Custom Question Templates

Custom Question Templates control the behavior and data collection of custom questions. Once created, they need to be scheduled somewhere in order to be seen and addressed by clients. This is most often done through Custom Online Forms, but it can also be done by scheduling the question to a specific page.  

To make or edit Custom Question Templates:

1. 1. In the Settings menu, expand the Custom Questions section.
   2. Click Custom Question Templates.

Here you can create new questions or review and edit existing ones. If a Custom Question Template is attached to an online form, it can also be edited on the Layout page of the My Forms wizard.

Watch a Video about Custom Question Templates:

Creating and Editing Custom Question Templates

To create or edit a custom question, take the following steps:

1. 1. Click Create a new custom question or click the edit icon to the right of an existing one.
   2. Enter the Question Name.
   3. Enter the Question Asked.
   4. Designate the desired question settings.
   5. Click the Save Question button.

Once you save your question, it will be displayed alpha-numerically in the list of existing custom questions.

You can delete or disable an existing question by clicking the X to the right of the listed question.

Custom Question Settings and Details

Below is a detailed breakdown of each of the settings found on a Custom Question Template:

Question Name

The Question Name is used for identifying the question in reporting and in building forms. 

Each question should have a unique question name. Clients rarely see the question name, but it does show up as the default header for columns in the report builder.

Question Asked

The Question Asked is the question prompt your client will see (if the question is public).

Question Type

The Question Type adjusts the way the question presents and collects information. Indicate the Question Type by selecting an option from the dropdown.

• • Text box Single Line: Questions provide a single line field for clients to enter a text answer very much like the Question Name field on this page.
  • Text box Multiple Line: Questions provide a text field for clients to enter a larger amount of text. The Question Asked field on this page is an example of a Multiple Line question.
  • Checkbox: A Checkbox question places a single checkbox next to the Question Asked. Clients answer this question by either checking the box or not checking the box.
  • Checkbox List - Vertical Display: Question type presents a series of answer options with checkboxes in a vertical list. Clients may select one or more or none of the options.
  • Checkbox List - Horizontal Display: Question type presents a series of answer options with checkboxes horizontally and in columns if there are enough answer options. Clients may select one or more or none of the options.
  • Radio button List - Horizontal Display: Question also presents a series of answer options horizontally and in columns if there are enough answer options. However, in this case the client may only select only one answer option.
  • Radio button List - Vertical Display: Question presents its answer options one above the next. The client may only select one answer option.

• • Dropdown List: Displays answer options in a dropdown menu. Clients can select one answer option. The Question Type on this page is an example of a dropdown List.
  • Select List: features a scrolling series of answer options. Clients usually select one answer but may use the Ctrl or Shift key to select multiple answer options at once.

Number of Columns: 

Radio button and checkbox list question types can have their answer options displayed in a Number of Columns.

Use the dropdown menu to indicate how many columns in which to display the provided answer options.

Layout Type: 

The question and its answer field/options can be arranged visually on the page using a Layout Type. 

The question can be displayed to the left with its answer field or options to the right, or the question can be displayed above the answer field or options.

Answer Options 

This only shows when a question type indicates the client should choose from one or more responses provided for them, use the Answer Options field to create these responses. If you are not using a text box question type or the simple checkbox question type, you must enter at least one answer option.

• • Answer options should be typed in a comma separated list. Each comma indicates a new Answer Option.
  • Do not use the Enter key (or hard return) when entering answers.

Answer Validation

This optional setting is designed only for text box question types. It verifies that the client's answer is either in numeric or date format. 

We recommend this feature be used sparingly if it is used at all.

Display

A custom question's display restricts who sees that question once it has been scheduled. 

• • Check the box to display on the Public Side to permit clients to address the question.
  • Check the box to display on the Admin Side to show this question to admin users. 
  • If the box for Adults is checked, this question can appear to individuals identified as adults in the system. This only applies when the template is used as a Person Custom Question or a Session Custom Question. Forms are unaffected by this checkbox setting. If the Adults box is not checked, this question will only display for children when this template is used for Person Custom Questions and Session Custom Questions.

Require

Requiring a question, prevents the user from proceeding past this question without making a response--either an answer option must be selected or one must be typed in. 

• In most scenarios, a question should only be required only on the Public Side, if it is required at all.
• There are some scenarios where requiring a question be answered on the Admin Side can be a useful tool to make sure that your team members don't omit information in a registration or form.

Save Question

When creating or editing a custom question master, remember to click the Save Question button to upload any changes to your database. 

Whenever a question is saved, all instances of that question are also automatically updated throughout your database.