alt label (r9)

The alt label tag can be applied to any variable or question type to create an alternate question ID in exported files. 

S1. What is your gender?
alt label: GENDER
type: radio
1. Female
2. Male
3. Non-binary
99. Prefer not to answer

If you are looking to add alternate descriptions for questions or options, use the desc tag or decorator instead.

Details

• Like typical question IDs, alternate label IDs cannot have spaces, but can include underscores, and must be unique of other alternate labels and question/variable IDs.
• When alt label is applied to a question (or variable), the alternate label will replace the original question ID. Using the example above, QS1 would be listed as "GENDER" in the exported file.
• When applied to a table, the table ID will be replaced for each table row, with the row ID added at the end as usual.
• If alt label is applied to a question in a loop, each iteration would use the alternate label applied, adding __loop__X to the end, where "X" is the iteration ID.
  
• When applied to a question in a block, include '_%%ID%%' at the end of your label like you would with a typical block question ID. This ensures a unique label is created for each iteration.
• When exporting data, you can choose to export questions using either their original ID or their alternate label. To export with alternate labels, check the Use Alt Labels option under Advanced Export Options.
• When testing questions with alternate labels in Testmode, the label will be shown in parentheses next to the question ID in the Survey Questions search menu and System Data section.

Additional examples

Adding alternate labels to questions in a block

Unlike loops, questions in a block do not automatically generate their own iteration IDs when using alt label. Instead, include '_%%ID%%' to the end of your alternate label. This allows the system to pipe in the iteration IDs, creating a unique label for each loop in the block.

In the example below, Q4 would have four iterations, each receiving its own unique label. The alternate labels generated for the export will be DRANK_LAST_1, DRANK_LAST_2, DRANK_LAST_3, and DRANK_LAST_4.

setlist: SODAS
1. Coca-Cola
2. Pepsi
3. TAB
4. RC Cola

block: <<BLOCK1

4_%%ID%%. When was the last time you drank %%TEXT%%?
type: radio
alt label: DRANK_LAST_%%ID%%
1. Today!
2. This week
3. This month
4. In the last few months
5. At least 6 months ago
6. Never drank %%TEXT%%

BLOCK1
list: SODAS