Using Column Format Answers

You can format answers to a question in multiple columns, with different answer types, and across multiple rows. 

For Example:

The available Answer Formats are:

• Text Field
• Number (number entry with decimals allowed)
• Integer (number entry with no decimal point allowed)
• Drop Down List (you can specify multiple list Items with the same heading which will be formatted as a single list)
• Multi Line Text (Shows with an Update button in the response, which expands to an HTML Text dialogue box)
• Date (with calendar control) Shows in the Format specified on the Assessments Settings, Design Tab.

Creating Column Format Answers

1. To use Column Format Select "Column Format" in the Answer Format and then add answers using the Add Answers Box (see 5 below)
2. Use the Answer number to order the answers.
3. The Answer Heading can be entered here or in the Answer Options dialogue. 
   • For Drop Down Lists, the system will format the values into a single list if the Answer Heading is the same and the Answer Numbers are consecutive.  The values are set in the answer options dialogue box.
4. Each Answer can have a separate format from the list above.  
5. Select from the Default Answers List and click Add to add answers. The Default Answers list includes all available formats, but you can add combinations to the Default Answer Groups if you want to add multiple similar column format questions. 

Answer Options (fields specific to Column format)

1. The Answer will normally be blank for Text, Long Text Date, and Numeric fields (but will prepopulate the answer if entered) - but will be entered for Drop down lists.
2. The Answer Heading appears above ever Answer, For Dropdown lists all of the consecutive entries with the same Answer Heading will appear as part of one drop down list.
3. Fields can be spread over multiple rows. Specify the row when fields are overflowing the first Row.
4. Specify the width of the field from 1/12th of the content panel width to 12/12. Additional rows will automatically be created on smaller format screens to handle.

Creating the merge string for column format answers:

In this example, we want to add the respondents answer '45 meters' to the report for this question:

1. Press edit on your column format question and take note of the answer numbers of the answers you want to merge into your report.

2. Then head to 'answer options' for the first column format answer.

3. In the report text, use the merge fields to add a merge string for the answer text you want to pull in. In this example, we are adding it 3 times. This is for the numeric input, then for each dropdown box answer.

Tip for drop-down answers: For drop-down answers, you need to add a merge string for each possible drop-down answer. Make sure there are no spaces between merge strings for each dropdown list.

4. Manually add 'An Title=N' to each merge string (n equals the answer number). Ensure there is a space before the 'Ann' and no space after 'Title=N' to keep the merge string in the right format.

5. In your report template, create a merge string for the answer report text with the A1 added to it.

example: {ResponseAnswer.AnswerReportText[S3 SS1 Q20 A1]}

6. once you run the report, the merged text in your report shows as 45 metres. Success!

You can read more about Column Format Answers in our recent blog:  Get in line! Meet Column Format Answers | Brilliant Assessments