# Survey Designer - Complete Guide

## What is the Survey Designer?

The Survey Designer is your workspace for creating and editing surveys. It provides a visual designer where you can add questions, customize appearance, organize content into pages, and preview the participant experience before launching.

**Key capabilities:**

* Copy/paste for bulk content entry
* Real-time preview on multiple devices
* Auto-save functionality
* Page-based organization
* Question-level customization
* Questionnaire templates for reusable survey structures

***

### Getting Started

#### Creating a New Survey

From the Surveys page:

1. Click **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

> 📋 **Naming Convention Tip:** Use descriptive internal titles that include the survey type, time period, and target audience. This helps with organization as your survey library grows.

#### 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

> 💡 **Tip:** Templates are a starting point, not a constraint. Once created, the survey is fully independent — you can change anything without affecting the original template.

**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 desired
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" %} **Important:** 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.

**Permissions:**

| Action                    | Regular User | TalentMap Admin |
| ------------------------- | ------------ | --------------- |
| View TalentMap Templates  | ✅            | ✅               |
| Create TalentMap Template | ❌            | ✅               |
| Delete TalentMap Template | ❌            | ✅               |
| View/Create My Templates  | ✅ (own only) | ✅ (own only)    |
| Delete My Templates       | ✅ (own only) | ✅ (own only)    |
| View Shared Templates     | ✅ (own org)  | ✅ (own org)     |
| Create Shared Template    | ✅            | ✅               |
| Delete Shared Template    | ✅ (own only) | ✅ (own only)    |

***

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

#### Understanding the Interface

**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 will 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 (survey auto-saves as you work)
* **Settings Icon:** Survey-level settings
* **Preview Device Selector:** Switch between device views
* **Back Arrow:** Return to Surveys list

***

### 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, 60-80px tall
* Accepts PNG, JPG, SVG formats

#### General Settings

Access from the settings icon:

**Page Numbers:**

* Toggle on to show participants their progress (e.g., "Page 1 of 5")
* Helps participants understand survey length
* Recommended for surveys with 3+ pages

**Required Questions:**

* Set individual questions as required
* Participants cannot proceed without answering
* Use sparingly — forced responses can reduce quality

**Survey Completion:**

* Customize completion message
* Add redirect URL after completion (optional)
* Set up thank you page content

***

### Building Your Survey

#### Adding Questions

To add a question:

1. Click **Add Question** button (appears between questions or at page bottom)
2. Select question type from the menu
3. Question appears in the designer

**Question types available:**

* Checkboxes
* Radio Button Group
* Dropdown
* Long Text
* Single-Line Input
* Text / Instruction
* Single-Select Matrix

***

#### Question Types — Detailed Guide

**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'll 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 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 X icon on each item

> ⚡ **Speed Tip:** Prepare matrix questions in Excel with rows in one column and scale items in another. Copy each section and paste into the builder for instant population.

**Radio Button Group**

**Best for:** Single choice from 3-7 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 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 text field for custom responses
* **Randomize Options:** Present in random order
* **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/paste process as Radio Button Group
   * Click first field → 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
* **Allow "Other":** Text field for write-ins
* **Randomize Options:** Mix up presentation order

**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+)

**How to build:**

1. Add question type: **Dropdown**
2. **Question Text:** Enter your question
3. **Add options:**
   * Same copy/paste method
   * Particularly useful for long lists (departments, 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 (e.g., "Select your department...")
* **Allow Search:** For very long lists, enable type-to-search

**When to use:**

* Long option lists (departments, locations, job titles)
* Demographic questions with many categories
* Any single-select with 8+ options

> 💡 **Radio vs. Dropdown:** Use radio buttons for 3-7 options (visible at once). Use dropdown for 8+ options (saves screen space).

**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 (be specific about what you're asking for)
3. Configure 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 response mandatory (use carefully — open-ended questions take more effort)
* **Placeholder Text:** Prompt text inside the box (e.g., "Please be specific...")
* **Row Height:** Adjust size of text area
* **Character Limit:** Set maximum length (optional)

**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 at the end of sections (easier to skip if needed)
* Use character limits only if necessary

**Single-Line Input**

**Best for:** Short text responses (one line)

**How to build:**

1. Add question type: **Single-Line Input**
2. **Question Text:** Enter your question
3. Configure input field

**Example setup:**

```
Question: "What is your current job title?"

(Single line input field appears)
```

**Configuration options:**

* **Required:** Make response mandatory
* **Placeholder Text:** Example text (e.g., "e.g., Senior Accountant")
* **Input Type:** Text, Number, Email, etc.
* **Validation:** Format checking for emails, numbers

**When to use:**

* Job titles
* Employee IDs (if not auto-populated)
* Short numerical answers
* Single-word responses

**Best practices:**

* Use placeholder text to show expected format
* Set input type for automatic validation
* Consider 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 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 — too many instructions slow down completion
* Keep text concise
* Use formatting (bold, larger text) for section headers
* Place before relevant question groups

***

### Copy/Paste Best Practices

#### Why Copy/Paste is Recommended

**Efficiency:**

* 5-10x 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 Word/Excel version
* Make edits in familiar tools
* Version control outside the platform

#### Preparing Your Content

**Recommended workflow:**

1. Draft all survey content in Word or Excel
2. Organize by sections/pages
3. Format questions and response options clearly
4. Get stakeholder approval
5. Copy into Survey Builder

**Excel/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/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 builder: Click first row → Paste → All rows populate
```

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 builder: Go to Columns panel → Paste → Entire scale populates
```

**Radio Buttons / Checkboxes / Dropdowns:**

```
Source document (each option on a new line):
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4

In builder: Click first option field → Paste → All options appear
```

**Question Text:**

Simply copy and paste into the question field. Works for all question types. Formatting is preserved (bold, italic, etc.)

#### Troubleshooting Copy/Paste

**"My paste isn't working":**

* Check that items are on separate lines in source
* Try copying one at a time first
* Remove special characters or formatting

**"Extra blank rows appeared":**

* Source document had blank lines
* Simply delete the blank rows using the X icon

**"Scale items are out of order":**

* Paste created them in order from source
* Drag and drop to reorder as needed

***

### 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:**

* 3-7 questions per page (not a hard rule)
* Group questions by topic/theme
* Use Text/Instruction at the top of each page for section headers

#### Page Settings

**Page Description:**

* Click the page settings (gear icon on page card)
* Add a description that appears at the top
* Use for section introductions or special instructions

**Page Visibility:**

* Set conditions for when pages should display (covered in Logic guide)
* Hide irrelevant sections based on previous answers

#### Managing Pages

**Reordering pages:**

* Go to **General** tab in left sidebar
* Find the **Pages** section
* Drag pages to reorder
* Changes take effect immediately

**Deleting pages:**

* From the General tab, click delete icon on page
* ⚠️ Warning: This deletes all questions on that page
* Cannot be undone

**Navigating between pages:**

* Use left sidebar to jump to any page
* Scroll in main designer area
* Page names show in sidebar for quick reference

***

### Question-Level Settings

#### Making Questions Required

To require a response:

1. Select the question
2. Toggle **Required** option in right panel
3. Question shows 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

> ⚠️ **Caution:** Required questions can reduce completion rates. Use strategically on your most critical questions only.

#### Adding Question Descriptions

To add clarifying text:

1. Select the question
2. Find **Description** field in 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/max values
* For text inputs: Character limits, format requirements
* For matrix questions: Force response to all rows

**Access validation:**

1. Select question
2. Find **Validation** section in right panel
3. Choose validation type and set parameters

***

### Preview and Testing

#### Using Preview Mode

To preview your survey:

1. Click **Preview** tab at the top
2. Survey displays exactly as participants will 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

> 💡 **Pro Tip:** Have a colleague complete the preview and give feedback. They'll catch issues you might miss.

#### Device Preview

Test on different screen sizes:

1. Click device selector in preview mode
2. Choose from: Desktop, Tablet, iPhone, Android
3. Ensure 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:**

* Survey saves automatically as you make changes
* No need to manually save in most cases
* Look for "Saved" indicator in top bar

**When auto-save runs:**

* After adding/editing questions
* When changing settings
* After reordering pages
* Periodically while working

#### Manual Save

**To manually save:**

* Click **Save** button in top bar
* Use keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+S / Cmd+S)

**When to manually save:**

* Before closing the browser
* After major changes
* Before previewing
* Before stepping away from computer

#### Survey Status

**Draft:**

* Survey is being built
* Not accessible to participants
* Can make unlimited changes

**Active:**

* Survey is live and accepting responses
* See Scheduling Survey Emails to launch
* Can still make limited edits (avoid changing question meaning)

***

### Troubleshooting Common Issues

**"I can't see all my question options"**

* **Likely issue:** Options are there but list is scrollable. Interface only shows visible options.
* **Solution:** Scroll within the options panel on the right, OR expand the question card to see all items.

**"My matrix question looks crowded"**

* **Likely issue:** Too many columns for the screen width. Common with 7+ point scales.
* **Solutions:** Reduce scale to 5 points. Accept that mobile users will scroll horizontally.

**"Copy/paste created duplicate items"**

* **Likely issue:** Source had blank lines or extra returns. Pasted into wrong field.
* **Solution:** Delete duplicates using X icon. Re-copy ensuring no blank lines in source.

**"Question doesn't show in preview"**

* Check if: Question is on a hidden page, display logic is filtering it out (see Logic guide), or question type is Text/Instruction (these don't require responses).

**"I can't delete a question"**

* Check if: Question is being referenced in logic/conditions, or survey is active with responses (limited editing).
* **Solution:** Remove all logic referencing the question first. Then delete the question.

**"Changes aren't saving"**

* Try: Manual save (click Save button). Check internet connection. Refresh page and check if changes persisted. Contact support if issue continues.

**"SAVE AS TEMPLATE button is disabled"**

* **Cause:** The questionnaire has no questions yet.
* **Solution:** Add at least one question to the questionnaire, then the button will become active.

**"Template doesn't appear after saving"**

* **Cause:** The template list may need to refresh.
* **Solution:** 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 allowed:

* ✅ Add new questions at the end
* ✅ Fix obvious typos
* ✅ Add pages
* ❌ Change question wording significantly
* ❌ Delete questions (responses are lost)
* ❌ Change response scale/options

**Best practice:** Thoroughly test before launching.

#### How do I reuse a questionnaire structure across surveys?

**Use Questionnaire Templates (recommended):**

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)
* Ensuring consistency when multiple people create surveys

**Copy an entire survey (alternative):**

* From the Surveys list, find the survey and click the copy icon
* Rename and edit the copied survey as needed
* This is better when you also need to preserve survey settings, branding, and email campaigns — not just the questionnaire

> 💡 **Pro Tip:** At the end of each survey cycle, save the questionnaire as a template before making changes. This preserves a clean version for future reuse without duplicating the entire survey.

#### Can I copy individual questions between surveys?

Not directly, but you have two options:

1. **Templates:** If you want to reuse an entire questionnaire structure, save it as a template (see above)
2. **Copy/paste:** For individual questions, copy the question text and options from one survey into a document, then paste into the new survey using the copy/paste method described above

#### What's the maximum number of questions?

* **Technical limit:** 500 questions per survey
* **Practical limit:** 30-60 questions for optimal completion rates
* **Recommended:** 15-20 for pulse surveys, 30-60 for annual engagement, 5-10 for exit surveys

#### Can I require answers to some but not all questions?

Yes, set **Required** on individual questions.

**Best practice:** Require demographics needed for reporting, make most survey content optional. This maintains high completion rates.

#### How do I preview on my actual phone?

* **Option 1:** Use device preview in Preview mode (simulated)
* **Option 2:** Send test link to yourself — set up email campaign (see Scheduling guide), add your email as a test participant, send now and complete on your device

#### Can participants save and return later?

Yes, if they use the same device and browser:

* Progress is automatically saved
* They can close and return using the same link
* Responses persist until survey completion

**Limitations:**

* Must use same browser/device
* Clearing cookies loses progress
* Different device = starts over

#### How do I make my survey anonymous?

Survey is anonymous by default if:

* You don't ask for identifying information (name, employee ID)
* Demographic questions are optional
* You communicate anonymity to participants

See also: 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 (since 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. However, any surveys that were already created from that template are **completely unaffected**. Templates are a copy source — 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.