The question types described below allow users to choose an answer from a list. The way the choices are presented varies depending on the question type.
Single select
The single select question type provides a list of potential answers from which the user selects one; you can set one as the default in the configuration panel. There is also an Allow "Other" check box that allows the user to provide an answer that is not on the list. There is also an option to randomize the order in which the choices appear. In the Appearance section, you can specify whether you want the answers to be laid out vertically or horizontally.
In XLSForm, this question type is a select_one question.
Multiple select
The multiple select question type provides a list of potential answers from which the user can select any number; you can set some as default values in the configuration panel. There is also an Allow "Other" check box that allows the user to provide an answer that is not on the list. There is also an option to randomize the order in which the choices appear. In the Appearance section, you can specify whether you want the answers to be laid out vertically or horizontally.
In XLSForm, this question type is a select_multiple question.
Single select grid
The single select grid question type provides a list of potential answers for a series of questions from which the user selects one; you can set one as the default in the configuration panel.
On mobile devices, if the width of the single select grid is greater than the screen width, the layout adjusts automatically so that the questions appear as a group of single select questions instead of as a grid. This ensures that all questions and choices fit on the screen.
In XLSForm, this question type is a group of select_one questions with a table-list appearance.
Dropdown
The dropdown question type provides a list of potential answers for users to choose from. You can configure the list to allow users to choose one answer or any number of answers. This question type functions similarly to single select and multiple select questions, but presents its answers in a drop-down list. This is ideal for a longer list of choices, as the list isn't visible unless an answer is being chosen.
You can set the default selection in the configuration panel. An Allow "Other" check box allows the user to specify an answer that is not on the list. There is also an option to randomize the order in which the choices appear. The Autocomplete check box allows the user to enter text in the field that limits the list to only answers that contain that text.
When choice lists are long, change often, or rely on other sources of data, you can create the list from a layer instead of entering them manually in the configuration panel. Click Edit, and choose From layer to select a feature layer (or a table within a feature layer), the choice label field to display in the choice list, and filtering options for that layer. The choice list can be filtered by location, value, or both. When filtering by location, choice list values can be returned based on either a drawn area on a map question (map questions must be of type area) or a nominated distance from the geometry on a map or address question. When filtering by value, choice list values can be returned by matching a nominated value or the answer from another question in the survey.
Note:
Creating a list from a layer can only be done in dropdown questions, not other choice question types.
In XLSForm, this question type is a select_one or select_multiple question with a minimal or autocomplete appearance.
Likert scale
The Likert scale question type provides a list of potential answers from which the user selects one; you can set one as the default in the configuration panel. This behaves identically to the single select question but presents its answers as a Likert scale. By default, this question type includes five choices, but the maximum value and choices can be changed.
In XLSForm, this question type is a select_one question with the likert appearance.
Rating
The rating question type provides a list of potential answers from which the user selects one; you can set one as the default in the configuration panel. This behaves identically to the single select question but presents its answers as a number of icons. By default, this question type provides a range from one to five stars, but the maximum value and icon can be changed.
In XLSForm, this question type is a select_one question with the likert appearance and media included for the choices.
Ranking
The ranking question type provides a list of choices for which the user specifies a preferred order. The user can select the choices in any order, and drag the selected choices to reorder them. The user must rank all available choices before the survey response can be submitted. A Reset button is available to clear all rankings. When designing the survey, the designer can also specify whether the order in which the choices appear will be random.
In XLSForm, this question type is a rank question.