This post describes a way to restore Qualtrics’ “edit multiple” option.
In Qualtrics, when editing a multiple choice question, using the “edit multiple” method (screenshot) is much faster than editing each response option individually. In addition, the “edit multiple” method allows me to edit things in a text editor to sidestep the quirky and unhelpful behavior that Qualtrics exhibits when editing individual response options. Furthermore, “edit multiple” allows me to copy and paste easily from other sources (such as the CSS for Qualtrics questions I’ve posted elsewhere on this site). In short, “edit multiple” is pro-level.
Unfortunately, Qualtrics takes “edit multiple” away if you’ve collected any responses (even “preview” responses) in that questionnaire. Sadly, deleting all the responses will not turn “edit multiple” back on. Inexplicably, copying the survey into a new survey (which itself obviously has no responses) will not turn “edit multiple” back on, nor will copying the questionnaire into the library and creating a new survey from the library. The Konami code won’t turn it back on either. Qualtrics is fully aware of this problem, and they claim that rather than being a “bug,” it’s a “feature.” (“The Edit Multiple feature is disabled as soon as you collect data on your survey. This is to prevent invalidation of your data. If you copy a survey where this feature has been disabled, the copy will also not contain the Edit Multiple feature.”)
Personally, I don’t create new questionnaires from scratch. My workflow is to copy my previous projects and modify them for my new purposes. Call me crazy, but I’ve never enjoyed reinventing the wheel. So, in my typical workflow I had no access to the “edit multiple” method. Disappointing.
This post describes a way to defeat the disappointing disappearance of the dearly departed “edit multiple” option. It is based on a long conversation I had in the Qualtrics Community Forums. It is a way to copy an existing project into a new project, with the new project’s “edit multiple” turned on.
Step 1: Edit the source questionnaire, and under Tools >> Import/Export, choose Export Survey to download a .QSF export file that contains all the information from the survey (screenshot).
Step 2: Open the .QSF file with a text editor. Note: Use a true text editor; even Windows Notepad will work, but Microsoft Word will not do this task correctly.
Step 3: Use search to find the place in the .QSF file where ProtectSelectionIds is mentioned (screenshot). Somewhere in the middle of the file, it should be found1 looking like this …
"ProtectSelectionIds":true,Step 4: In that spot, and only that spot, change1 this text …
true… to become this text …
falseStep 5: Save the edited .QSF file wherever you like.
Step 6: In Qualtrics, import the .QSF file into a new project with “+ Create project” (screenshot), “Create from existing” (screenshot), and “From a file” (screenshot). Obviously, then click the green “Choose a .QSF File” button and navigate to your .QSF file.
Step 7: Edit a question and enjoy using “edit multiple.”
– Eric DeRosia
1 If the ProtectSelectionIds property doesn’t exist in the file, it will needed to be added to the file with a value of false.