TextArea Question Attributes

The <textarea> element is an open-ended question type that gathers text input from participants. In contrast to the <text> element, the <textarea> element produces a multi-line input box

<textarea label="Q1" optional="0">
  <title>Please tell use about your experience:</title>
</textarea>

The code above produces the following result:

1:  Attributes

In addition to the Question Attributes available, the <textarea> element has access to the following attributes:

Attribute	Type	Description
width	int	Controls the horizontal width of the textarea input field
height	int	Controls the vertical height of the textarea input field
verify	string	Validates the input provided via data verifiers
disablecopypaste	uses	Prevents participants from copying or pasting text

2.1:  width - Set the Textarea Width

The width attribute is an integer value that controls the overall width of the <textarea> element.

For example:

<textarea label="Q1" optional="0" width="75">
  <title>
    Please write your essay below:
  </title>
  <comment>Please be as specific as possible</comment>
  <row label="r1">Introduction</row>
  <row label="r2">Body</row>
  <row label="r3">Conclusion</row>
</textarea>

The code above produces the following result:

2.2:  height - Set the Textarea Height

The height attribute is an integer value that controls the overall width of the <textarea> element.

For example:

<textarea label="Q1" optional="0" height="2">
  <title>
    Please write your essay below:
  </title>
  <comment>Please be as specific as possible</comment>
  <row label="r1">Introduction</row>
  <row label="r2">Body</row>
  <row label="r3">Conclusion</row>
</textarea>

The code above produces the following result:

2.3:  verify - Set Which Data Verifiers to Use

The verify attribute controls which of the Data Verifiers to use. verify can apply the validation functions on the entire question or on each individual element, but not both.

For example:

<textarea label="Q1" optional="0" verify="len(1,140)">
  <title>In a Tweet-sized response, please tell us how you would change the world:</title>
  <noanswer label="r99">Prefer not change the world</noanswer>
</textarea>

The code above produces the following result (errors shown to demonstrate the verify attribute):

2.4: disablecopypaste - Disable Participant Ability to Copy / Paste Text

To prevent participants from copying text from and pasting text into the text field in surveys with compat level 154+, add uses="disablecopypaste.1" to the element.

For example:

<text 
  label="q1"
  optional="0"
  size="25"
  uses="disablecopypaste.1">
  <title>New Text Question/title>
  <comment>Be specific/comment>
</text>

3:  What's Next?

• Text Element (Survey Editor)

To convert a <text> question to a <textarea> question in the survey editor, adjust the field height setting to a number greater than 1.