The ability to capture rich text in survey comments is now available. This feature was designed for professional development, self-improvement, capturing procedure details, etc. … any case where long comments should be augmented with emphasis to make it easier to read.


This feature is not recommended for full campus course evaluations as it could create support issues with data entry, performance issues reporting, and oddly formatted data in exports.


Here is how it works:

  • When a comment section on a survey supports rich text, a link will appear with a guide for how to format the text to include headings, bold, italics, bullets, numbers, & horizontal lines. It is not recommended to include formatting beyond this. Rich Text Guide
  • If survey takers include the type-able (markdown) codes in their comments the reports will show rich text.
  • Survey exports will include the markdown codes which show emphasis on their own, but do not affect the formatting of the exported text.


To enable this feature:

  • Create a new Memo-type response set and check the box to enable markdown. This will show as enabled for the response set in the Response Set list.
  • Add the new response set to a question
  • Add the question to a survey administration



Comments that support markdown will show a link to the Rich Text Help guide.  


 

There is a small learning curve for users to insert the markdown codes. For example, add bold and italics:

  • This *italicized word* adds emphasis
  • This **bold word** draws attention


NOTE: This option was intentionally disabled for existing response sets so that thought is put into the use of this feature. There is an on-screen warning as a guide to when it should be used. If an existing response set requires this feature it is recommended to create a new response set and then apply it to the questions where it is appropriate to use it. Doing this will not affect any past surveys.


The following reporting features support translating the markdown to HTML for display:

  • Individual report
  • Evaluation report
  • Anonymous user report (magnifying glass option next to comments on the Evaluation report)
  • Non-anonymous special report (link can be found in the header of the Evaluation report for non-anonymous surveys)
  • Editing a comment on the Evaluation report (if enabled)


The following features DO NOT support translating the markdown entry:

  • Director report entry and reports
  • Feedback comments on evaluation reports
  • Anywhere else HTML can be entered


The edit comment feature has been enhanced as follows:

  • Popup window has been enlarged
  • Formatting is improved
  • Question title shows above the response to edit
  • Markdown supported link shows next to question if markdown is enabled for the question
  • The on-screen instructions have been simplified
  • The footnote that shows in an edited comment is now italics instead of red. This was done to support formatting in both markdown and non-markdown comments.