> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.exoid.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Block options

> Every shared setting in the question panel, in panel order, and the table of which block types each one appears on.

Open any block and the panel on the right shows the same settings in the same order, whatever the question type is: question code, question, description, media, wait before advancing, then the option list and the settings that govern it. This page goes through them in that order and ends with a table of which option appears on which block type.

For what is specific to each type — slider ends, rating scale, file formats — see [Question types](/en/builder/question-types).

<Warning>
  If you change the options of an interview that has already collected responses, the platform warns you that changing options can lose data. Check what's already been collected before you edit anything.
</Warning>

## Question code

The **question code** sits at the top right of the panel, next to the block type. It is the identifier of the block — `Q1_AGE`, `SQ_HYPE_CUSTOMER` — and from the moment you set it, it is how the rest of the platform refers to that question:

* in **Results**, where each question is shown as `[CODE] question text`
* in the **export** columns, where the code is the column header
* in the **filters** and comparison clusters, where you pick the question by its code
* in the **navigation rules**, whose modal is titled "Edit logic for \<code>"
* in the **conditions**, wherever you build one on an earlier answer
* in the **scripts**, where you read an answer with `questions.<CODE>.responseValue`

Two prefixes are assigned automatically: **Message** blocks get `STM_`, ending screens get `END_`.

Give it a code you'll still recognize in a spreadsheet three months from now, and keep it stable: everything downstream is anchored to it.

## Question

The question text itself — what the respondent reads as the prompt.

## Description

Secondary text shown under the question. Use it for the instruction that would make the question text too long: the reference period, the definition of a term, how many answers you expect.

## Media (optional)

A collapsible panel that attaches an image, a video or an audio file to the question. It has two sources.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Upload file">
    Upload the file directly. Accepted extensions:

    `.jpg` `.jpeg` `.png` `.gif` `.webp` `.svg` `.mp4` `.webm` `.ogg` `.mp3` `.wav` `.aac` `.m4a`

    Maximum size **5 MB**.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Use variable">
    Instead of a fixed file, the media comes from a variable. The stimulus then changes from one respondent to another.

    This is how you run a **monadic test** inside a single study: one interview, one set of questions, but each respondent sees a different pack, ad or concept. Everyone answers the same questions about a different stimulus, and the comparison is between groups rather than within a respondent.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

<Note>
  **Swipe** does not have this shared Media field: its images live in its own Swipe configuration.
</Note>

## Wait before advancing

A toggle. Turn it on and a numeric **seconds** field appears, default **3**. The respondent cannot move on until the time has passed.

Use it whenever the answer depends on actually looking at something: a pack shot, an ad, a claim. Without it, a fast respondent clicks through the stimulus and answers about nothing.

## Option lists

Wherever a block has answer options, the list works the same way.

* **Add Bulk Options** — "Add multiple options at once". Paste a long list in one go instead of typing rows.
* **Add Option** — adds a single row.
* **Reorder by dragging** — each row has a drag handle.
* **Option code** — the small field on the left of each row. It's the option's identifier, the counterpart of the question code at option level.
* **⋮ menu** — on every single row, with two entries: **Visibility condition** and **Delete**.

### Per-option visibility condition

**Visibility condition** in the ⋮ menu is a condition on **one option**, not on the whole question. The modal is titled "Visibility condition - Option N" and says "Show this option only when the condition matches".

Inside it:

* a **Show / Hide** selector — whether the condition makes the option appear or disappear
* **Add condition** — a single test on an earlier answer
* **Add group** — a group of conditions, for cases that need more than one test combined
* **Clear** — wipes what you've built

This is what lets a single option come and go while the rest of the list stays put — showing a brand in the consideration question only to the people who declared awareness of it, for instance.

## Required Question

"When enabled, users must answer this question to proceed." With it off, the respondent can leave the question blank and continue.

It appears on almost every block. The exceptions:

* **Message** — asks nothing, so it doesn't show it
* **File upload** — doesn't show it
* **Ending Screen** — has none of the shared fields except Question code and Scripts

## Allow 'Other' option

Adds an "Other" entry to the option list that opens a free text input, so the respondent can give an answer you didn't foresee.

Available on Multiple choice, Single choice and Image Choice.

## Randomize options

Shuffles the order in which the options are presented, so the position of an option doesn't drive how often it gets picked. The label differs slightly by block:

* **Randomize options** on Multiple choice, Single choice, Ranking and Image Choice — on Ranking it reads "Show options in random order at the start"
* **Randomize Options** on Matrix, where it means "Randomize the order of the rows"
* **Randomize options order** on Dropdown

## Exclusive options

"Each selected option clears every other answer when chosen." Turn it on and selecting an exclusive option wipes everything else the respondent had ticked.

It's the setting for the lines that can't logically coexist with any other answer: "None of these", "I don't know", "I don't buy this category". Available on Multiple choice and Image Choice.

## Selection mode

How many options the respondent must pick. Three values:

| Value          | What appears next to it                     | What the respondent must do    |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| `Unlimited`    | Nothing                                     | Pick as many as they want      |
| `Exact number` | **One** numeric field                       | Pick exactly that many         |
| `Range`        | **Two** numeric fields, minimum and maximum | Pick a number within the range |

Underneath sits **Custom instruction text**, which replaces the automatic instruction shown to the respondent. The placeholder suggests the register: `e.g. 'choose one or more', 'up to 2', 'at least 1'`.

<Warning>
  If the configuration is inconsistent, the Builder reports "Invalid selection mode configuration" and blocks publication.
</Warning>

Selection mode appears on **Multiple choice** and **Image Choice**.

<Note>
  Matrix also has a field called **Selection Mode**, but it's a different setting: its values are `Single Choice` and `Multiple Choice`, and it decides how many columns can be ticked per row.
</Note>

<Tip>
  `Exact number` is what turns a choice question into a forced-choice exercise. "Pick exactly 3" makes people trade off; unlimited selection gets you everything ticked and no discrimination.
</Tip>

## Transport options

"Show only options/rows selected — or not selected — by the user in a previous question." The list of this question is built from what the respondent did earlier, instead of being written by you.

<Warning>
  **Transport options only appears when an earlier question with options exists.** On the first question of an interview, or when no preceding block has an option list, the field is simply not in the panel — this is why it can look like the feature is missing.
</Warning>

Once turned on, it shows:

* **Source question** — the question the options are taken from
* **Mode** — `Show selected options` or `Show non-selected options`
* a fixed note: "Options/rows are transported from the source question and cannot be edited"

That last point matters: the option list of this question stops being editable by hand. It is the source question's list, filtered by what the respondent chose or didn't choose.

Available on Single choice, Matrix and Dropdown. Full detail in [Carry forward options](/en/logic/carry-forward).

## Which option is on which block

<Note>
  Read this table as "where the setting exists in the panel". It's the fastest answer to "why can't I find this option on this block".
</Note>

| Setting                                                 | Block types where it appears                                                            |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Question code                                           | All blocks, including Message and Ending Screen                                         |
| Question, Description                                   | All blocks except Ending Screen, which has Title and Description instead                |
| Media (optional)                                        | All blocks except Swipe and Ending Screen                                               |
| Wait before advancing                                   | All blocks except Message and Ending Screen                                             |
| Option list (Add Bulk Options, Add Option, ⋮ menu)      | Multiple choice, Single choice, Dropdown, Ranking, Matrix (rows and columns)            |
| Per-option visibility condition                         | Every block with an option list                                                         |
| Required Question                                       | All blocks except Message, File upload and Ending Screen                                |
| Allow 'Other' option                                    | Multiple choice, Single choice, Image Choice                                            |
| Randomize options                                       | Multiple choice, Single choice, Dropdown, Ranking, Matrix (rows), Image Choice          |
| Exclusive options                                       | Multiple choice, Image Choice                                                           |
| Selection mode (`Unlimited` / `Exact number` / `Range`) | Multiple choice, Image Choice                                                           |
| Custom instruction text                                 | Multiple choice, Image Choice                                                           |
| Transport options                                       | Single choice, Matrix, Dropdown — and only when an earlier question with options exists |
| Scripts                                                 | All blocks, including Ending Screen and the start screen                                |
| Skip condition, Navigation rules                        | All question blocks                                                                     |

## The three buttons at the bottom

At the foot of the panel, three buttons open the logic of the interview rather than the settings of the question:

* **Scripts** — run JavaScript on the block. See [Scripts](/en/advanced/scripts).
* **Skip condition** — decide whether this block is shown at all. See [Logic and conditions](/en/logic/conditions).
* **Navigation rules** — decide where the respondent goes after this block. See [Logic and conditions](/en/logic/conditions).

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Question types" icon="list" href="/en/builder/question-types">
    The 17 block types and the options specific to each one.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Context variables" icon="braces" href="/en/logic/variables">
    Store a value per respondent and reuse it, including as the source of a media variable.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


## Related topics

- [AI moderation](/en/builder/ai-moderation.md)
- [Question types](/en/builder/question-types.md)
- [What you can do with Exoid](/en/capabilities.md)