QS:Array filter

Array filter (array_filter)

Description

The Array filter setting allows you to use any multiple choice question to select or set which responses display in a subsequent list, array or multiple choice question.

The subsequent questions can be filtered on any array question type, including:

• Multiple choice
• Multiple choice with comments
• Multiple short text
• Multiple numeric
• Array (5 point, 10 point, Yes/No/Unknown, Increase/Same/Decrease, Column)
• Array (Dual Scale, Text, Numbers)
• Ranking

Furthermore, each of these types of questions can be filtered.

The only exception is Array (Column), which can filter other questions, but can not itself be filtered.

How to set a filter

To set a filter, enter the question code of a multiple options question in the array filter box. This will be used as the source of information for our current question which retrieves the selected answers from the previous questions and use them as answer options. For example, if your source multiple option question code is "Q1", enter "Q1" into the 'Array Filter' box to start the filtering process of the answers. Only the answer options that are selected in question Q1 will be visible in the array_filter-ed question.

If you wish more questions to be filtered via this option, type the question codes in the box separated by semicolons (;).

Cascading

The selected options can be displayed in cascade. This means that you can select a question which filters another question, which filters another question, and so on.

Array filter example

Let's take at the following example to better understand the power of this setting:

In the screenshot from above, we got two questions. The first one is a multiple short text question type, while the second one is an array dual scale question type. The answers you provide in the first questions will be listed in the second one.

You example from above can be downloaded from the following link: limesurvey_group_32.lsg. Import this question group into your LimeSurvey installation.

Array filter example 3 - Cascading Array Filters

This sample survey shows use of array_filter, array_filter_exclude, and exclude_all_others, plus cascading array filters.