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:
Click the New Survey button
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"
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.
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
Enter your survey title
Browse or search for a template
Click a template card to select it. It highlights with an orange border.
Click OK
You land on the Design Survey page with all questions from the template already in place
Customize as needed: add, remove, or edit any questions
Saving a questionnaire as a template
Built a questionnaire you want to reuse? Save it as a template:
Open a survey and go to the Design Survey page
Make sure the questionnaire has at least one question
Click "SAVE AS TEMPLATE" in the toolbar
A dialog opens with the name pre-filled as "[Survey Name] Template". Edit if you want.
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)
Click OK
The template stores a copy of the questionnaire. Your original survey is not modified.
Managing templates
Deleting a template:
Open the New Survey dialog
Navigate to the tab containing the template
Click the trash icon on the template card (only visible on templates you have permission to delete)
Confirm the deletion
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
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:
Click the Add Question button (it appears between questions or at the page bottom)
Select a question type from the menu
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)
Question types in detail
Single-Select Matrix
Best for: multiple related questions using the same scale.
How to build:
Add question type: Single-Select Matrix
Question Title: enter the instructions participants will see. Example: "Please rate your agreement with the following statements"
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
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:
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
Radio Button Group
Best for: single choice from 3 to 7 options.
How to build:
Add question type: Radio Button Group
Question Text: enter your question
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:
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:
Add question type: Checkboxes
Question Text: include "(Select all that apply)" for clarity
Add options:
Same copy and paste process as Radio Button Group
Click the first field, then paste all options
Example setup:
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:
Add question type: Dropdown
Question Text: enter your question
Add options:
Same copy and paste method
Particularly useful for long lists such as departments and locations
Example setup:
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
Long Text
Best for: open-ended responses requiring multiple lines.
How to build:
Add question type: Long Text
Question Text: enter your question, and be specific about what you're asking for
Configure the text area size
Example setup:
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:
Add question type: Single-Line Input
Question Text: enter your question
Configure the input field
Example setup:
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:
Add question type: Text / Instruction
Enter your text. Formatting options are available.
Style as needed
Example setup:
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:
Draft all survey content in Word or Excel
Organize by sections and pages
Format questions and response options clearly
Get stakeholder approval
Copy into the Survey Designer
Excel or Google Sheets format:
Copy and paste by question type
Single-Select Matrix, for row items (questions):
Single-Select Matrix, for column headers (scale):
Radio buttons, checkboxes, and dropdowns:
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:
Click Add Question at the bottom of the current page
This automatically creates a new page below
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
Question-level settings
Making questions required
To require a response:
Select the question
Toggle Required ON in the right panel
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
Required questions can reduce completion rates. Use them on your most critical questions only.
Adding question descriptions
To add clarifying text:
Select the question
Find the Description field in the right panel
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 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:
Select the question
Find the Validation section in the right panel
Choose the validation type and set parameters
Preview and testing
Using preview mode
To preview your survey:
Click the Preview tab at the top
The survey displays exactly as participants see it
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
Device preview
Test on different screen sizes:
Click the device selector in preview mode
Choose from Desktop, Tablet, iPhone, Android
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
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:
Open the survey with the questionnaire you want to reuse
Go to Design Survey and click "SAVE AS TEMPLATE"
Name the template and choose a category
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.
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
Last updated
Was this helpful?