Creating Blocks

Standard Blocks

Use this type of block to group questions together and apply for example randomization and/or rotation to the questions within the block. These blocks are inserted directly into the Survey tree:

1. Right-click in the appropriate place in the Survey tree and select Insert (After) > Block from the menu, or drag a Block object from the New Objects toolbox and drop it into the Survey tree.
2. Insert into the Block object the questions you wish to rotate or randomize.
3. Double-click on the Block element or right-click on it and choose Edit from the menu to open the Block's Properties page.

Figure 1 - Setting up a Block object

Here you can rename the block object and choose the order in which the elements within the block are to appear: In Order, Randomized, or Rotated - . Note that in this case, pseudo-randomization is used.

External Blocks

You can create Blocks outside the Survey routing in the Call Blocks folder in the Survey Tree. You can then call these blocks by adding a Call Block to the appropriate place in the Survey. You can create any number of Blocks.

1. Right-click on the Blocks folder and select Insert Block from the menu - .



Figure 2 - Inserting a new Block into the Call Blocks folder

2. Add objects (questions, loops etc.) to the Block as required, using the same methods as when adding objects to the Survey (go to Adding New Objects to the Survey Tree for more information).

Any objects added to the Block will be run when the Block is activated by a Call Block in the Survey.

3. Double-click on the Block to open its properties page - .



Figure 3 - The Block Properties page

4. Edit the settings as required then click Save to save the changes.

The properties are as follows:

• Name - the name of the block. By default the blocks will be named BlockX where X is the order number in which it was created. You can rename the block as desired.
• Order - the order in which the elements within the block are to be presented to the respondent. Click in the field and select the desired order from the list. Note that this property only applies to the objects inside the selected block. Note also that in this functionality, pseudo-randomization is used.
• Deleted - if the block has been deleted from the tree and you wish to reinstate it, undelete it by un-checking the box (go to Deleting and Duplicating Objects for more information).

Call Blocks

Block to Call nodes are used to call or activate Blocks that have been created in the Call Blocks folder external to the Survey tree. You can create Block to Call nodes anywhere in the Survey tree.

1. Right-click in the appropriate place in the Survey tree and select Insert (After) > Block To Call from the menu.

A Block to Call object is added to the tree.

2. Double-click on the Block to Call object in the tree to open its properties page - .



Figure 4 - The Block to Call Properties page

3. Edit the name if required and select the Block that is to be called, then save the changes.

 The properties are as follows:

• Name - the name of the Block to Call object. By default the blocks will be named BlockToCallX where X is the order number in which it was created. You can rename the block as desired.
• Block to Call - the Procedure Block that is to be activated by this node. Click in the field and select the desired Procedure Block from the list. All Procedure Blocks in the Call Blocks folder are listed.
• Deleted - if the Block to Call node has been deleted from the tree and you wish to reinstate it, undelete it by un-checking the box (go to Deleting and Duplicating Objects for more information).