Questions
Definition
Questions are questionnaire components submitted to employees via workflows. Users are required to answer questions arranged in a specific order so that additional information on an incident, service request, change request, investment request or problem can be obtained.
EndDefinition
- Questions are created in a reference table shared by all standard and multi-section questionnaires.
- Each question is formatted depending on its type (e.g. checkbox, list, etc.) in order to make it easier for users to answer.
See Types of questions.
- They may propose default answers based on static content, such as a list of static values, or dynamic content, such as a list of values returned by an SQL query run when the question is displayed.
- Each question is formatted depending on its type (e.g. checkbox, list, etc.) in order to make it easier for users to answer.
- They can be customized depending on the questionnaire's context of use, i.e. its display conditions, data entry constraints and display order. You can define the properties using the Manage Questions wizard in each questionnaire.
Example
You can format a question depending on its type.
Type of question: Date | Type of question: Radio Button | |
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Departure: answer using a calendar
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Remote Access (VPN) needed?: answer using two radio buttons
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Notes
- The types of questions are defined by EasyVista. You cannot add to them.
- When users open a questionnaire again and if a given question was already asked in one of the workflow steps, the last answer to this question will be displayed instead of the default answer.
Caution
- If you modify a question, the modification is immediately propagated to all questionnaires where the question is included.
- If the description of the question is not translated, you should restrict the number of characters to 253 so that the square brackets [ ] added by the system to non-translated strings will not generate an error when you save.
- When you create default values for Radio Button, Grid or List types of questions, you must ensure that you enter them in the order in which you want them to appear. This is because you cannot modify the order of the values subsequently.
Best Practice
See also Best practice - Questionnaires.
- If several questions have the same description, you should specify the code of each question so that users can identify them easily.
- You can apply a color gradient to the satisfaction rating scale in a satisfaction survey by setting the fields Gradient start color and Gradient end color.
See the procedure.
Menu access
- References > Other References > Questionnaires: Questions
- In a questionnaire: Manage Questions wizard > Create a New Question
Screen description
Code: Question ID.
Description: Description of the question. HTML tags can be used.
Type: Type of question, used to adapt the answer field based on the question asked. A list of fields contextual to the type of question will be displayed.
Note: The fields below may or may not appear, depending on the type of question selected.
- Content: When the type of question gives users a choice of answers, this indicates the origin of the values displayed.
- Static option: Values are specified in the question and cannot vary, i.e. static values.
- Dynamic (SQL) option: Values are retrieved from the Service Manager database using an SQL query run when the question is displayed.
Static option | Dynamic (SQL) option | |
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The Remote Access (VPN) needed? question always presents the same two possible answers ==> Create two static values: Yes; No |
The Your manager question presents a choice of answers that is refreshed each time the question is asked ==> Create an SQL query |
- Default Value: Default answer to the question, can be modified by users.
- When a default value is proposed, it can be one of the values proposed to users (Selected from the list option) or a value retrieved from the Service Manager database when the question is displayed (Look up SQL option).
- Value: Value used to preload the answer, can be modified by users.
example
- Index / Description table: List of values proposed as answers to the question.
- Add one row for each possible answer.
- Caution: You must ensure that you enter the rows in the order in which you want the values to appear in the questionnaire. This is because you cannot modify them subsequently.
Display in the questionnaire | Answers entered | |
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The Remote Access (VPN) needed? question displays two possible answers Yes; No |
Create two Radio Button answers in the following order: Yes; No |
- Number of Elements in a Row: When the type of question gives users a choice of answers, this indicates the number of values to be displayed in a given row.
example 2 elements per row
- Display Item Label: Used to indicate if the label is displayed after each choice of answer (True) or if no label is displayed (False).
True option | False option | |
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The Remote Access (VPN) needed? question displays two possible answers ==> Create radio buttons that will display labels |
The satisfaction survey displays the choice of answers to the question, The employee listened carefully in the table header ==> Create radio buttons without displaying labels |
Types of questions
Type of question | Display | Notes | |
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Radio Button |
The question is followed by one radio button for each possible answer. |
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Checkbox | A checkbox will be placed next to the question.
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Comment | The question is completed by a non-modifiable field.
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Date | The question is followed by a Date field and the ![]() |
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Date and Time | The question is followed by a Date field, the ![]() |
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Decimal | The question is followed by a numeric field with decimal places.
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Duration | The question is followed by a field for entering the time in hh:mm format.
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Table Header | The question presents a table with column headers.
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Grid | The question is followed by a list that displays possible answers preceded by checkboxes.
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List | the question is followed by a drop-down list displaying possible answers.
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SQL List | The question is followed by a field.
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Memo | The question is followed by a user-defined field whose size is variable.
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Integer | The question is followed by a numeric field for integers.
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Signature | The question is followed by a field where a signature can be inserted using a stylus pen or the mouse.
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System | This type of question provided by Service Manager during setup enables you to define the graphic layout of the questionnaire.
example Horizontal line separator |
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File Upload | The question is followed by the ![]() |
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Text | The question is followed by a user-defined field of limited size.
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URL | The question enables you to access the URL when you move the cursor over the description.
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Procedures
How to create a question
1. Select References > Other References > Questionnaires: Questions in the menu.
2. Click + New.
3. Specify the information on the new question.
Note: The fields displayed are specific to the type of question. See the description.
4. Click Save.
The new question will be available for all questionnaires regardless of the menu in which it was created.
How to create a satisfaction survey
See also Best practice - Questionnaires.
Step 1: Create the possible answers in the survey via the header of the questionnaire (1)
1. Create a Table Header question.
2. Enter the label of the first column header to specify the first possible.
3. Repeat the procedure to create one row for each column header in the table answer that correspond to the other possible answers.
Step 2: Create the questions in the survey (2)
1. Create a Radio Button question.
2. Specify the number of columns in the table via the Number of Elements in a Row field.
3. Select False in the Display Item Labels option.
The radio buttons will be displayed in the table without any labels.
4. Create the possible answers to the question.
- Click
in the Index / Description table.
- Specify the label of the question.
5. Repeat the procedure to create the other questions in the survey.
How to create a questionnaire
Create a standard questionnaire
Create a multi-section questionnaire
Use case: How to create a questionnaire for an insurance company
This use case shows how all types of questions can be implemented using a questionnaire designed for the customers of an insurance company.
See the description.