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Building surveys

Dropdown

Pick one option from a collapsed list.

One choice from a compact list, useful when many options would take up too much space.

Try an answer, then check it. Turn Required off to try leaving it blank.

Try this question

Interactive example. Answers stay on this page and are not submitted. Reset or changing the configuration clears answers and restores Required.

  1. The T button enables a text-entry field for this option.
  2. Drag the dotted handle to reorder an option.
  3. Add Item creates another choice.
Multiple Choice shown. Checkboxes and Dropdown use the same option controls.
  1. Enable the Other write-in choice.
  2. Set the label respondents select.
  3. Set a prompt for the write-in text.
Multiple Choice shown. These Other settings also apply to Checkboxes and Dropdown.

All settings

Select + in the editor, choose Dropdown, then select the question and open Content.

All questions also have Title and Description. Replace the starter title with your question; Description is optional and starts blank. Use it for instructions that should remain visible while answering. The defaults below are for a newly added question, not necessarily the example above. The example starts with Required on so you can try validation; real new questions default to optional.

SettingDefaultBehaviour and availability
OptionsOption 1 and Option 2Edit labels, add choices and drag to reorder them.
Text EntryOff per optionUse the text-entry control beside an option to show a follow-up when that option is selected.
Text Entry PlaceholderBlankAppears below an option when its Text Entry setting is on.
Randomize OrderOffCurrently does not shuffle the respondent view for this question type.
Enable "Other" OptionOffAdds a separate write-in choice.
Other LabelOtherVisible under Other Option Settings only when Other is enabled.
Other PlaceholderPlease specify…Visible only when Other is enabled; prompts for the write-in answer.
Option attributesNoneIn Advanced → Option attributes, add named values for choices. Requires Essential.
RequiredOffUnder Validation. Requires an answer before continuing when this question is shown.

Text entry and Other solve different needs

Text Entry adds an explanation to a known choice. For example, enable it on “Data analysis” and set its placeholder to “Which analysis technique?”. Other is a separate choice for an answer that does not fit any listed topic. Its label and prompt are configured once under Other Option Settings.

In the example, switch between ordinary options, an option with text entry, and Other. Select the relevant choice to reveal the input. Changing a single-choice answer clears the previous choice's follow-up; deselecting a checkbox clears that option's follow-up.

Required applies to the selection

The current answer validation does not require text inside a selected option's follow-up or Other input. If an explanation must be mandatory, use a separate required text question with the appropriate branching rule.

Maintain the option list

Keep labels distinct. Dragging changes their order; deleting and recreating an option gives it a new reference, so recheck conditions and pipes that use it. Add codes or weights through option attributes when you need a value separate from the label.

The Randomize Order switch is visible but currently does not affect this question's respondent view. See randomization before relying on it.

One selection at a time

Required means one choice must be selected. Selecting a different choice replaces the earlier selection; it does not add a second answer. Use Checkboxes when several answers may apply.

Dropdown has no separate configurable placeholder. Its closed control uses the built-in selection prompt.

Branching and piping

Open Advanced → Conditional Logic to route from an answer. In fields that offer { }, use piping to insert an earlier answer. Plan requirements apply to advanced logic, expressions and option attributes; these are separate from the Content settings above.