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Hi everyone
I am trying to auto-answer questions based on previous answers, using a Group by Group survey format. The target questions are scattered in different Question-groups within the survey. So far so good – this can be well achieved using an equation question . 

However, I also need to style the target questions so that it’s clear that they have been auto-answered (eg. having a green background and a hint-text).
For this purpose, I tried using the update_response API-function, followed by set_question_property for the styling (not there yet).
My problems with this approach are:

• Auto-answered questions appear empty, although they are dynamically set successfully (as seen in the responses)
• Auto-answers are overwritten when the survey is saved or submitted (I guess because the fields remain empty)

> Is there a better way to do this?
> Is there a way to display those auto-answers when navigating to the related Question-groups?
> If yes, is there a better way to get the target answers’ names than using list_questions (API) and compose their SGQ code? 

Thanks for your help
 

However, I also need to style the target questions so that it’s clear that they have been auto-answered (eg. having a green background and a hint-text).

If you are using ExpressionScript to set the question, you should also be able to use ExpressionScript to define a CSS class for the question.

- www.limesurvey.org/manual/Question_type_...lass_.28css_class.29

Thanks Tony.
Do you mean that it's possible to set a css class of another question via the logic field of an equation question?

• I checked Expression Manager's " Access to variables ", but there is nothing mentioned
• I tried this code within an equation question too, but it doesn't work: {Q02.css_class= "autoAnswered"}

Apart from that, I would be grateful for an answer on the remaining questions (see first post):
 > Is there a way to display those auto-answers when navigating to the related Question-groups?
 > If yes, is there a better way to get the target answers’ names than using list_questions (API) and compose their SGQ code?

Do you mean that it's possible to set a css class of another question via the logic field of an equation question?

I think, Tony wanted to say:
"In the field "css classes" of this question enter something like {if(yourCondition,"autoAnsweredClass","")}

And I do not understad your further questions.

Regarding the second:
What do you "compose"? In "Access to variables" there is a property ".sgqa"

Joffm

Hi Joffm

Joffm wrote:

I think, Tony wanted to say:
"In the field "css classes" of this question enter something like {if(yourCondition,"autoAnsweredClass","")}
 

Thanks for clarifying this, it worked well. I am attaching an example survey, in case anyone needs to have a look.
It's good to mention though, that this won't work dynamically on the same page - It works well for target questions found on upcoming pages.

Regarding the second:
What do you "compose"? In "Access to variables" there is a property ".sgqa"

Let's take it step-by-step:
> (Using the update_response API-function) Auto-answered questions appear empty, although they are dynamically set successfully (as seen in the responses)
   Trying to re-phrase the question below:
   Why would an answer field appear empty, if an answer is set to it programmatically in a previous question group (using the update_response API-function)?

Thx again

Why would an answer field appear empty, if an answer is set to it programmatically in a previous question group (using the update_response API-function)?

Maybe it's related to the session.

But, why use the API to set the questions? Can't you do it with ExpressionScript in the previous page?

And to style?
You may use your two css classes
Like:  {if(Q00 == 'test',"show-alert","no-alert")}

Seeing your "alert-warning" I suppose you want to show a bootstrap alert.
First you have to insert the alert. Here with a "close" option
And some rough css:   
Either this
 
  
or this
 

Joffm

I used setting a css class conditionally in the following example:
www.respondage.nl/scoring_an_array/

You can download the survey and see how it is done.

Tammo

Thanks to everyone for these helpful answers.
Indeed, an Equation question is great for auto-answering questions. There are some peculiarities and limitations though, which do not seem documented yet ... ð  Suggestion: Expand the related Manual page with the attached guide and / or link both ways to the related EM section . Any improvements are very welcome. 

tpartner wrote:

Why would an answer field appear empty, if an answer is set to it programmatically in a previous question group (using the update_response API-function)?

Maybe it's related to the session.

But, why use the API to set the questions? Can't you do it with ExpressionScript in the previous page?
 

I am really not informed here, how this can be related to the session (do you mean a caching issue?).
Shouldn't each page show the related stored answers when loaded?

There are still two reasons, why I would still use the API to set the answers:

• An Equation question will not (yet?) work with OfflineSurveys (related forum discussion | workaround1 on page2   | workaround2 )
• An Equation question cannot set answers dynamically on the same page of the triggering question, which can easily be handled by javascript (see for example workaround1 above).

Any further help would be appreciated!