---
url: "https://questionstar.com/help/survey-settings/custom-system-messages/"
title: "Custom system messages in QUESTIONSTAR"
description: "In QUESTIONSTAR, customize error messages and system notices individually to optimize the respondent experience of your survey."
lastmod: "2026-07-11"
type: "help"
---

# Custom system messages

## About custom system messages

When respondents interact with your survey, system messages are shown to them in certain cases. These include error messages for unanswered or incorrectly answered questions, an additional thank-you page at the end of the survey, a message when an inactive or closed survey is opened, a password prompt, and a message when the survey is restarted in kiosk mode.

You can customize the texts of system messages in the **"Service Message"** tab of the "Survey Settings" view:

## Customizing error messages

![Service Message](/api/media/file/Systemmeldungen.png)

Error messages are shown when respondents have not answered, or have incorrectly answered, one or more questions on a questionnaire page.

You can customize the following error messages:

| Type of error message | Display condition |
|------|------|
| Question type: All |
| Error text in the page header | There are one or more errors on the questionnaire page. |
| Require response | A question marked as "strict" or "soft" was not answered. |
| Question type: Multiple Choice |
| Minimum number of selected options too low (multiple choice) | Fewer options were selected than the question's "Minimum Answers" setting requires. |
| Maximum number of selected options exceeded (multiple choice) | More options were selected than the question's "Maximum Answers" setting allows. |
| Question type: All, Custom Text Field ("other") enabled |
| Text field entry required | The option with the additional text input field was selected, but no text was entered in the associated input field. |
| Text entered in unselected answer | The option with the additional text input field was not selected, but text was entered in the associated input field. |
| Question type: Multiple Lines (Essay) |
| Minimum number of characters too low (Essay) | Fewer characters were entered in the input field than this question's "Minimum Length" setting requires. |
| Maximum number of characters exceeded (Essay) | More characters were entered in the input field than this question's "Maximum Length" setting allows. |
| Question type: Text Input, format: Number |
| Valid number required | The entry does not match the numeric format, i.e. text was entered instead of a number. |
| Number too small | The number entered is smaller than this question's "Minimum Allowed Value" setting requires. |
| Number too big | The number entered is larger than this question's "Maximum Allowed Value" setting allows. |
| Restrict decimal places | The number entered has more decimal places than this question's "Number of Decimals" setting allows. |
| Question type: Text Input, format: Password |
| Password length too short | The number of characters entered is smaller than this question's "Minimum Password Length" setting requires. |
| Question type: Text Input, format: Date |
| Wrong date format entry | The entry does not match the date format, i.e. no valid date was entered. |
| Entered date is too early | The date entered is earlier than this question's "From Date (Allowed Minimum)" setting requires. |
| Entered date is too late | The date entered is later than this question's "To Date (Allowed Maximum)" setting allows. |
| Question type: Text Input, format: Web address (URL) |
| Valid URL required | The entry is not a valid web address. |
| Question type: Text Input, format: E-mail |
| Valid email address required | The entry is not a valid email address. |
| Question type: Text Input, format: Input Pattern (regexp) |
| Custom pattern does not match | The entry does not match the regular expression entered in the "Input Pattern (regexp)" setting. |
| Question type: Constant Sum |
| Required sum not reached (Constant Sum) | The entries in the input fields do not add up to the sum defined in the question's settings. |
| Question type: File Upload |
| File size too large (Upload) | The respondent is trying to upload a file that is larger than the maximum allowed file size. |
| PDF required (Upload) | The question requires uploading a PDF document. A document in a different file format is being uploaded instead. |
| Text document required (Upload) | The question requires uploading a text document. A document in a different file format is being uploaded instead. |
| Image file required (Upload) | The question requires uploading an image file. A document in a different file format is being uploaded instead. |
| Spreadsheet required (Upload) | The question requires uploading a spreadsheet file. A document in a different file format is being uploaded instead. |
| Upload failed (Upload) | The file could not be uploaded due to an unknown error. |

You can customize error messages by clicking the **"Edit messages" (1)** button in the "**Custom error messages**" row.

![Customizing error messages](/api/media/file/Fehlermeldungen-anpassen.png)

A dialog then opens in which you can edit the **texts of individual error messages**.

![Custom system messages editor](/api/media/file/system-messages_image003.png)

> 💡
> 
> **Note:** You can format the texts of all error messages by clicking the corresponding buttons of the formatting panel in the upper part of the dialog.
> 
> ![Custom system messages list](/api/media/file/system-messages_image004.png)

> 💡
> 
> **Note:** You can reset the customized error message texts to the default text at any time. To do this, click the "Clear Settings" button
> 
> ![Custom system messages icon](/api/media/file/system-messages_image005.png)
> 
> at the end of the row of the error message you want to reset.

## Placeholders in error messages

Some error messages contain placeholders – character strings enclosed in curly braces (e.g. {min} or {max}). When error messages are generated, placeholders are replaced by the values of the respective variables to better inform the respondent about the nuances of their error. For example, a placeholder can be used to show the respondent the exact number of options to select in a multiple choice question, or the number of characters to enter in an essay.

When customizing error messages, you can use the following placeholders to help your respondents better understand the error:

 th {
 background-color: #cccccc;
 padding: 5px;
 text-align:left;
 }
 td {
 padding: 5px;
 border: solid #ccc;
 border-width: 0px 0px 1px 0px;
 }
 .qs-table-subheader {
 background-color: #efefef;
 padding:5px;
 border:solid #ccc;
 border-width:0px 0px 1px 0px;
 }  .qs-table-cell-small {
 font-size: 85%;
 color: #666666;
 padding: 5px;
 }

| Placeholder | Meaning | Error messages in which the placeholder may be used |
|------|------|------|
| Question type: Multiple Choice |
| {min} | Minimum number of options to select | Minimum number of selected options too low (multiple choice) Maximum number of selected options exceeded (multiple choice) |
| {max} | Maximum number of options to select |
| Question type: Multiple Lines (Essay) |
| {min-chars} | Minimum number of characters to enter in the input field | Minimum number of characters too low (Essay) Maximum number of characters exceeded (Essay) |
| {max-chars} | Maximum number of characters to enter in the input field |
| {char-count} | Number currently entered in the input field |
| Question type: Text Input, format: Number |
| {min} | Minimum allowed value of the entry | Valid number required Number too small Number too big |
| {max} | Maximum allowed value of the entry |
| {num} | Maximum number of allowed decimal places | Restrict decimal places |
| Question type: Text Input, format: Password |
| {min} | Minimum allowed password length | Password length too short |
| Question type: Text Input, format: Date |
| {min-date} | The earliest allowed date | Entered date is too early Entered date is too late |
| {max-date} | The latest allowed date |
| Question type: Constant Sum |
| {sum} | Sum of the points to distribute in the question | Required sum not reached (Constant Sum) |
| Question type: File Upload |
| {max-size} | Maximum allowed file size | File size too large (Upload) |

## More settings: Custom system messages

In this area, you can also customize other **system messages individually** that are shown to your respondents in certain situations.

![More settings](/api/media/file/Weitere-Einstellungen.png)

These include, among others:

- **Inactive Survey Message** Shown when respondents try to access an *inactive survey* – for example, if it has not yet started or has already been closed.
- **Opt-Out Message** Text on the page that appears when a respondent clicks the "unsubscribe" link in an invitation or reminder email. You can customize this message to, for example, provide further information or contact options.
- **Confirmation of a successful opt-out** The confirmation that the opt-out was successful can also be given its own text.

> 💡
> 
> **Tip:**
> Custom system messages ensure a **consistent look & feel** and help avoid confusion among respondents – especially if you maintain a specific wording or a professional style throughout the survey.