An autoother refers to an "Other" option that allows respondents to write in a response not provided in the question's answer set.
The autoother text field is created by adding three or more underscores, with the number of underscores determining the size (width) of the text field.
Note: This article covers the manual method of creating autoother options with underscores. The newer autoother options with decorators method is preferred. For information on using autoothers with tables, see Autoother options and rows for tables.
Details
- If a respondent selects an
autootheroption, an entry in the accompanying text field is required. - When an autoother is part of a list, the text field created is shown on the first instance of the list being used. The entered text will then appear in subsequent uses of the same list. If no text was specified, the
autootheroption will not appear in further uses of that list. - You can apply any tag that sets parameters for a regular text field to an autoother option. These parameters define the type of input, data storage, and field appearance.
- Multiple parameters can be included together in a single set of curly brackets. Include 'autoother' on the first parameter, then separate each set of parameters with a semicolon or comma (e.g.,
{autoother placeholder: Specify amount; datatype: whole; prefix: $}. Using this single line approach for programming parameters is preferred. - To apply the same autoother parameters to all autoother options in a survey, include autoother tags on a
set defaultswidget at the start of your survey. These can then be overridden locally on individual widgets if needed. - Autoother options may also be included in survey sheets. Simply add an option with underscores, such as 'Other ________', in the sheet's "text" column.
Common parameters
The following parameters can be used as tags or decorators to customize autoothers.
| Parameter | When used as a tag | Description |
datatype |
autoother datatype |
Ensures respondents provide valid input for an open-ended option, such as accepting only integers. |
desc |
autoother desc |
Provides a specific description for the autoother option in reports. |
error |
autoother error |
Customizes the message that is displayed when the option is selected, but no text is entered into the field. Note, if another parameter with a validation is used, such as |
firstq |
autoother firstq |
Allows users to "save" an autoother option to show at a later question. The question ID entered here represents the first place this autoother is shown. The input format is 'QX', with the leading 'Q'. |
autoother maxlength or autoother minlength
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Similarly, |
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Displays a message in the autoother text field (e.g., "Specify"). |
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Adds text after a text input field. |
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Adds text before a text input field. |
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Defines and validates a numeric range for a response. |
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required |
autoother required |
With required: n, all autoother validation is disabled. |
autoother size |
Specifies the size (width) of a text field in ems, e.g., |
Tip! Autoothers in questions including either randomize: y or the order tag will be anchored in their list positions by default. To change this, use the anchor autoother: n tag directly on a question or in the survey's set defaults.
Additional examples
Customizing with individual tags
If you opt for the multi-line approach and include autoother parameters as individual tags on a question, ensure the tags are placed immediately after the autoother option.
1. Which is your favorite room in your house?
type: radio
1. Living room
2. Kitchen
3. Bathroom
4. Bedroom
97. Other ______
autoother placeholder: Specify
autoother postfix: room
Note the single line approach for defining autoother parameters with decorators could be applied as follows:
97. Other ______ {autoother placeholder: Specify; postfix: room}
Global autoother parameters
Instead of adding autoother parameters for each question or table, you can apply them at the beginning of the survey by using the set defaults widget. Parameters set here will apply to the entire survey unless overridden later.
For example, we could standardize the placeholder and field size for all autoothers as shown below.
set defaults
autoother placeholder: Specify
autoother size: 10
Save autoother for a later question
Since an autoother option will be displayed the first time a list is used, and must be selected in order to be seen again later in the survey, it may occasionally be necessary to exclude it from a list's initial usage.
In Q5 below, the parameter firstq is used to "save" the autoother option's first appearance for Q5A.
In Q5, exclusion syntax could also be used in the optsfrom listcall to remove the autoother from the HOW list so that it can still be used in Q5A.
Autoother options in sheets
To include autoother options in survey sheets, add an option with underscores in the sheet's "text" column.
For example, consider the following sheet, "attractions."
| id | text |
| 1 | The beach |
| 2 | Lakes |
| 3 | National parks |
| 4 | State parks |
| 5 | Museums (science / history) |
| 6 | Historic sites |
| 7 | Zoos or aquariums |
| 8 | Adventure parks (ziplines, etc.) |
| 9 | Theatres |
| 10 | Art galleries / exhibits |
| 97 | Other 1 _________ |
| 971 | Other 2 _________ |
Use a listcall to reference the sheet options (e.g., optsfrom: surveyid.sheetname), and the autoother text fields are created automatically. Parameters can then be included locally as tags or on a set defaults widget.
Note, the single-line approach for creating autoothers is unavailable when using autoother in a sheet.
11. When travelling, what types of attractions do you like to visit?
type: checkbox
randomize: y
optsfrom: surveyid.attractions
autoother placeholder: Please specify
autoother size: 12
Note: It is also possible to use the autoother decorator as a column header in sheets to create autoother options. Like the underscore method shown here, additional parameters must be added locally as tags to questions referencing the sheet.
Autoother piping
Autoother options may also be piped into follow-up questions and lists by referencing the question where they were selected. Select "other" in the example below for a demonstration.
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