Masking Code Boxes Code boxes, along with code labels (i.e. response options) can be hidden for multiple and single response type questions. These response options can be hidden in a matter of two ways, statically and dynamically. Static masking is used to hide a response option in all conditions of the survey. Meaning, once applied to a question the response option will always be hidden. This might be useful for grid questions where one option is not applicable for a specific row within the grid. When used, the response option that is desired to be hidden is referenced and prefaced with the word “not” (i.e. “not 5”). Dynamic masking is used to conditionally show response options based on a response to a previous question. This type of masking can be used to customize a survey’s response options based on how a respondent is answering questions. Below are two examples of dynamic masking. Static masking will not be covered directly in this work sheet. For more details on static masking please see: https://www.snapsurveys.com/help/#32279 Step By Step Example One: Masking follow-up questions with the response options. Step 1 First, there will need to be two questions with identical response options. The best way to do this is by cloning the first question to make the second. To clone a question, select it from within the “Questionnaire Design Mode” ( ): Then click on the clone button from the tool bar to clone the selected question ( ). Once clicked, a clone of the selected question will appear just below the selected question: The text of the cloned question should be edited appropriately and response type can be changed to single: Step 2 The masking feature should be applied to the cloned question (Q2). To apply masking, right click the question and select “variable properties”. This will open the following window where the “Mask” setting is listed under the properties column: Step 3 To Mask the cloned question so that only the options selected in a previous question are shown, the following syntax should be applied: “Question Name” (i.e. Q1) If the opposite masking is desired (show response options that were not selected), the syntax should be as follows: “not Question Name” (i.e. not Q1) Step 4 Once the masking is applied, save the survey using the green check mark ( ). Step 5 To preview the masking feature in action, publish the survey in preview mode. Or, publish without preview and upload the survey to webhost. Example Two: Conditionally masking using derived variables. In this example respondents will first pick the location where they work. Then, based on the location they picked, the response options of a latter question will only show the options available at that location. This would be useful in situations where response options for a question need to be grouped together and filtered out based on previous responses. Step 1 Create a question that will represent each group of masked options. In this example there will be three office locations: Step 2 Now create the question that will contain masking. This question would contain all of the possible response options. For example: Step 3 Next, the derived variable that determines the logic of the applied masking should be created. Open “Variables” mode by pressing “Ctrl + R” and select the question being masked from the variables list: Press the clone button ( ) to create a new variable. Step 4 Edit the new variable so that the “Type” is set to “Derived” and “Response” is set to “Multiple”: Step 5 Set the code values for each response option in the derived variable. Each response option should reference the masking question. If response option one from the masked question should be shown when response two or three is selected to the masking question, the syntax would be: Step 6 Fill out the rest of the values for the derived variable appropriately: London has Customer Services and Training New York has Accounting, Customer Services, Human Resources, IT Support, Research, Sales and Training Paris has Accounting, Customer Services, Data Center, Development, Human Resources, IT Support, Research, Sales and Training. Step 7 Make note of the derived variable’s “name”. This will be used as the “mask” value. Step 8 Click the green check mark ( ) to save the derived variable. Step 9 Navigate back to the “Questionnaire Design” mode by pressing “Ctrl + Q”. Step 10 Select the masked question. Right click and select “Variable Properties”. Step 11 Scroll down to the “Mask” property and enter the “name” of the derived variable as the masking value: Step 12 Click “OK” to save the masking value. Step 13 Once the masking is applied, save the survey using the green check mark ( ). Step 14 To preview the masking feature in action, publish the survey in preview mode. Or, publish without preview and upload the survey to webhost. If there is a topic you would like a worksheet on, email to snapideas@snapsurveys.com