Blocks organize survey questions for convenient classification, manipulation, previewing, and reuse. Blocks also provide the foundation for sophisticated Survey Flow Logic. 

In this article:

• The Default Question Block
• Adding and Naming
• Collapsing 
• Deleting and Restoring
• Previewing 
• Moving 
• Locking
• Updating the Next / Previous Button Text
• Duplicating vs. Copying Blocks

The Default Question Block

Every survey includes at least one Block named the Default Question Block. (This name stays until you rename it). For simple surveys, placing all of your questions in the Default Question Block is fine. 

But as surveys become more intricate, organizing questions into multiple Blocks will generate a Survey Flow, enabling endless branches, respondent-based logic, and sophisticated survey elements.

Appearing atop every block is a Block Header, with the Block’s name on the left and the Block Options menu on the right. The Block Options menu displays an array of choices with one-click access to editing options.

Dissect a Survey Flow by examining the Blocks in the image above:

• A second Block (Easy Questions) appears below the Default Question Block. 
• Blocks are separated by a spacer which includes a handy Add Block command. 
• The Block Options menu reveals Block-level commands; such as, Move Block Up/Down, Question Randomization, and Collapse Questions (which shrinks a Block's questions for easier viewing). 

Adding and Naming

To create a new Block, click Add Block either in the spacer or from the Block Options menu. To name the Block, click the text in the upper-left corner and enter a new name. 

Add questions to a Block by clicking Create New Question or Import Questions From… (which can bring in questions from a library or from other surveys).

Collapsing 

It’s easier to view Blocks if you shrink or hide your questions first. 

1. To shrink questions, click Collapse Questions in the Block Options menu.
   
2. To hide your questions completely, click the Down Arrow next to the Block’s name.
3. To reveal the Block’s questions again, re-click the Down Arrow.
   

Deleting and Restoring

To delete a Block, click Delete Block in the Block Options menu. 

If you choose to delete, you will see this warning. 

Note: Deleted questions are placed in the Trash found at the bottom of the survey. You can open the Trash and click Restore to rescue questions, unless you click Permanently Delete, which deletes the question forever and all the data associated with it.

Previewing

Conveniently, you can preview Blocks independently of the rest of the survey with the View Block option in the Block Options menu.

After you have tested a Block, you can start over or close the tab to return to Qualtrics.

Moving 

To move a Block within the Survey Editor, open the Block Options menu and click Move Block Up or Move Block Down to inch Blocks into position.

Locking 

Blocks can be locked to disable editing. This feature is helpful when you share the survey with other users, but want to prevent any changes to a particular block. 

In the Block Options dropdown, select Lock Block. Enter a password and click Lock.

Once the block is locked, a red Locked notice appears at the top of the block. 

To edit the block:

1. Click the Locked with Password notice.
2. Enter the password. 
3. Click Unlock.
   Hint: If you haven’t assigned a password, click Unlock to confirm the action.

Updating the Next / Previous Button Text

You can control the Next and Back button text within a given block. For example, you might have “Next” and “Back” set in your Look & Feel for the survey, but you want the next button on the last page of your survey to say “Submit.” 

To update the button text,

1. Create a new block for the last page of the survey. 
2. Open Block Options. 
3. Select Next/Previous Button Text. 
4. Change the text for the Next Button Text to “Submit.”

Duplicating vs. Copying Blocks 

When you use the Copy Block option from the Block Options dropdown in the Survey Editor, you’re creating an entirely new set of editable questions. 

When you duplicate a Block in your Survey Flow, you’re NOT creating a new Block of questions. Instead, you are re-displaying and repeating the same questions. 

From the Survey Flow, click Duplicate to repeat an existing Block.

The duplicated Blocks are not editable; you will only see one source block in your Survey Editor. Plus, you will only have one set of questions in your dataset. 

Each time respondents see a duplicate Block, they’ll see that their previous choice is already pre-selected. If they change their answers the second time through, only the most recent answers will be recorded. 

Note: Duplicated Blocks are often placed in mutually exclusive branches, yet this still gives you the option to pull all of the data together into a single report.