Using A Loop, Piping and Answer Scales

Overview

This article demonstrates one of the most common and useful scripting techniques in SurveyToGo. By combining loops with respondent selections, you can build surveys that are more efficient, easier to maintain, and more elegant.

In this example, we will show how to ask the same question multiple times—once for each option selected in a previous question.

Example

Suppose your survey contains the following questions.

 

Question 1

1. Which brands have you ever heard of? (Multi-Selection)

The answer options are derived from an Answer Scale, and the final option is configured as an exclusive answer (for example, "None of the above").

Question 2

2. Which of these statements apply to @@ITERNAME@@?

The answer options for this question are also derived from an Answer Scale.

Question 2 is placed inside a sub-chapter that has been configured as a loop.

Using @_@ITERNAME@_@

Notice that the question text uses:

@_@ITERNAME@_@

instead of the actual brand name.

During each loop iteration, SurveyToGo automatically replaces @_@ITERNAME@_@ with the name of the current iteration. As a result, respondents see the selected brand name displayed in the question text.

For example:

• "Which of these statements apply to Brand A?"

• "Which of these statements apply to Brand B?"

• "Which of these statements apply to Brand C?"

Configuring the Loop

In the sub-chapter's Loop tab:

• Configure the loop to iterate using the brands Answer Scale.

• Add an Entrance Rule to determine which iterations should be shown.

In this example, the Entrance Rule is:

Contains(QRef(1), IterationIndex) && IterationIndex < 8

This rule checks each iteration before it is entered.

It means:

• The respondent selected the current brand in Question 1:

  Contains(QRef(1), IterationIndex)

AND

• The current iteration is less than 8:

  IterationIndex < 8

The second condition excludes the eighth option, which represents the exclusive answer (such as "None of the above").

Result

The loop will only run for the brands selected in Question 1. Question 2 will then be asked once for each selected brand, with the appropriate brand name inserted automatically into the question text.

This technique is one of the most widely used patterns in SurveyToGo scripting. Understanding how to implement it will help you create more dynamic surveys while reducing duplication and simplifying maintenance.