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:
Click 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
📋 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
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
💡 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:
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 desired
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
{% 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:
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:
Click Add Question button (appears between questions or at page bottom)
Select question type from the menu
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:
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'll 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 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 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:
Add question type: Radio Button Group
Question Text: Enter your question
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:
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:
Add question type: Checkboxes
Question Text: Include "(Select all that apply)" for clarity
Add options:
Same copy/paste process as Radio Button Group
Click first field → 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
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:
Add question type: Dropdown
Question Text: Enter your question
Add options:
Same copy/paste method
Particularly useful for long lists (departments, locations)
Example setup:
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:
Add question type: Long Text
Question Text: Enter your question (be specific about what you're asking for)
Configure text area size
Example setup:
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:
Add question type: Single-Line Input
Question Text: Enter your question
Configure input field
Example setup:
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:
Add question type: Text / Instruction
Enter your text: Formatting options 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 — 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:
Draft all survey content in Word or Excel
Organize by sections/pages
Format questions and response options clearly
Get stakeholder approval
Copy into Survey Builder
Excel/Google Sheets format:
Copy/Paste by Question Type
Single-Select Matrix:
For row items (questions):
For column headers (scale):
Radio Buttons / Checkboxes / Dropdowns:
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:
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:
3-7 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:
Select the question
Toggle Required option in right panel
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:
Select the question
Find Description field in 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/max values
For text inputs: Character limits, format requirements
For matrix questions: Force response to all rows
Access validation:
Select question
Find Validation section in right panel
Choose validation type and set parameters
Preview and Testing
Using Preview Mode
To preview your survey:
Click Preview tab at the top
Survey displays exactly as participants will 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
💡 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:
Click device selector in preview mode
Choose from: Desktop, Tablet, iPhone, Android
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):
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)
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:
Templates: If you want to reuse an entire questionnaire structure, save it as a template (see above)
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.
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