====== Instructions for Common Jobs ======

Most questionnaires are easily implemented, using SoSci Survey. Yet, there are helpful tricks and cheats for some questions. This chapter introduces some typical situations.

A simple registration form will serve as an example:

{{:de:create:scr.example.stuff.png|Beispiel-Fragebogen}}

You should be familiar with the basics -- how to create questions and place them in the questionnaire ([[:en:create:basics]]) -- before reading this chapter.


===== Displaying a Heading =====

There are various possibilities to embed texts within the questionnaire -- and to embed them nearly anywhere. Details can be found in the chapter [[en:create:texts|Using Texts in the Questionnaire]]. Usually, you will use the following procedure.

**Tip:** Following, HTML code will often be mentioned. This is text containing formating. In case you need formatted texts (multiple paragraphs, headings, line breaks, bold, italic, etc.), read the chapter [[en:create:texts|Using Texts in the Questionnaire]].

  - Click **Text Elements and Labels** on the left and then **New text element**
  - Provide your text with an ID (e.g. "title") and enter the text (HTML code) "<h1>Registration for the Seminar</h1>" in the window below.
  - Click OK to save the text element.
  - Click **Compose Questionnaire** on the left. If necessary, select the questionnaire you created earlier for the registration form.
  - At the bottom right, below **Texts, Images, Audio** you can find the new text element. Using the mouse, drag it onto the page of the questionnaire.

{{:de:create:scr.stuff.text.png?nolink&|Text in den Fragebogen ziehen}}


===== Avoid Constantly Returning to the Questionnaire =====

To create a new text element or question, you need to leave the user interface for composing the questionnaire and return to it afterwards. To work more smoothly, you can use several browser tabs/windows.

If you are currently composing the questionnaire, click on **List of Questions** or **Text Elements and Labels** using the right (!) mouse button to open the context menu. Select **Open link in new tab** (or similar, depending on your browser).

**Note for Mac users:** In case you are working with a Mac, you may not have a right mouse button. In this case, hold the CTRL button and click the menu item.

{{:de:create:scr.stuff.openintab.png?nolink|Open a Menu Item in a new Tab}}

Now you have opened two areas of the program. Depending on the browser this will look slightly different. Using the tabs you can switch between these areas.

{{:de:create:scr.stuff.tabs.png?nolink|Multiple Browser Tabs}}

Henceforth, when creating a new question or text element, you will notice that the element is not displayed in the "Compose Questionnaire" tab. The solution is fairly simple: click the Reload button {{:button.reload.gif}} to display any new questions and text elements.

{{:de:create:scr.stuff.reload.png?nolink|Refresh}}

**Warning:** You __cannot__ work in different survey projects, using multiple browser windows. Although, you may run different browsers (e.g., Firefox, Chrome, Opera and/or Internet Explorer) to do so.


===== A Welcome at the Start of the Questionnaire =====

In contrast to the registration form above, most questionnaires start with a friendly welcome page. The procedure is similar to adding a heading:

  * Click on **Text Elements and Labels** and create a new //text element//.
  * Add an empty page at the beginning when composing your questionnaire.
  * Drag and drop the text element onto the empty page.


===== Text Input and Selection =====

To add the text input fields (question 1: surname, first name etc in the example above), you need to create a question of the type **Text input**.

It is usually sensible to define the **Label Width**, e.g. "180" pixels in the example above.

For the selection (question: Main subject), you need __another question__ of the type **Selection**.


==== Step by Step ====

  - Click on **New section** (on the left below List of Questions).
  - On the right you can see the form for sections. Enter "SD" for the **ID** and "Student Data" for the **Name**, and click **OK**.
  - On the right the form for a new question appears. In case it doesn't, click on **Add question** in the List of Questions (below the section you just created).
  - Type "Personal Details" for the **Term** of the new question and click on "Text input" in the **Question Types** below. You can also select the question **type** in the dropdown menu at the top, but then you also need to click **OK**.
  - On the right, further options for text input fields appear. Type in the following **Question title**: "Please enter your personal data." Further, defining a **Label Width** (items) of "180" is sensible. Do not forget to **Save**.
  - Enter the items (Name, First Name, Student ID, ...) in the **Quick input for items** below. Alternatively, click on **Add item** on the left below List of Questions. You can save an item simply by hitting the return button.
  - For the selection, click on **Add question** on the left.
  - **Term** "Main Subject", **Type** "Selection".
  - **Question title** "Please select your main subject". **\\ Save** and add items (see point 6 above).


===== A smaller text input field =====

For text input fields you can individually define the height and width. If you do not enter a height (default), text input fields are one row high and do not allow multi-line input.

To make the text field smaller, simply define the //Width of the text input field// -- "32" pixels in the example above.


==== Step by Step ====

  - Select **SD Student Data** (List of Questions).
  - Select the question **Personal Details** (List of Questions).
  - Enter the width of the input field in the **Quick input for items** __or__ select the item **Year of Study** (List of Questions).
  - Enter "32" for the **Width** of the input field. **Save**.


===== Gender Selection below the Text Inputs =====

The last item of the personal details is a dropdown selection. Although it doesn't look like it on the registration form, this is a separate question (see [[:en:create:concat]]).

It is not visibly a separate question, because it is directly attached to the previous question. To do that, the previous question must not have any spacing - this can be set either via the settings for question items (see [[en:create:concat|Concatenating Questions]]) or by using the argument "spacing=0" in the question() command (see [[en:create:php|Introduction to PHP]]). At the same time, the attached question must not display a question title.


==== Step by Step ====

  - Add a new question of the **Type** "Dropdown selection", **Term** "Gender".
  - As a **Lead text for the options**, enter "You are:". In the tab **Position of opener and input field**, enter "180" pixels, so that the selection field is positioned in line with the text input fields. **Save**.
  - Create "Female" and "Male" as options (items).
  - Click **Compose Questionnaire** on the left and select the questionnaire "Registration for the SoSciSurvey seminar" which you created earlier.
  - You can now add all three questions using the mouse (mind the sequence: SD01, SD03, SD02) or add a PHP code.
  - If you have added the questions using the mouse, click on the first question (not on the title, but on the picture). In the dropdown menu **Spacing to the next question**, select **No spacing**. Confirm by clicking the green checkmark. Now, click on the second question (the dropdown selection). In **Show question text**, select the option **No**. Un-tick the box **Show explanation**. Confirm again by clicking the green checkmark.
  - In case you decided to add PHP code, enter the following code:

<code php>
question('SD01', 'spacing=0');  // Personal Data
question('SD03', 'notitle');    // Gender
question('SD02');               // Main Subject
</code>

The code must contain the correct question IDs. In this example, these are SD01 to SD03.

After (automatically) saving the questionnaire, you can test it and have look at the preliminary result.


===== Selection Option "Other" =====

When using selection or multiple choice questions, additional input boxes can be displayed. This can be simply done by ticking the box //Show text input field for this option// in the item properties. You should define a width for this input box, since otherwise Internet Explorer will use the maximum width and spread the item over multiple rows.


==== Step by Step ====

  - Select section //SD Student Data// (List of Questions).
  - Select question //Main Subject// (List of Questions).
  - Select item //Other// or create as a new item (List of Questions).
  - Tick the box //Show text input field for this option//.
  - Set the //Width of the input field// to "250" pixels. Click //OK//.
  - Select question //Main Subject// again (List of Questions) and check the result in the preview at the bottom.


===== Label the Next Button =====

Any text that is displayed in the questionnaire can be edited via **Text Elements and Labels**.

You may also change the label of the next button for a single page, using the PHP function ''[[:en:create:functions:option]]''.


==== Step by Step ====

  - Select **Text Elements and Labels** from the menu.
  - Beside //Next Button//, type "Register".
  - Beside //Page title//, you can optionally also type "Registration Form".
  - Save by clicking //OK//.


===== Activate and Edit Layout =====

The width of the questionnaire is set by the layout used. Most layouts (except "SoSci Survey paper") allow to adapt the width.

The example above uses the layout "SoSci Survey neutral", but the width has been reduced to 450 pixels.


==== Step by Step ====

  - Select **Questionnaire Layout** from the menu.
  - If you have not already activated a layout, scroll down to //Layout Templates// and click //Activate// below the Template //SoSci Survey Neutral//.
  - The layout now appears in the list at the top. Click the description "SoSci Survey Neutral" or the {{:button.edit.gif|edit}} button.
  - At the top, you may change the //ID// to "neutral_n", giving the //Comment// "SoSci Survey Neutral (narrow)".
  - In the first tab //Basic Settings// you find an option //Layout base width//. Enter the value "450".
  - Save the changes
  - If you have enabled only one layout in your survey project, the changes will be applied to the questionnaire immediately. Otherwise, click **Compose Questionnaire** and the tab //Settings//. Here you can select the //Layout// "[neutral_n] SoSci Survey neutral (narrow)". Save the changes and switch back to the tab //pages in the questionnaire//. Click the green arrow {{:button.run.gif|run}} to display the questionnaire.


===== Further Solutions =====

Solutions for other tasks can be found in the chapter [[composition|Advanced Display Options]].