How to Retrieve the Value of an "Other Specify" Answer

 

Overview

SurveyToGo provides the AdditionalAnswerText() function, which allows you to retrieve the text entered into an Other Specify answer option.

This is useful when you need to reference, validate, export, or process the text entered by the respondent in an Other Specify field.

Retrieving the Other Specify Value

If a question contains an answer configured as Other Specify, you can use the AdditionalAnswerText() function to retrieve the text entered by the respondent.

Syntax

AdditionalAnswerText(questionIndex, answerIndex);

Parameters

• questionIndex – The index of the question containing the Other Specify answer.

• answerIndex – The index of the answer configured as Other Specify.

Example

Suppose Question 35 is a Multi-Selection question and answer 5 is configured as an Other Specify option.

The following code retrieves the text entered into the Other Specify field:

AdditionalAnswerText(35, 5);

The function returns the value entered by the respondent in the Other Specify text box.

For example, if the respondent selected Other and entered:

Local Brand X

then:

AdditionalAnswerText(35, 5);

returns:

Local Brand X

Notes

• The function only returns a value if the specified answer is configured as an Other Specify answer.

• If no text was entered, the function returns an empty value.

• The function can be used in scripts, validation rules, filters, calculations, and other survey logic where the Other Specify text is required.

If you are unfamiliar with configuring an Other Specify answer, refer to the article Configure an Answer as Other Specify.