How To Keep Variable Names Constant

Overview

Each question in a SurveyToGo survey has a unique Variable Name, which is used as the field name in the exported data.

When you add a new question, SurveyToGo automatically assigns a Variable Name. In most cases (but not always), the name corresponds to the question's position in the survey.

The default naming format is:

Q_xxx

where xxx is a three-digit number.

Similarly, every answer option and topic also receives its own unique Variable Name when it is created.

You can manually rename the Variable Names for questions, answers, and topics, provided that each name remains unique within the survey.

If you manually rename a Variable Name, the new name remains unchanged even if you later insert additional questions into the survey.

However, if you leave the automatically generated Variable Name unchanged, SurveyToGo may automatically update it when new questions are inserted before it in the survey.

 

1. Define all Answers/Topics Variable Names as constant

 

1. 1. Go to the Survey Properties tab, and select one of the Topics/Answers Variable Format options:

      

   2. Confirm the message that appears:
      
       
      

Important Notes

If you enable this option after you have already created questions, answers, and topics in your survey, SurveyToGo will reset all answer and topic Variable Names so that they correspond to the Short ID of their associated question.

You can manually rename the Variable Names afterward if required.

Changing Question Variable Names Manually

To keep a question's Variable Name constant, assign it a unique name manually in the question's Variables tab.

As long as the Variable Name does not begin with Q_, it will remain unchanged, even if you insert additional questions elsewhere in the survey.