There are 10 types of questions in Form Builder. Each is designed to collect data in a different way.  The secret to designing a really good survey or quiz is to ensure you’re using the most appropriate type of question for the type of information you’re trying to gather.

So think about what information you’re trying to find out, then think about the type of data you’d need for it, and then consider which type of question will be most appropriate for gathering that data.

Also, when you are creating questions, note that each question type has specific features, found under the three-dot menu in the lower right.  Take some time to explore these settings.

The eye icon is the “Preview” button. Clicking on this icon allows you to see how your form will appear to respondents. This feature is useful for checking the layout, formatting, and functionality of your form before sharing it with others. When you click the eye icon, a new tab opens displaying the form as if you were a respondent, letting you experience the form from their perspective and catch any potential issues or make final adjustments.

Click a form field to add and edit a question. To add more questions, click the Add question icon, which looks like a plus sign (+), in the floating toolbar next to your question box. And to modify the question type, click the dropdown next to the question field.

How to Choose Question Types

Form builder offers ten different question types. Here’s what each one does:

Short answer form questions

Short answer questions allow for a single line answer. From the three dots menu, this answer can be validated:

• as a number, and also with various possible constraints for which numbers are allowed,
• as text, constraining whether it contains or doesn’t contains something,
• as a URL or email address,
• using length, with a minimum or maximum length constraint,
• using regular expressions, which allows you to make personalized pattern validations.

You can set a custom error message to show when the answer fails the validation.

Paragraph form questions

A paragraph question allows for a multi-line text answer. It can be validated with a minimum or a maximum length or a regular expression, and you can set a custom message to show if the validation fails.

Multiple Choice, Checkboxes, and Dropdown form questions

These three types of questions let the respondent choose between multiple prewritten options. Where multiple choice or dropdown allow for a single answer, checkboxes allow respondents to select multiple options.

The difference between multiple choice and dropdown is that in dropdown all the options are hidden inside the menu until it is selected. In multiple choice, all options are always visible.

Both checkboxes and multiple choice allow for an “other” option where the respondent can fill in what they want. In all of these types of questions, the option order can be shuffled.

Linear Scale form questions

This type of question creates a scale starting from 1 or 0, with a maximum number of 10. The respondents will select a point on the scale that they feel best reflects what they think.

Multiple Choice grid and Tickboxes grid questions

These questions create a grid where each row is a multiple choice or tickboxes question.

Multiple-choice create a grid from which people can select one answer per row. Tickboxes create a grid from which people can select one or more answer per row.

In addition to the standard option to require a response for each question, the multiple choice grid lets you limit users to only one response per column.

In tickboxes grid, you can limit users to choosing just one answer per row, and you can also shuffle the row order to eliminate bias. 

You can also set the order of the rows to shuffle in both type of questions.

Date and Time form questions

The Date type question will let respondents insert a date. There are the options to include or not include the year, or to include or not include the time. The Time type question will let respondents insert a time or a duration.

How to Divide the Form into Sections

Simple forms need only a few fields, but longer surveys can quickly get overwhelming with dozens of questions listed on one page. That’s where sections come in handy: Sections can be used to divide the Form in pages, and each section is shown separately to the respondent.

You can create a new section from the last button in the floating menu to the right of the page. From the three dots menu near the title of the section, you can duplicate the current section, move it to another position in the document, or delete it. And you can customize each section with a description.

How to navigate between sections

If you want to add any questions to a different section, it’s simple! Just drag and drop them between sections. You can make it so that, at the end of a section, the respondents will be redirected to a section that is not the next one in order.

You can set this by the drop down menu at the end of a section.

Or you can use the setting that gives to a multiple choice or dropdown question the power to determine to which section to go based on the selected answer. If a respondent selects an answer that has redirecting power, that wins over the end of section option.

Let’s say you want to ask a respondent follow-up questions based on their answer. This is where form Conditional logic, or “logic jumps,” comes in.

1. Create a multiple-choice or dropdown question as you normally would. Note: Form logic doesn’t work with other question types. 

2. Click the More options icon, which looks like an ellipsis (⁝), in the question box, and then click Go to section based on answer.

3. Modify the next-step options beside each answer. In the example below, anyone who answers that they’re attending the event in person will be brought to the next question; anyone who is attending virtually or not at all will be directed to the end of the survey. 

How to Use Response Validation:

You can also set up each question as you require, making certain responses required. This way, it’s impossible to submit the form without filling in that answer. For certain question types it is also possible to customize a response validation.

• At the bottom of the question box, click on the three-dot menu (more options).
• From the menu that appears, select “Response validation.”

Select Your Question

Click on the question to which you want to apply response validation. 

Let’s first have a look on Short Answer and Paragraph. 

Set the Criteria

Once you click on “Response validation,” new options will appear under the question. Choose the type of validation you need (e.g., Text, Number, Length, Regular expression, etc.). Then, set the specific criteria based on the type chosen (e.g., Number, Greater than).

You can write custom error text that respondents will see if they don’t meet the validation criteria. Enter this message in the field that appears below the validation rules.

1. Text Length: You can specify the minimum and/or maximum number of characters allowed in the response. This is useful for ensuring responses are concise or detailed enough as needed.

   • • Example: “Response must be at least 10 characters.”

2. Regular Expression: This allows you to set a custom pattern that the response must match. Regular expressions are powerful for enforcing complex validation rules, such as specific formats for codes, emails, or custom data patterns.

   • • Example: “Response must match the pattern for a valid email address.”

3. Number: If you expect a numeric answer, you can set conditions such as:

   • • Greater than: Ensures the number is above a certain value.
     • Less than: Ensures the number is below a certain value.
     • Equal to: Ensures the number matches a specific value.
     • Between: Ensures the number falls within a specific range.
     • Example: “Response must be a number between 1 and 100.”

4. Text: You can validate that the response contains or does not contain certain text, or you can specify that the response must be a valid email address or URL.

   • • Example: “Response must contain the word ‘project’.”

Now let’s have a look on response validation of Checkbox question.

1. Select at least:

   • • You can set a minimum number of checkboxes that must be selected.
     • Example: If you need attendees to choose at least two preferences for breakout sessions, you can set the minimum selection to 2

2. Select at most:

   • • You can limit the maximum number of checkboxes that can be selected.
     • Example: If there are limited slots available for workshops, you can restrict attendees to select no more than three options.

3. Select exact:

   • • You can require users to select an exact number of checkboxes.
     • Example: For a balanced opinion poll, you might require exactly three choices to be selected.

You can give a enter a custom error message that will be displayed if the user does not meet the selection criteria. This helps guide respondents to correct their input.

• • • Example: “Please select at least two options” or “You can select up to three options.”