---
url: "https://questionstar.com/help/creating-surveys/common-question-settings/"
title: "Common Question Settings"
description: "Learn how to configure required questions, display logic, randomized order, and other question settings in QUESTIONSTAR with precision."
lastmod: "2026-07-08"
type: "help"
---

# Common Question Settings

In the properties panel on the right, you control how your question behaves and appears. Many settings apply to all question types and help you map out even complex survey scenarios. These **common options** are explained here — type-specific settings can be found in the respective articles on the question types.

## The common settings at a glance

Image (float right)

![Common Question Settings](/api/media/file/1.-Allgemeine-Einstellungen-der-Frage.png)

1. **Required question (strict mode / soft mode / not required)**
 This setting determines whether respondents must answer the question:**Not required** – The question can be left unanswered.**Require: Strict Mode** – The question must be answered before moving on to the next page.**Require: Soft Mode** – The first time respondents try to skip it, they're kindly asked to answer the question. The second time, however, they're allowed to skip it.

For question types that contain multiple items — e.g. Matrix, Form, or Sliders — individual items can be marked as optional. This is especially helpful for input fields such as "Other", which shouldn't be mandatory to answer. You'll find the relevant setting in the help menu of the respective option via the gear icon ("Open item settings").

2. **Inline**
 Enables a space-saving layout: two or more adjacent questions with the inline option enabled appear side by side — ideal for compactly displaying short questions.
3. **Private Data**
 Private questions contain sensitive information (e.g. name, phone number). When a question is marked as private, its data appears only to authorized people (e.g. data protection officers) and is stored separately.**Note:** Once the survey has started, this setting can no longer be changed.→ More info: [Privacy](/help/survey-settings/privacy)
4. **Show in individual report**
 Determines whether the question appears in the individual report. Individual reports are shown at the end of the survey or made accessible in the "View Answers" view. Turn this option off if the question shouldn't appear in the individual report — e.g. to keep the report focused or shorter.

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> **Note:** For private questions, this option is automatically disabled and cannot be changed.

5. **Custom ID (for JavaScript)**
 Assign a custom ID to the question so you can later target it specifically with JavaScript or CSS — for instance, for custom validations or layout adjustments. This field can also be used for coding in the data export, e.g. to label constructs or variable names in the analysis.
6. **Add Display Logic**
 Control whether and when a question is shown — e.g. only after certain previous answers. → More info: [Display logic](/help/branching-and-display-logic/display-logic)
7. **Add Skip Logic**
 Determines which page respondents jump to after this question — depending on their answers. → More info: [Skip logic](/help/branching-and-display-logic/skip-logic)
8. **Copy Question**
 Creates an identical copy of the current question — it appears directly below it.
9. **Delete Question**
 Permanently removes the question from the questionnaire. An undo function is available for a short time.
10. **Randomized options enabled**
 For questions with multiple answer options or matrix items, the order can be shuffled randomly — anew for each respondent. This prevents position bias and is especially useful for scale questions. → More info: [Randomized order](/help/branching-and-display-logic/random-order)

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> **Note:** Additional, question-type-specific settings can be found in the corresponding articles 
>  on the individual question types.