Warning:
Because of the complexities of the Free Format Question type, you must completely test your survey to ensure that it functions properly and that the data for your entire survey are being saved correctly.
General Information about Free Format Questions
The TEXT (Numeric) variable is used for asking numeric only type questions. Within the Free Format Variable dialog, specify a Free Format Variable with TEXT (Numeric) as the Variable Type.
Within the HTML editing area, use an <input> HTML tag with the type attribute set to "text." The easiest way to do this is by using the Free Format Tools button 
. When using the Free Format Tools button, Lighthouse Studio automatically provides default HTML with appropriate variable naming conventions.
The name of the Free Format Variable must be the same as the name attribute in your HTML code for the <input> tag. If desired, you can check the Require Response option, that forces respondents to enter a numeric value. You must specify a Minimum Value and a Maximum Value for the variable. Lighthouse Studio requires the respondent's answer to be within that specified range (or the value may take on the Don't Know/Refused value, if you specify one). If you would like the respondent to be able to enter decimal type values, then check the Allow Decimal Answers check box.
TEXT (Numeric) Example
(The following parameters represent a Free Format Question with one variable defined.)
| Free Format Question Name: | FF4 |
| Variable Name: | FF4_CARS |
| Variable Type: | TEXT (Numeric) |
| Require Response: | (checked) |
| Error Message String: | Number of Cars |
| Minimum Value: | 0 |
| Maximum Value: | 10 |
| Allow Decimal Answers: | (not checked) |
Example HTML Code:
How many cars do you currently own?
<INPUT TYPE="text" NAME="FF4_CARS" SIZE="2" MAXLENGTH="2">
(Note: Up to 15 decimal places of precision will be saved to the data record.)