't see it. The category is used to classify and restrict access to the survey. You can add categories to the Configuration section
 Access Path | Survey > Surveys > Create |
How To
Define the survey
Define all necessary values.
| Name | The name is for administrative purposes only and exclusively serves the interface. |
| Category | Surveys categories limit access to users with access permission. |
| Default language | Language that will first be displayed when editing the survey and previewing. |
| Title and description | The application provides an editable page where you may define the surveys’ default options for each active language. The survey title is displayed at the top of each page, while the description appears in a different font below the title (complementary information). It is possible to change the survey’s category and/or name on this page. |
| Add Language | This function simplifies management by compiling multilingual survey data in a single database. The system provides a separate link for each added language. This lets respondents access the survey in their desired language with the same survey structure. Click on + to add a language. The language code must be specified according to the “Language-Country” format. For example: fr-CA for French-Canada. |
| Delete Language | Deleting a language also deletes its related information from the database. |
Create the questions of the survey
The table below lists all the elements that can be added in a survey.
| Pages | To add a question, you must create a survey page. Various types of survey pages may be created: | Introduction: welcomes the respondents. Questions: displays various questions. Text Only: displays text only. Conclusion: displays the end of the survey. |
| Questions | You may add questions by clicking on the Question button or on the ? symbol. Questions will appear in the survey in the same order they are chosen during the preparation process. It is preferable to use the ? symbol to add a question to an existing page. Clicking on the ? symbol or question button will open the Question Editor. This edits all information pertaining to a question including positioning, statement, choice of values, type of data, and interrogation mode. It also provides access to the Answer Editor. See the Question Options section for more detail on available functions. | |
| Comment | The Comment button adds text to the questionnaire. This text may be positioned anywhere on the page. The name is only for administrative purposes and defines the questionnaire's structure. Each text corresponds to specific content in the questionnaire. The complementary text provides additional information about specific content and is displayed in a different format in the questionnaire. All these elements use HTML tags. | |
| Validator | The validator displays a warning or an error message for a given answer. See the Validator Options section for more details. | |
| Conditions | Conditions are used to display a question according to an answer obtained previously. The addition of conditions is available when editing the statement of the question. Example: Question 1: What age range are you? Answers: 18-25, 26-35, 36-45 . Question 2 : Are you planning to buy...( This question can only be displayed if the respondent chose the age range 18-25) For more details, see Adding a condition to a survey question. | |
Position elements
The questionnaire's elements may be positioned by clicking on the DoubleUp-Down Arrow icon or the positioning icon. The arrow moves the question in the desired direction one position at a time.
The positioning icon moves the elements directly to the desired position (with position shortcuts). Positioning is based on the other elements in the page (before or after an element, at the beginning or end of a survey or page, etc.).
There are several ways to move a page within a survey. You may move a page to the beginning or end of a survey, or before or after a specific page. When you have made your choice, click on Move. This adjusts the structure of the survey.
Questions may be moved to a specific page and position. To move a question, select the page where it will be displayed. Use the options to insert it at the beginning or the end of the page, or before or after any question on the current page.
Preview a survey page
Click on the magnifying glass to show the page as it will appear online. This mode previews any content without leaving the Editor interface. You must close this page to access the editor.
Modify a question
| Positioning | The Question Editor lets you choose the position of any question within the questionnaire. Use the dropdown menu to choose from available positions. |
| Statement (Question) | Each question includes a statement which appears in the questionnaire and a summary for administrative purposes in Contact. This summary is used when exporting the file. When entering the statement, the application automatically generates an editable summary. |
| Complementary comment | The complementary comment is optional and is displayed in a different manner in the questionnaire. It is used to clarify a question. |
| Help message | Help messages are notes to help respondents. They may be placed wherever they are needed |
Specify the valid response type
| Answer – Radio Button | A radio button question lets respondents choose one answer from a number of alternatives. The type of value is related to the database fields which may be text or numerical values. It is selected when creating a multiple choice question and it specifies the content to use in the database. For example, the Yes and No radio buttons may be text values (Yes and No) or numerical values (1 or 0). |
| Answer - Check Box | A check box question lets respondents choose several answers from a number of alternatives. The number of allowable selections is restricted by minimum and maximum values. |
| Answer - Value System | A value system question lets respondents choose one answer from a number of alternatives. The value system is defined according to start and end parameters (e.g., value between 1 and 25). A number of steps must be provided (e.g., 10 steps). The application computes the repartition (step 1=x, step 2=y). Values may be displayed with the desired number of decimals. This type of question is useful for averages and mid-scores, and weighs each choice for analysis purposes. Possible options:
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| Answer - Dropdown Menu | This type of question lets respondents choose one answer from a number of alternatives in a dropdown menu. The type of value is related to the database fields which may be text or numerical value. It is selected when creating a multiple choice question and lets you specify contents for use in the database. For example, the Yes and No radio buttons may be text values (Yes and No) or numerical values (1 or 0). |
| Answer - Text Box | This box must be filled out by the respondent. The type of value restricts the type of data (date, and text and numerical values), and in some cases, applies a specific format (MM/DD/YYYY). The Min and Max options specify the number of required characters. It is possible to create a multi-line box by entering the desired number of lines in the text format box. |
| Adding a Choice | This function creates and manages answer selections. To add an answer selection, click on the Add Choice button. A window appears in which you enter the label (displayed to the respondent), complementary comment, help message, summary (for administrative purpose), value (content in the database), and condition. For each choice you may request further information (more questions). In some cases you may specify display options: number of columns, horizontal or vertical, or random arrangement of questions. |
| Sub-Question Matrix | The sub-question matrix links a series of questions to one answer in table format. This option requires the addition of sub-question lines. Multiple choice answers (e.g., ranging from “unsatisfied” to "very satisfied") appear in the table lines. Each added line is a self-contained question with its own statement, complementary comment, help message, summary, and condition. Lines may be randomly displayed in the table. |
| Editing Choices or Sub-Questions | The positioning, editing, and deletion options apply to choices and sub-questions. |
Advanced options
| Layout | The layout options modify question type and appearance (radio button, text box, etc.). You may specify a CSS class or enter styles directly in the CSS Styles field. For text boxes with several lines, use the width field. |
| Conditions | Adding conditions to a question defines, among other things that a question is mandatory based on the respondent's choice. Condition commands are available on request. |
| Customized Error Messages | Generic error messages are automatically created with each survey. Advanced options may add customized messages to each question. It is possible to add information not displayed in the generic messages. |
| Validation option on a specification | This option allows to require an answer to a question even if a specification has been added, without setting the question as “Required”. This forces then to consider the specification in the results. The option is available only for the Question types Checkboxes and Radio button. |
| Validation option or condition on a specification field | This option allows to achieve validations or conditions on a specification field. To do so, you have to go in the question editor and enter your conditions and validators as usual. |
Add a validator
The validator displays content of a page based under certain conditions.
When you click on "+Validator" , a window appears to let you specify the validation conditions:
| Page | This function allows you to choose in which page you want to add a validator. |
| Statement | When clicking on the little yellow star at the right of the box, you will see the following functions: When: This function allows to choose the page or the condition to which you want to add a statement. Operator: This function defines the operation that you want to apply to the page or the condition that you chose:
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| Summary | The summary is the name that you want to give to the validator. |
| When the statement is true or false | |
| Status |
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| Display a message | If you check this box, the following options appear:
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Next Step
When your survey is complete, review its content (see Reviewing and translating the content of the survey).