> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.talentmap.com/knowledge-base/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.talentmap.com/knowledge-base/survey-design-and-deployment/creating-surveys-quick-start/survey-designer-complete-guide.md). # Survey Designer - Complete Guide The Survey Designer is your workspace for creating and editing surveys. You add questions, customize appearance, organize content into pages, and preview the participant experience before launching. *** ## What the Survey Designer does The designer gives you a visual workspace where every change shows up as you make it. Key capabilities: * Copy and paste for bulk content entry * Real-time preview on multiple devices * Auto-save * Page-based organization * Question-level customization * Questionnaire templates for reusable survey structures *** ## Getting started ### Creating a new survey From the Surveys page: 1. Click the **New Survey** button 2. Enter an **internal title** for your survey * This is for your team's reference only * Participants won't see this title * Example: "Q1 2026 Engagement Survey - Engineering" 3. Choose how to start: * **From a template**: browse and select a questionnaire template, then click **OK**. Your survey is created with all the template's questions pre-loaded. * **From scratch**: click the **CREATE NEW** button, then click **OK**. Your survey is created with an empty questionnaire. {% hint style="info" %} **Name for your future self.** Use descriptive internal titles that include the survey type, time period, and target audience. That keeps things organized as your survey library grows. {% endhint %} ### The Survey Designer interface You'll arrive at the **Survey Designer**: * **Left sidebar**: page navigation and question list * **Center panel**: question designer workspace * **Right toolbar**: question type selector and settings * **Top bar**: save, preview, and settings options ### Designer tab * Where you build and edit your survey * Add questions, configure settings, arrange pages * Make all content and design changes here ### Preview tab * See exactly what participants experience * Test on different device sizes (desktop, tablet, mobile) * Complete the survey to test flow and logic * No data is saved during preview ### Top bar options * **Save**: manual save (the survey auto-saves as you work) * **Settings icon**: survey-level settings * **Preview device selector**: switch between device views * **Back arrow**: return to the Surveys list *** ## Using questionnaire templates When you click **New Survey**, a dialog opens with template selection. Templates are pre-built questionnaire structures that save you from building common surveys from scratch. ### Browsing templates Templates are organized into three tabs: * **TALENTMAP TEMPLATES**: best-practice questionnaires designed by TalentMap's consulting team. Available to all users. * **MY TEMPLATES**: templates you've personally saved. Only visible to you. * **SHARED TEMPLATES**: templates shared by others in your organization. Each template card shows the template name, number of pages, and number of questions. Use the **search field** above the tabs to filter templates by name within the current tab. ### Creating a survey from a template 1. Enter your survey title 2. Browse or search for a template 3. Click a template card to select it. It highlights with an orange border. 4. Click **OK** 5. You land on the Design Survey page with all questions from the template already in place 6. Customize as needed: add, remove, or edit any questions {% hint style="info" %} **Templates are a starting point, not a constraint.** Once created, the survey is fully independent. You can change anything without affecting the original template. {% endhint %} ### Saving a questionnaire as a template Built a questionnaire you want to reuse? Save it as a template: 1. Open a survey and go to the **Design Survey** page 2. Make sure the questionnaire has at least one question 3. Click **"SAVE AS TEMPLATE"** in the toolbar 4. A dialog opens with the name pre-filled as "\[Survey Name] Template". Edit if you want. 5. Choose a category: * **My template**: only you can see and use it (default) * **Shared templates (visible in your organization)**: everyone in your organization can see and use it * **TalentMap templates**: available to all Compass users (TalentMap Admin only) 6. Click **OK** The template stores a copy of the questionnaire. Your original survey is not modified. ### Managing templates Deleting a template: 1. Open the New Survey dialog 2. Navigate to the tab containing the template 3. Click the **trash icon** on the template card (only visible on templates you have permission to delete) 4. Confirm the deletion {% hint style="info" %} **Deleting a template does not affect surveys already created from it.** Templates are a copy source. Once a survey exists, it's independent. {% endhint %} Editing a template: templates cannot be edited directly. To update one, delete the existing template and save a new version from an updated questionnaire. ### Template permissions | Action | Regular User | TalentMap Admin | | ------------------------- | -------------- | --------------- | | View TalentMap Templates | Yes | Yes | | Create TalentMap Template | No | Yes | | Delete TalentMap Template | No | Yes | | View/Create My Templates | Yes (own only) | Yes (own only) | | Delete My Templates | Yes (own only) | Yes (own only) | | View Shared Templates | Yes (own org) | Yes (own org) | | Create Shared Template | Yes | Yes | | Delete Shared Template | Yes (own only) | Yes (own only) | *** ## Survey settings ### Basic survey information **Survey Title (participant-facing):** * Click into the title field at the top of the designer * This is what participants see when taking the survey * Keep it clear and concise * Example: "Employee Engagement Survey" **Survey Description:** * (Optional) appears below the title * Explains the survey purpose and sets expectations * Can include timing estimates and confidentiality statements * Example: "This 10-minute survey helps us understand your experience and improve our workplace. All responses are confidential." **Logo:** * (Optional) click Add Logo to upload * Appears at the top of the survey * Recommended size: 200px wide, 60 to 80px tall * Accepts PNG, JPG, SVG formats ### General settings Access these from the settings icon. **Page Numbers:** * Toggle ON to show participants their progress, for example "Page 1 of 5" * Helps participants understand survey length * Recommended for surveys with 3 or more pages **Required Questions:** * Set individual questions as required * Participants cannot proceed without answering * Use sparingly, because forced responses can reduce quality **Survey Completion:** * Customize the completion message * Add a redirect URL after completion (optional) * Set up thank you page content *** ## Building your survey ### Adding questions To add a question: 1. Click the **Add Question** button (it appears between questions or at the page bottom) 2. Select a question type from the menu 3. The question appears in the designer Question types available: * Checkboxes * Radio Button Group * Dropdown * Long Text * Single-Line Input * Text / Instruction * Single-Select Matrix * Ranked Choice (see [Ranked Choice Questions](/knowledge-base/survey-design-and-deployment/creating-surveys-quick-start/ranked-choice-questions.md)) *** ## Question types in detail ### Single-Select Matrix **Best for:** multiple related questions using the same scale. How to build: 1. Add question type: **Single-Select Matrix** 2. **Question Title**: enter the instructions participants will see. Example: "Please rate your agreement with the following statements" 3. **Add row items** (the questions): * Best practice: copy from your source document * Click the first row field * Paste all items at once (they populate automatically) * Or click **Add Row** to add one at a time 4. **Add column headers** (the scale): * Click the **Columns** section on the right panel * Best practice: copy the entire scale and paste * Or click **Add Column** to add one at a time Example setup: ``` Question Title: "Rate your agreement with these statements:" Rows (copied from document): - I am proud to tell others I work for TalentMap - I am optimistic about the future of TalentMap - I would recommend TalentMap as a great place to work Columns (copied as a set): - Strongly Disagree - Disagree - Neither Agree nor Disagree - Agree - Strongly Agree ``` Configuration options: * **Required**: make participants answer all rows * **Row/Column Order**: drag to reorder or randomize * **Description**: add clarifying text below the title * **Delete Rows/Columns**: click the X icon on each item {% hint style="info" %} **Prep matrix questions in Excel.** Put rows in one column and scale items in another. Copy each section and paste into the designer for instant population. {% endhint %} ### Radio Button Group **Best for:** single choice from 3 to 7 options. How to build: 1. Add question type: **Radio Button Group** 2. **Question Text**: enter your question 3. Add options: * Best practice: copy all options from your document * Click the first option field * Paste (all options populate) * Or click **Add Item** for individual entry Example setup: ``` Question: "How often do you receive feedback from your manager?" Options (copied as a set): - Daily - Weekly - Monthly - Quarterly - Rarely - Never ``` Configuration options: * **Required**: force a selection * **Allow "Other"**: add a text field for custom responses * **Description**: add clarifying text When to use: * Frequency questions * Single-choice rating scales * Yes/No/Maybe questions * Small category selections ### Checkboxes **Best for:** multiple selections allowed. How to build: 1. Add question type: **Checkboxes** 2. **Question Text**: include "(Select all that apply)" for clarity 3. Add options: * Same copy and paste process as Radio Button Group * Click the first field, then paste all options Example setup: ``` Question: "Which benefits are most important to you? (Select all that apply)" Options: - Health Insurance - Retirement Matching - Flexible Work Hours - Professional Development - Paid Time Off - Remote Work Options ``` Configuration options: * **Minimum/Maximum Selections**: require at least X or limit to Y choices * **Required**: participants must select at least one When to use: * "Select all that apply" questions * Multi-interest surveys * Benefit preferences * Training topic selections ### Dropdown **Best for:** single choice from many options (8 or more). How to build: 1. Add question type: **Dropdown** 2. **Question Text**: enter your question 3. Add options: * Same copy and paste method * Particularly useful for long lists such as departments and locations Example setup: ``` Question: "Which department do you work in?" Options (20+ items): - Accounting - Administration - Customer Success - Engineering - Finance - Human Resources - IT - Legal - Marketing - Operations [... etc.] ``` Configuration options: * **Required**: force a selection * **Placeholder Text**: default text shown, for example "Select your department..." When to use: * Long option lists (departments, locations, job titles) * Demographic questions with many categories * Any single-select with 8 or more options {% hint style="info" %} **Radio buttons or dropdown?** Use radio buttons for 3 to 7 options, which are visible at once. Use a dropdown for 8 or more options, which saves screen space. {% endhint %} ### Long Text **Best for:** open-ended responses requiring multiple lines. How to build: 1. Add question type: **Long Text** 2. **Question Text**: enter your question, and be specific about what you're asking for 3. Configure the text area size Example setup: ``` Question: "What suggestions do you have for improving employee engagement at TalentMap?" (Large text area appears for response) ``` Configuration options: * **Required**: make a response mandatory. Use carefully, because open-ended questions take more effort. * **Placeholder Text**: prompt text inside the box, for example "Please be specific..." When to use: * "What suggestions..." questions * "Describe your experience..." prompts * Any question needing detailed explanation * Feedback and comment sections Best practices: * Be specific in your question to get useful responses * Don't make too many open-ended questions required * Place them at the end of sections, so they're easier to skip if needed * Use character limits only if necessary ### Single-Line Input **Best for:** short text responses on one line. How to build: 1. Add question type: **Single-Line Input** 2. **Question Text**: enter your question 3. Configure the input field Example setup: ``` Question: "What is your current job title?" (Single line input field appears) ``` Configuration options: * **Required**: make a response mandatory * **Placeholder Text**: example text, for example "e.g., Senior Accountant" When to use: * Job titles * Employee IDs (if not auto-populated) * Short numerical answers * Single-word responses Best practices: * Use placeholder text to show the expected format * Set the input type for automatic validation * Consider a dropdown if responses should be standardized ### Text / Instruction **Best for:** display-only text for section headers and instructions. How to build: 1. Add question type: **Text / Instruction** 2. Enter your text. Formatting options are available. 3. Style as needed Example setup: ``` "Section 2: Leadership and Management The following questions ask about your experience with your direct manager and organizational leadership." ``` Configuration options: * **Text Formatting**: bold, italic, lists, headings * **Styling**: different text sizes and emphasis * **Links**: add hyperlinks if needed When to use: * Section dividers between question groups * Additional instructions or clarifications * Context for upcoming questions * Confidentiality reminders Best practices: * Use sparingly, because too many instructions slow down completion * Keep text concise * Use formatting (bold, larger text) for section headers * Place before relevant question groups *** ## Copy and paste best practices ### Why copy and paste is recommended Efficiency: * 5 to 10 times faster than manual entry * Populate entire matrices in seconds * Reduce repetitive typing Accuracy: * No typos from manual entry * Consistent wording across questions * Easier to review before building Collaboration: * Stakeholders can review the Word or Excel version * Make edits in familiar tools * Version control outside Compass ### Preparing your content Recommended workflow: 1. Draft all survey content in Word or Excel 2. Organize by sections and pages 3. Format questions and response options clearly 4. Get stakeholder approval 5. Copy into the Survey Designer Excel or Google Sheets format: ``` Column A: Question Text Column B: Option 1 Column C: Option 2 Column D: Option 3 [etc.] This makes copying scales and options very easy ``` ### Copy and paste by question type Single-Select Matrix, for row items (questions): ``` Source document (each on a new line): I feel supported by my manager I receive regular feedback I have clear goals In the designer: Click first row → Paste → All rows populate ``` Single-Select Matrix, for column headers (scale): ``` Source document (each on a new line or tab-separated): Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree nor Disagree Agree Strongly Agree In the designer: Go to Columns panel → Paste → Entire scale populates ``` Radio buttons, checkboxes, and dropdowns: ``` Source document (each option on a new line): Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 In the designer: Click first option field → Paste → All options appear ``` Question text: copy and paste into the question field. This works for all question types, and formatting is preserved (bold, italic, and so on). *** ## Pages and navigation ### Creating pages Pages organize your survey into sections: * Group related questions together * Break up long surveys for better completion rates * Add page-level instructions To create a new page: 1. Click **Add Question** at the bottom of the current page 2. This automatically creates a new page below 3. The new page appears in the left sidebar Best practices: * 3 to 7 questions per page (not a hard rule) * Group questions by topic or theme * Use Text/Instruction at the top of each page for section headers ### Page settings **Page Description:** * Click the page settings (gear icon on the page card) * Add a description that appears at the top * Use it for section introductions or special instructions **Page Visibility:** * Set conditions for when pages should display (covered in the Logic guide) * Hide irrelevant sections based on previous answers ### Managing pages Reordering pages: * Go to the **General** tab in the left sidebar * Find the **Pages** section * Drag pages to reorder * Changes take effect immediately Deleting pages: * From the General tab, click the delete icon on the page * This deletes all questions on that page, and it cannot be undone Navigating between pages: * Use the left sidebar to jump to any page * Scroll in the main designer area * Page names show in the sidebar for quick reference {% hint style="info" %} **Question and page order is manual.** Compass does not randomize the order of whole questions or pages. You can randomize the order of answer options within a question, and the rows or columns of a matrix question, from the question's settings panel. {% endhint %} *** ## Question-level settings ### Making questions required To require a response: 1. Select the question 2. Toggle **Required** ON in the right panel 3. The question shows an asterisk (\*) to participants Best practices: * Don't make too many questions required * **Always required**: key demographic data * **Sometimes required**: core engagement items * **Rarely required**: open-ended feedback questions {% hint style="warning" %} **Required questions can reduce completion rates.** Use them on your most critical questions only. {% endhint %} ### Adding question descriptions To add clarifying text: 1. Select the question 2. Find the **Description** field in the right panel 3. Add text that appears below the question When to use: * Complex questions needing clarification * Examples of what you're asking for * Confidentiality reminders for sensitive topics Example: ``` Question: "Rate your satisfaction with professional development opportunities" Description: "This includes training courses, conferences, mentorship programs, and tuition reimbursement." ``` ### Question validation Set rules for acceptable responses: * For numeric inputs: min and max values * For matrix questions: force a response to all rows To access validation: 1. Select the question 2. Find the **Validation** section in the right panel 3. Choose the validation type and set parameters *** ## Preview and testing ### Using preview mode To preview your survey: 1. Click the **Preview** tab at the top 2. The survey displays exactly as participants see it 3. Complete the survey to test the full experience What to test: * Question clarity and wording * Response options make sense * Required questions are marked * Page flow and organization * Survey completion time * Overall participant experience {% hint style="info" %} **Have a colleague complete the preview.** They'll catch issues you might miss. {% endhint %} ### Device preview Test on different screen sizes: 1. Click the device selector in preview mode 2. Choose from Desktop, Tablet, iPhone, Android 3. Check that questions display properly on all devices What to check: * Matrix questions fit on mobile screens * Text is readable on small screens * Buttons and selections work on touch screens * Page transitions are smooth Common mobile issues: * Small text in descriptions * Too many options in radio button groups *** ## Saving your survey ### Auto-save How it works: * The survey saves automatically as you make changes * No need to manually save in most cases * Look for the "Saved" indicator in the top bar When auto-save runs: * After adding or editing questions * When changing settings * After reordering pages * Periodically while working ### Manual save To manually save: * Click the **Save** button in the top bar * Use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+S / Cmd+S) When to manually save: * Before closing the browser * After major changes * Before previewing * Before stepping away from your computer ### Survey status **Draft:** * The survey is being built * Not accessible to participants * You can make unlimited changes **Active:** * The survey is live and accepting responses * See Scheduling Survey Emails to launch * You can still make limited edits (avoid changing question meaning) *** ## Troubleshooting | Issue | Likely cause | Resolution | | --------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | I can't see all my question options | Options are there but the list is scrollable. The interface only shows visible options. | Scroll within the options panel on the right, or expand the question card to see all items. | | My matrix question looks crowded | Too many columns for the screen width. Common with 7-point or larger scales. | Reduce the scale to 5 points. Accept that mobile users will scroll horizontally. | | Copy and paste created duplicate items | The source had blank lines or extra returns, or content was pasted into the wrong field. | Delete duplicates using the X icon. Re-copy, making sure there are no blank lines in the source. | | Question doesn't show in preview | The question is on a hidden page, display logic is filtering it out, or the question type is Text/Instruction (these don't require responses). | Check the page visibility and the display logic (see the Logic guide). | | I can't delete a question | The question is referenced in logic or conditions, or the survey is active with responses (limited editing). | Remove all logic referencing the question first, then delete the question. | | Changes aren't saving | Varies | Click the **Save** button. Check your internet connection. Refresh the page and check if changes persisted. Contact support if the issue continues. | | **SAVE AS TEMPLATE** button is disabled | The questionnaire has no questions yet. | Add at least one question to the questionnaire, then the button becomes active. | | Template doesn't appear after saving | The template list needs to refresh. | Close and reopen the New Survey dialog to see the newly saved template. | *** ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I edit a survey after it's been sent to participants? Limited editing is allowed. You can add new questions at the end, fix obvious typos, and add pages. You cannot change question wording significantly, delete questions (responses are lost), or change the response scale and options. Test thoroughly before launching. ### Can I randomize the order of the questions? No. Compass does not randomize the order of whole questions or pages, so question and page order stays as you set it in the designer. You can randomize answer options within a question and the rows or columns of a matrix question. See the question's settings panel. ### How do I reuse a questionnaire structure across surveys? Use questionnaire templates: 1. Open the survey with the questionnaire you want to reuse 2. Go to Design Survey and click **"SAVE AS TEMPLATE"** 3. Name the template and choose a category 4. When creating a new survey, select the template from the New Survey dialog Templates are ideal for: * Standard engagement, exit, pulse, or 360 surveys your organization runs repeatedly * Sharing best-practice questionnaires across your team (use Shared Templates) * Keeping consistency when multiple people create surveys You can also copy an entire survey. From the Surveys list, find the survey and click the copy icon, then rename and edit the copy. That works better when you also need to preserve survey settings, branding, and email campaigns, not just the questionnaire. {% hint style="info" %} **Save a clean template at the end of each cycle.** Do it before you start making changes, so you keep a clean version for future reuse without duplicating the entire survey. {% endhint %} ### Can I copy individual questions between surveys? Not directly, but you have two options. If you want to reuse an entire questionnaire structure, save it as a template. For individual questions, copy the question text and options from one survey into a document, then paste into the new survey using the copy and paste method described above. ### What's the maximum number of questions? The technical limit is 500 questions per survey. The practical limit is 30 to 60 questions for optimal completion rates. We recommend 15 to 20 for pulse surveys, 30 to 60 for annual engagement, and 5 to 10 for exit surveys. ### Can I require answers to some but not all questions? Yes, set **Required** on individual questions. Require the demographics you need for reporting and make most survey content optional. That keeps completion rates high. ### How do I preview on my actual phone? Use device preview in Preview mode, which is simulated. Or send a test link to yourself: set up an email campaign (see the Scheduling guide), add your email as a test participant, send now, and complete it on your device. ### Can participants save and return later? Yes, if they use the same device and browser. Progress is saved automatically, they can close and return using the same link, and responses persist until survey completion. They must use the same browser and device, clearing cookies loses progress, and a different device starts over. ### How do I make my survey anonymous? The survey is anonymous by default if you don't ask for identifying information (name, employee ID), demographic questions are optional, and you communicate anonymity to participants. See also the privacy settings in survey configuration. ### Can I test the survey without affecting real data? Yes, use **Preview mode**. No data is saved during preview. For full testing with a live link, send a test email from the Schedule survey page. ### How are question counts calculated on template cards? Each question type counts as 1 question, except **matrix questions**, which count the number of rows (each row becomes a separate data point in reports). For example, a matrix with 5 rows counts as 5 questions. ### Can someone in my organization see my personal templates? No. **My template** is private to you. Only **Shared templates** are visible to other users in your organization. TalentMap templates are visible to all Compass users. ### What happens if I delete a template? The template is permanently removed from the template list. Any surveys already created from that template are completely unaffected. Templates are a copy source, so once a survey is created it's independent of the template. ### Can I edit a template after saving it? Not directly. To update a template, delete the old one and save a new version from an updated questionnaire. *** ## Related Articles * [Creating Surveys - Quick Start](https://docs.talentmap.com/knowledge-base/survey-design-and-deployment/creating-surveys-quick-start) * [Survey Logic and Display Conditions - Complete Guide](/knowledge-base/survey-design-and-deployment/survey-logic-and-display-conditions-quick-start/survey-logic-and-display-conditions-complete-guide.md) * [Questionnaire Library](/knowledge-base/survey-design-and-deployment/creating-surveys-quick-start/questionnaire-library.md) * [Ranked Choice Questions](/knowledge-base/survey-design-and-deployment/creating-surveys-quick-start/ranked-choice-questions.md) --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. 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