A survey goes through three stages: draft, test version and final version. Publishing for testing puts the survey online so you and others can try it. Publishing the final version starts real data collection, and from then on most changes are locked.
At a glance
| Draft | Test version | Final version | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online for others | No, only Preview in the editor | Yes, anyone with the link can try it | Yes, for respondents |
| Survey link and QR code | Not yet created | Created, and stays the same from now on | The same as in the test version |
| Editing | Anything | Anything. To update the test link, click Publish for testing again | Limited (see Edit, extend, close or reopen a published survey) |
| Responses | None | Test responses, visible in Analyze and the Excel export | Real responses only. Data collection starts from zero. |
| Uses a survey from your quota | No | No | Yes, once. Re-publishing doesn't use another. |
| Can go back | – | You can keep editing as long as you like | No, a final version can't be switched back to test mode |
Why publish for testing first
- Share it for feedback. Colleagues, clients or a test group can answer without being members of your team.
- Check your results before they matter. Look at the test responses in Analyze and download the Excel file. This shows whether you chose the right question types and saves time at the analysis stage.
- Test on a phone. Open the test link on your own phone; there is no separate mobile preview (why not).
- It's free. Test publishing doesn't use a survey from your quota.
To publish for testing, go to Publish, select Publish for testing and click Publish. Step-by-step: Test your survey before launch.
The link and QR code
The survey link and QR code are created when you first publish for testing. They stay the same when you publish the final version and when you re-publish later.
The only exception is a custom link ending: if you change it in Settings, the link and QR code change too. Set your custom ending before you share the link or print the QR code. See Survey web address (URL) and QR code.
When you publish the final version
- Data collection starts from zero. Test responses no longer show in the analysis tool; they are kept in a separate file, so you don't need to remove them from your data yourself.
- One survey is used from your subscription quota.
- You can still fix typos in text elements, change translations and settings, and change the closing date. Changes to questions, answer options, page types and the maps used by Pop-up map or Select map need our help.
- The survey can't be switched back to test mode.
Before you publish, go through the checklist for survey launch, then follow Publish your survey.
Need to keep testing after launch?
Make a copy of the survey. A copy always starts as a draft, so you can edit and test it freely without touching the live survey. Responses in the copy are kept separate from the original.