Questions

The Questions page is where you create custom questions for use on registration forms, Certain Check-In, and elsewhere.

The Questions page opens in a pop-up window when you add or edit a question on any of the following pages (which are explained in more detail below):

• (Event) > Plan > Event Setup > Questions
• (Event) > Plan > Event Setup > Travel
• (Event) > Plan > Event Setup > Agenda > Agenda Item > 'Advanced' (Note: This is a legacy feature used prior to development of the Forms > Agenda section.)
• (Event) > Plan > Forms > (form) > Questions Section
• Account Settings > Registration > Profile Data (Administrators only)
• Account Settings > Management > Event Data (Administrators only)
• Account Settings > Management > Display Fields (Administrators only)

To create a custom question, you need to supply: the question (a request for information), and for some questions the possible answers (a way for the registrant to respond).

Use the sections on this page to create questions and answers to collect:

• Profile data — Unique information about a registrant (not likely to change even if the person attends multiple events) that cannot be collected using Certain's built-in data entry fields. Example: "What division of the company are you in?". Each Certain account may have up to 40 such questions, which an administrator sets up on Account Settings > Registration > Profile Data.
• Registration information — Information collected from a registrant relating to a specific event. Example: "How did you hear about this event?", with options to select. Each event may have up to 135 such questions, which you set up on Plan > Event Setup > Questions.
• Event information — Information that the event planner needs, and which the registrant may not even see. Each Certain account may have up to 45 such questions. An Administrator adds these, on the Custom Event Data page: Account Settings > Management > Event Data.
• Display Fields — Fields that the event planner uses when configuring the display used for registration forms, event websites and even email templates. See Plan > Configure > Primary Display and Extended Display.
• Travel information — Travel reservation information. Requires the Travel Module and its Travel Reservations sub-module. Each event may have up to 30 such "Custom Travel Questions", including 15 default questions (such as Travel Request Confirmation Number). See Plan > Event Setup > Travel.
• Agenda Item information — Information about the reservation of an agenda item. Caution: legacy feature! Example: "How many tickets would you like to purchase?"

Certain knows where to show (that is, how to assign) each custom question and its corresponding answer field, based on the page from which the Questions page was accessed.

To create a custom question:

Follow the steps below that correspond to the sections you see on the Questions page in Certain. Skip steps that refer to panels you don't see.

Note: When you begin to create a custom question, you see only two sections on this page: Select Question Type and Details. The question type you choose determines which other sections and options are displayed.

• STEP 1 – Select the type of question/answer format that best collects the needed information. (These formats are based on the answer method.)
• Text — Text field with a single row for answer entry (up to 256 characters).
• Textarea — Text area with multiple rows for answer entry (up to 4000 characters).
• Radio (button) — Registrant selects one answer from multiple choices displayed as radio buttons.
• Checkbox — Registrant selects zero or more answers from a list displayed as check boxes.
• Select — Registrant selects one answer from multiple choices displayed as a drop-down list.
• Select Multiple — Registrant selects zero or more answers from multiple choices displayed as a scrolling list.
• Ticket — Registrant enters an integer value to indicate the number of items to select or purchase.
• Date — Registrant enters a date (from a calendar selection or in a text field) in a specified format (see Date Formats, below). Default: the current date. Maximum: 20 years later.
• Time — Registrant enters a time (as a text field) in a specific format.
• Date-Time — Registrant enters a date (from a calendar selection or in a text field) and time (as a text field) in a specified format (see Date Formats, below).
• Number — Text field, validated as a number.
• Integer — Text field, validated as an integer (a whole number without any decimal places).
• File — Registrant can upload a file (document, spreadsheet, presentation, etc.) and attach it to the registration. Uploadable file types include Word documents, Excel, .PDF, .PPT, .AI, .EPS, .HTML or .HTM, .RTF, text, .Zip, etc. File must be less than 4 MB in size. File name should be less than 50 characters, and unique within the event.
• Image — Registrant can upload an image file and attach it to the registration. Uploaded file must be of image type: .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, or .EPS. Note: .ai and .psd images should be uploaded via File questions. File must be less than 4 MB in size. File name should be less than 50 characters, and unique within the event.
• Rating — The registrant gives a rating of one to five by clicking one symbol. When creating the question, you select a Rating Symbol of Star (the default) or Radio.
• STEP 2 – Provide the requested information about the question part of the question/answer format.
• Name — (Required) What shows on attendee confirmations and in user's views. Example: "Business type:". Best Practice: Keep the name short, to make it easy to find. (For example, you might include questions in Registration reports.)
• Code — Abbreviated name used for report column headers. If left blank, this is set to the question's Name when you save the question.
• Display for Reg Form — (Optional) Text or HTML to be displayed on registration forms. Note: it's not used anywhere else. Example: "What type of business are you in?". If left blank, this is set to the question's Name when you save the question.
• Error message — (Optional) Message displayed if the answer to this question fails its validation. Example: "Select the type of business you are in." If left blank, then the form's default error message is used.
• Tags — If any Tags have been set up in the account by your Administrator, for the question type you are adding or editing, you can set one or more of them here. More info: Note: This field is only available if tags have been set up for the relevant "object." All tags are exposed via Certain's API 2.0.
• STEP 3 – Provide the requested information about the answer part of the question/answer format.
• Size of input field (for Text and Text Area questions) or Size of form field (for Ticket, Integer, Number, File, and Image questions) — The width of the answer field.
• Characters in Answer — (For Text and Text Area questions.)
• Minimum — The minimum number of characters in the answer. May not be greater than 50. Blank = no minimum length.
• Maximum — The maximum number of characters in the answer. Blank = maximum will be set by system limits.
• Enable character count — (For Text Area questions) If selected, the registrant sees how many characters they can still enter.
• Number of answers allowed — (For Checkbox and Select Multiple questions.)
• Minimum — The minimum number of answers the registrant can select. If left blank, 0.
• Maximum — The maximum number of answers the registrant can select. If left blank, 0.
• Number of options to display — (For Select Multiple questions.) The number of answer options to display in the drop-down list.
• # of 'tickets' allowed — (For Tickets questions.)
• Minimum — The lowest number the registrant can enter. If left blank, 0.
• Maximum — The highest number the registrant can enter. If left blank, 0.
• Minimum, Maximum — Enter the desired limits.
• Range of values — (For Integer and Number questions.)
• Minimum — The lowest value the registrant can enter.
• Maximum — The highest value the registrant can enter.
• Example: If Minimum = 5 and Maximum = 10, then a registrant could enter 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10.
• Date Format — (For Date and Date/Time questions.) Select a format. Default is MM/DD/YYYY. Formats available (with examples):
• MM/DD/YYYY
• DD/MM/YYYY
• D M, Y
• D MM, Y
• DD, D MM, YY
• Time Format — (For Date, Time, and Date-Time questions.) Select AM/PM or 24-hour.
• Date Range — (For Date and Date-Time questions.)
• From — The earliest date the registrant can select.
• To — The latest date the registrant can select.
• Year Range — (For Date and Date-Time questions.) Relevant only if Date Range is not selected.
• From — The earliest year in which the registrant can select a date.
• To — The latest year in which the registrant can select a date.
• Date Range — (For Date and Date-Time questions.)
• From — The earliest date the registrant can select.
• To — The latest date the registrant can select.
• Year Range — (For Date and Date-Time questions.) Relevant only if you have not selected a Date Range.
• STEP 4 – For each answer option you want to offer the registrant, enter a Label, a Name, and a Code (separated by hyphens, e.g. Yes I will attend–Yes–Y) on one line of the text box. You must enter a Label, but the other two are optional. Press Enter after each answer option to begin a new entry. Do not use the Tab key on your keyboard (as indicated on-screen).
• Note: Maximum answer options per question = 1000. Recommended: Do not exceed 150.
• STEP 5 – Click Save at the bottom of this page (not "Save and Close"). Additional options are displayed.
• STEP 6 – Select additional options, if needed.
• Seq. — Sequence. A number used to determine the display order for each answer option.
• Label — Text or HTML to show to registrant as answer choice. Verify your entry.
• Name — Text to show on confirmations. Verify your entry.
• Code — Text to display in reports. Verify your entry.
• Sel? — Clear this check box if this option is for display purposes only (can't be selected).
• Web? — Clear this check box to remove the answer option from the registrant's online form.
• Cap. — Capacity. The number of times this answer can be selected per event.
• Act? — Clear this check box to deactivate (delete) the answer.
• Sort answer options alphabetically by Label — Check this box to sort answer options alphabetically by their label on the registration form. If checked, this will override the numbers in the Seq fields.
• Add a text field after the last option — Select this check box if you want to include a text field after the last answer option in your list. This is most commonly used when you include an "Other" option, and want registrants who select "Other" to provide additional information. You can specify the properties of the text field, including whether or not it is a required entry. Important: the registrant must select the last answer option in their list when entering text into the Other field.
• Display text box on click — This check box is only available if you've selected the previous one.
• STEP 7 – Click Save and Close when you are satisfied with the results you see in the Preview section.
• STEP 8 – Verify the question's appearance. Change it using the Display Settings options (below), if needed. Click Save to preview any changes.
• STEP 9 – For radio buttons, check boxes, and select drop-down lists — If desired, select one default answer from the answer options displayed in the drop-down list.
• STEP 10 – Change the question's appearance using the Display Settings options, if needed. Click Save to preview any changes (above).
• STEP 11 – Click Save and Close when you are satisfied with the results you see in the Preview section.

• Display Settings
• Video: Setting Question Display Settings (Less than 2 minutes)
• Show Online? — of these options:
• No (custom question is not shown on form)
• Optional (response not required if question included on registration form)
• Require (response required if question included on form)
• Read Only (if field included on form, answer is shown but may not be amended)
• Hidden (Available for Text and Textarea questions only. Question is not shown on form but the answer can be captured. For use in capturing UTM or other parameters from a customized form URL.)
• Note: A Certain registration form must include a Questions section before it will show a custom question (regardless of this setting).
• Include an empty option with the label — This option is available for those question types that have multiple selections, and enables you to create blank text entry field for the registrant to supply additional information.
• Questions/Answers — Sets the orientation of the question text to the answer entry field. This can be set to left/right or top/bottom.
• Multiple Answers — This option enables you to set whether answers should be arranged in a single column or row, or alternately in a certain number of columns.
• Answers Order — If answers are displayed in multiple columns, use this option to specify whether the order the answers are displayed in rows across columns or down each column and then up to the next.
• Question Font, Horizontal, and Vertical Alignment — The typeface and positioning for the question text.
• Answers Font, Horizontal, and Vertical Alignment — The typeface and positioning for answer text.
• Class — Optionally, enter a class name. This enables a question to be styled using CSS.

• STEP 11 — Click Save and Close when you are satisfied with the results you see in the Preview section.

Select Question Type

STEP 1 — Select the type of question/answer format that best collects the needed information. (These formats are based on the answer method.)

Caution: Once a question has been answered by anyone, you can't change its type. Instead, you'd have to delete the question and recreate it.

• Text — Text field with a single row for answer entry (up to 256 characters).
• Textarea — Text area with multiple rows for answer entry (up to 4000 characters).
• Radio (button) — Registrant selects one answer from multiple choices displayed as radio buttons.
• Checkbox — Registrant selects zero or more answers from a list displayed as check boxes.
• Select — Registrant selects one answer from multiple choices displayed as a drop-down list.
• Select Multiple — Registrant selects zero or more answers from multiple choices displayed as a scrolling list.
• Ticket — Registrant enters an integer value to indicate the number of items to select or purchase.
• Date — Registrant enters a date (from a calendar selection or in a text field) in a specified format (see Date Formats, below). Default: MM/DD/YYYY.
• Time — Registrant enters a time (as a text field) in a specific format.
• Date-Time — Registrant enters a date and time (as a text field) in a specified format (see Date Formats, below).
• Number — Registrant enters a number.
• Integer — Registrant enters an integer.
• File — Registrant can upload a file (document, spreadsheet, presentation, etc.) and attach it to the registration.
• Uploadable file types include Word documents, Excel, .PDF, .PPT, .AI, .EPS, .HTML or .HTM, .RTF, text, .Zip, etc.
• File must be less than 4 MB in size.
• File name should be less than 50 characters, and unique within the event.
• Image — Registrant can upload an image file and attach it to the registration.
• Uploaded file must be of image type: .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, or .EPS.
• (Note: .ai and .psd images should be uploaded via File questions.)
• File must be less than 4 MB in size.
• File name should be less than 50 characters, and unique within the event.
• Rating — The registrant gives a rating of one to five by clicking one symbol.

Details

STEP 2 — Provide the requested information about the question part of the question/answer format.

• Name — (Required) What shows on attendee confirmations and in user's views. For example, "Business type:". Best Practice: Keep the name short, to make it easy to find. (For example, you might include questions in Registration reports.)
• Code — Abbreviated name used for report headers. If left blank, this is set to the question's Name when you save the question.
• Display for Reg Form — (Optional) Text or HTML to be displayed on registration forms. (Note: it's not used anywhere else.) Example: "What type of business are you in?". If left blank, this is set to the question's Name when you save the question.
• Error message — (Optional) Message displayed if the answer to this question fails its validation. Example: "Select the type of business you are in." If left blank, then the form's default error message is used.
• Tags — If any Tags have been set up in the account by your Administrator, for the question type you are adding or editing, you can select one or more of them here. For more information, see tips on creating names, codes, and labels.
• Settings (not available for Radio and Select question types)

STEP 3 — Provide the requested information about the answer part of the question/answer format.

• Size of input field (for Text and Text Area questions) or Size of form field (for Ticket, Integer, Number, File, and Image questions) — The width of the answer field.
• Characters in Answer — Optional: the number of characters allowed in the answer.
• Minimum — Optional: the minimum number of characters in the answer.
• Maximum — Optional: the maximum number of characters in the answer.
• Enable character count — Optional: whether the registrant sees the remaining character count.
• Number of answers allowed — Optional: the number of answers the registrant can select.
• Minimum — Optional: the minimum number of selections.
• Maximum — Optional: the maximum number of selections.
• Number of options to display — Optional: the number of answer options to display in a multi-select list.
• # of 'tickets' allowed — Optional: minimum and maximum tickets a registrant can enter.
• Range of values — Optional: minimum and maximum for Integer and Number questions.
• Date Format — Optional: choose a date format from the available options.
• Time Format — Optional: choose a time format (AM/PM or 24-hour).
• Date Range — Optional: define From and To dates for allowed selection.
• Year Range — Optional: define From and To years for allowed selection.
• Date Range — Optional: define From and To dates for allowed selection.
• Answer Options — For Radio, Checkbox, Select, and Select Multiple question types
• STEP 4 — For each answer option you want to offer, enter a Label, a Name, and a Code on one line. Enter a Label; the other two are optional. Press Enter after each option to begin a new entry.
• Note: Maximum answer options per question = 1000. Recommended: do not exceed 150.

STEP 5 — Click Save at the bottom of this page (not Save and Close). Additional options are displayed.

STEP 6 — Select additional options, if needed.

• Seq. — Sequence
• Label — Text or HTML to show to registrant as answer choice
• Name — Text to show on confirmations
• Code — Text to display in reports
• Sel? — Display-only option (not selectable)
• Web? — Remove option from online form
• Cap. — Capacity
• Act? — Deactivate the option
• Sort answer options alphabetically by Label — Sorts options by label
• Add a text field after the last option — Include an "Other" style field
• Display text box on click — Show the text field only after selecting the last option

STEP 7 — Click Save and Close to finish.

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• Related articles (omitted)

Preview Questions and Set Default Answer

STEP 7 — Click the Save button at the bottom of this page (not Save and Close) to preview your entries in this section. STEP 8 — Verify the question's appearance. Change it using the Display Settings options if needed. Click Save to preview any changes. STEP 9 — (For radio buttons, check boxes, and select drop-down lists) If desired, select a default answer from the answer options. STEP 10 — Change the question's appearance using the Display Settings options, if needed. Click Save to preview any changes. STEP 11 — Click Save and Close when you are satisfied with the results you see in the Preview section.

Display Settings

Video: Setting Question Display Settings (Less than 2 minutes)

• Show Online? — Choose one:
• No
• Optional
• Require
• Read Only
• Hidden
• Note: A Certain registration form must include a Questions section before it will show a custom question (regardless of this setting).
• Include an empty option with the label — See the details under Answer Options.
• Questions/Answers — Sets the orientation of the question text to the answer entry field (left/right or top/bottom).
• Multiple Answers — Setting for arrangement of answers (single column, row, or multiple columns).
• Answers Order — Display order of answers across rows or down columns.
• Question Font, Horizontal, and Vertical Alignment — Typography and alignment for the question text.
• Answers Font, Horizontal, and Vertical Alignment — Typography and alignment for the answer text.
• Class — Optional CSS class name for styling.

• STEP 11 — Save and Close when you are satisfied with the results.

Select Question Type (repeated content)

• STEP 1 — See above for the types of questions.
• STEP 2 — See above for Name, Code, Display for Reg Form, Error message, and Tags.
• STEP 3 — See above for Answer Settings.
• STEP 4 — See above for Answer Options.
• STEP 5 — See above for Save.
• STEP 6 — See above for Additional options.
• STEP 7 — See above for Preview.
• STEP 8 — See above for Verify Appearance.
• STEP 9 — See above for Default Answer.
• STEP 10 — See above for Display Settings.
• STEP 11 — See above for Save and Close.

Preview, Display, and Additional Settings

• Display Settings (continued) — The same options as above appear under the Display Settings heading.
• Video: Setting Question Display Settings (Less than 2 minutes)
• Show Online? — Reiterated options: No, Optional, Require, Read Only, Hidden.
• Note: The same Note about including a Questions section applies here as well.
• Include an empty option with the label — Reiterated for use in multi-select scenarios.
• Questions/Answers — Reiterated orientation settings.
• Multiple Answers — Reiterated multi-answer layout options.
• Answers Order — Reiterated ordering rules.
• Other attributes — Reiterated settings for font, alignment, and class.
• STEP 11 — Final Save action.

Related Articles

• Custom Questions
• General FAQ - Tips for Names, Codes, and Labels
• Event List
• Logic Rules (Attendee Form)
• Confirmation (Attendee Form)