Linked items

Links enable you to re-use an existing variable’s list of items of for another variable. This option enables you to save time when creating a questionnaire, and it also contributes to lessen the size of the *.QES file.

Furthermore, you can create a linked variable and still add on non-linked items which are specific to this linked variable. That is, let’s suppose we have two variables, V1 and V2. V1 contains the following items: A, B, C. Create a link in V2 on 'all items' of the Source variable V1. Then in V2 we add the following item: "None of these".

View example

 

Finally, these links enable you to avoid inserting certain types of basic routings, thereby saving you even more time when creating a questionnaire. The following link types are available:

• None: No items will be linked to this variable.
• All items: This variable will display all the items of the Source variable.
• All selected items: This variable will only display the items which were selected by the respondent in the Source variable.
• All non-selected items: This variable will only display the items which were not selected by the respondent in the Source variable.
• Selected items in all linked variables: This variable will only display the items which were successively selected by the respondent in the two or more linked variables, like a final recap of all given answers.
• Level link: Preserves the level between the sub-questions of two loops focusing on the same "r;Base" (level) even though these sub-questions and their respective loop are located in different parts of the questionnaire.

To create a link:

1. Click Link (inactive).... The links dialog appears:
   
2. Select the desired link type, then select the source variable and click OK.