Create a Highlighter question

Highlighter questions allow you to present an image that participants can highlight.

Use Highlighter questions when asking participants about visual design (for example, product packaging, page layout, and web design). Participants are able to highlight multiple areas of an image, undo their last action, clear all highlights, and view an animation on how to complete the Highlighter question.

Highlighter question from the participant's perspective

Sample modern view:

Sample classic desktop view:

Sample classic mobile view:

Note: Participants are prompted to rotate their device when the highlighter image does not fit the screen.
  1. From the Survey Builder Toolbox, under Questions, do one of the following:
    • Drag the Highlighter question to the Table of Contents.
    • Click the Highlighter question.
  2. In the Table of Contents, click the Highlighter question.
    Result: The Edit Pane appears.
  3. Optional: Edit the Question name.

    Question names:

    • Should be unique.
    • Can contain symbols and all alphanumeric characters.
    • Are not displayed to participants.
  4. In the Question text field, enter the question text.
    Note: The recommended character limit is 2500.
  5. In the Highlighter Image area, click Add Image.
    Result: An Upload Image dialog appears.
  6. Click Browse.
  7. Browse for the image file on your computer and click Open.
    Maximum file size

    2 MB

    Maximum dimensions Unlimited
    Note: Highlighter images will expand and shrink to fit the size of the participant's screen.
    Supported formats
    • GIF
    • JPG
    • JPEG
    • PNG
    Tip: Avoid using animated GIFs in Highlighter questions. If you use an animated GIF, the heat map will only display the first frame.
    Note:

    Use Microsoft naming conventions to name your image files and parent folders. Image file names and parent folder names that contain special characters will prevent your image from uploading. Image file names and parent folder names cannot contain any of the following special characters:

    \ / : * ? " < > |

  8. In the Alternative Text field, type a description of the image that can be understood by text-only readers.
  9. Click Add.
    Result: A thumbnail of your image appears under your text. Participants will now see your image when they view this question.
  10. Optional: To remove the image, click Remove Image.
    Note: The image is removed from the current location in the survey. It is not removed from the Assets Library. For more information, see Remove images from the Assets Library.
  11. Optional: The default color for the highlighter pen is yellow (FFFF00). To change the highlighter color, click the Color Picker and then select a color, or enter a hexadecimal value in the Hex color value field.

    You can have one highlighter color per Highlighter question.

  12. Optional: To preview the question in desktop or mobile view, in the Edit Pane, click Preview.
    Result: A preview of your survey appears, starting with the selected question.
    Note: Preview in mobile view simulates the mobile experience. For best results, preview your question on a mobile device.

The following table describes how your image will appear in desktop or mobile view depending on the image dimensions.

View If the image Then
Desktop Exceeds the maximum height and width
  • A portrait image is resized to the maximum width.
  • A landscape image is resized to the maximum height.
Exceeds the maximum width The image is resized to the maximum width.
Exceeds the maximum height The image is resized to the maximum height.
Mobile Exceeds the maximum height and width The image is resized to fit the screen.
Desktop and mobile Is smaller than the maximum height and width The image is not resized.
Note: You cannot use a response to a Highlighter question to complete the following tasks: