Single Question Multi-Control

Note: This object is only available in Classic/Default Template surveys.

Single Questions that require multiple fields (controls) can be created using the Multi-Control Question Object.   Multi-control questions are different than standard Illume questions in that with standard questions, you build how the question will look using the question editor, and doing so automatically creates the columns in the database into which the responses will be stored.  In contrast, with multi-control objects, you must follow a two step process:

1. Define how the question will look using the Multi-Control Question Editor

2. Define the variables into which the data from that question will be saved.  These variables are Preload/Hidden variables.

Both steps must be completed for the multi-control to work.

Types of Single Multi-Control Questions:

• Multiple Text Fields
• Multiple Poplists
• Multiple Individual Check Boxes
• Any combination of the above

Steps to create a Text Field Multi-Control Question

The following steps will describe how to create the following example Question:

Steps:

1. From the Add menu select Multi-Control Question
2. In the General Tab Enter the Unique name of the object.
3. This “Unique Name” will not appear in the Data Dictionary as it is just a label for the object itself.  Later in the design process you will define the variables that go into the data dictionary.

4. Enter a Description if desired
5. Optional –Select Anchor this item when randomized – If this object is in a Collection that is set to randomize its contents, checking this box will hold this item’s position constant.
6. Click on the Configure Tab
7. Click the Add Row Button
8. Click in the Cell that was just created in the Table Layout

9. In Cell Controls, Click the Add Button
10. The Control type allows for the following selections:
11. • Prompt
    • Text Field
    • Pop List
    • Check Box

11. Select Prompt
12. Type or paste the Prompt in the Prompt field

 

13. To place the field underneath the prompt, click the Add Row button.  If you would like the field to the right of the prompt click the Add Column button
14. Click in the Cell that was just created in the Table Layout
15. Click the Add Button
16. Enter the Survey Variable Name for this field – As stated previously, this will require the addition of a Preload/Hidden Variable in the survey with the same name. Do not use spaces.  Write down this name so that you’ll remember it when you create the Preload/Hidden Variable of the same name.
17. If a Label is needed, add it in either the Label Before or Label After field
18. Enter any appropriate CSS style information if used

19. Click on the Display Properties Tab
20. Check the box and enter the desired size of the Text Field

NOTE: If the box is not checked and no size is specified the browser will create a default size field. This only sets the actual size of the visible field.  The number of allowed characters will be set in the Validation tab.

21. Click the Validation tab.  You will NOT select a data type here in the question editor.  Rather the data type you wish to capture in this field will be defined in the Preload/Hidden variable editor.
22. If a response is required, click the Require a Response checkbox
23. To enforce the character length, enter the Minimum and/or Maximum number of characters that can be entered in the field
24. To enforce a numeric range, a Numeric Minimum and Maximum can be entered
25. It is also possible to use Regular Expressions matches to enforce very specific text field entry
26. Add a Custom Error Message if desired

27. Click again in the cell that currently has the Feet variable, and follow the steps from 9-26 again to add the next field Inches.

27. After both of the cells are added Select the Run-If tab to apply logic to this object, if the object should only be shown under certain conditions
28. Click OK when finished

30. From the Survey menu select Preload/Hidden Variables
31. Create a preload variable called HFEET, and another called HINCHES.  Each one should be of Whole Number data type, as that is the type of data you want to capture.
32. Preview the Question

Steps to create a Poplist Multi-Control Question

These steps will be used to create the following question:

Steps:

1. From the menu select Survey/Add Runtime Content…
2. Select Multi-Control Question…
3. In the General Tab Enter the Unique name of the object. This name will not appear in the Dataset or the Data Dictionary.

5. Enter a Description if desired
6. Optional – Select Anchor this item when randomized – If this object is in a Collection that is set to randomize its contents, checking this box will hold this item’s position constant.

6. Click on the Configure Tab
7. Click the Add Row Button
8. Click in the Cell that was just created in the Table Layout

9. In Cell Controls, Click the Add Button
10. The Control type allows for the following selections:

10. • Prompt
    • Text Field
    • Pop List
    • Check Box

11. Select Prompt
12. Enter the Prompt in the Prompt field

 

13. To place the poplist underneath the prompt, click the Add Row button.  If you would like the poplist to the right of the prompt click the Add Column button.

14. Click in the Cell that was just created in the Table Layout
15. Click the Add Button
16. Select the appropriate Control Type for the first variable field – In this example select Poplist
17. (OPTIONAL) Checking the – Define local response options will activate the Response Options tab. This is used to filter the list of response options that exist in the Hidden Variable.

18. Enter the Survey Variable Name for this field – As stated previously, this will require the addition of a Hidden Variable in the survey with the same name. Do not use spaces
19. If a Label is needed, add it in either the Label Before or Label After field
20. Enter any appropriate CSS style information if used

21. Click the Validation tab
22. Check the Require a Response box to make this a required variable
23. Enter a Custom error message if desired

24. Click Add Column for the next Poplist and repeat the steps as many times as needed for each field
25. After all of the cells are added, select the Run-If tab to apply logic to this object
26. Click OK when finished
27. Create the appropriate Hidden Variables
28. Preview the Question

Steps to create a Check Box in a Multi-Control Question

While a single check box type question can be added as a Multi-Control type object, they are easily created as one of the Standard Question types.

To add a Check Box to a question follow these steps:

1. In any Multi-Control Question
2. Click the Add Column Button
3. Click in the Cell to add the Checkbox
4. Click the Add Button
5. Select the appropriate Control Type for the first variable field – In this example select Check Box
6. Enter the Survey Variable Name for this field – As stated previously, this will require the addition of a Hidden Variable in the survey with the same name. Do not use spaces
7. If a Label is needed, add it in either the Label Before or Label After field
8. Enter any appropriate CSS style information if used

9. Click the Validation tab
10. Check the Require a Response box to make this a required variable
11. Enter a Custom error message if desired
12. Click OK when finished

Multi-Control Questions with Different Variable Types

A Multi-Control Question can be any combination of the three control types (Text Field, Pop List, Check Box). Create a Multi-Control Object then follow the steps for each type in the cell you are working with.

 

Cell Column Spanning

To achieve a smooth looking prompt it is possible to Span the prompt across multiple Cells.

 

To achieve this, follow these steps:

1. In the Configure tab of a Multi-Control Question
2. Click on the cell that the Prompt is in
3. Set Cell Column Span to the desired length. NOTE: The Cell Column Span will only be a large as the number of empty columns to the right of the selected cell
4. When finished click OK