Add and Edit Zip / Postal Code Questions in Engagement Questionnaires

Collect geographic location data from residents by adding zip / postal code questions to your engagement questionnaires. These questions provide a specialized input field for postal codes, enabling location-based analysis, demographic segmentation, and geographic representation assessment for municipal planning and service delivery.

Quick Steps

1. Navigate to Ask > Surveys > Build select your survey
   
   
2. Drag "Zip / Postal Code" from the Content sidebar under "CONTACT"
3. Drop the question into your desired position in the questionnaire
4. Configure question text and validation settings in the modal that opens automatically
   
   
5. Click "Save" to apply changes and see the in-builder preview

In-Depth Guide

Adding a New Zip / Postal Code Question

Access the Questionnaire Builder Navigate to the Engage section and go to the Activities listing screen. Find your engagement questionnaire and select "Edit" to open the Questionnaire Builder interface.

Add the Zip / Postal Code Question From the Content sidebar on the right, locate "Zip / Postal Code" under the "CONTACT" section. Drag the Zip / Postal Code element and drop it into your questionnaire at the desired position.

The questionnaire builder will display a drop zone where you can position your new question. Release the Zip / Postal Code element when the drop zone appears in your preferred location.

Configure Question Settings Once you drop the Zip / Postal Code element into your questionnaire, the configuration modal automatically opens. Enter your question text in the main question field. Write clear questions that explain why you're collecting location information. For example, "What is your zip code?" or "Please enter your postal code to help us understand community representation."

Add Support Text (Optional) Use the Support Text field to provide additional context about how the postal code information will be used, privacy considerations, or examples of acceptable formats. This text appears below the main question and can explain the purpose of location data collection or provide format guidance.

Configure Validation (Optional) Toggle the Validation setting to enable postal code format verification. When enabled, the system can check that entered postal codes follow expected format patterns, helping ensure data quality and consistency.

Mark as Required (Optional) Toggle the Required Question setting to make the zip / postal code question mandatory for questionnaire submission. Required questions must be answered before respondents can proceed or submit their responses.

Save Your Configuration After configuring all settings, click "Save" to apply your changes. The modal will close and you'll see an in-builder preview of your zip / postal code question within the questionnaire.

Editing Existing Zip / Postal Code Questions

Locate and Select the Question In the Questionnaire Builder, find the zip / postal code question you want to modify. Click on the edit icon on the question block to open the configuration modal and access all editing options.

Modify Question Content Update the question text or support text as needed. Ensure your question clearly explains why location information is being collected and how it will be used. Click "Save" to apply your changes and close the configuration modal. Once saved, you'll see an in-builder preview of your updated question.

Adjust Validation Settings Enable or disable postal code validation based on your data quality requirements. Consider that validation helps ensure consistent formatting but may cause issues with non-standard or international postal codes.

Update Required Settings Modify the required question setting based on whether location data is essential for your analysis or optional for additional demographic insights.

Reorder Questions Reposition zip / postal code questions within your questionnaire flow using two methods:

• Drag-and-drop: Click and hold the question block, then drag it to a new position. The questionnaire will show drop zones indicating valid placement locations.
• Toolbar: Use the reordering options available in the question's toolbar for precise positioning.

Remove Questions To delete a zip / postal code question, use the delete option in the question's toolbar. The question will be removed immediately without a confirmation prompt.

Question Design Best Practices

Explain Location Data Usage Clearly communicate why you're collecting postal codes and how the geographic information will be used in analysis or service planning. Transparency builds trust and improves response rates.

Consider Privacy Implications Use support text to address privacy concerns about location data collection. Explain data protection measures and how location information will be aggregated or anonymized.

Place Strategically Postal code questions often work well in demographic sections or toward the end of questionnaires, grouped with other contact or location-related questions.

Methodology

Postal Code Format Processing The system accepts various postal code formats depending on regional standards. When validation is enabled, common format patterns are checked to ensure consistency and data quality.

Geographic Data Collection Postal codes are collected as text strings that can be used for geographic analysis, demographic mapping, and regional representation assessment.

Validation Error Handling When validation is enabled, invalid postal code formats trigger helpful error messages that guide respondents toward acceptable formats without losing questionnaire progress.

Language Support Zip / postal code questions support multi-language engagement questionnaires when configured. Question text and support text are translated, while postal code validation adapts to local format requirements.

Edge Cases, Exceptions & Known Issues

Drag and Drop Functionality

• Questions must be dropped in valid drop zones within the questionnaire area
• Dropping questions outside the builder area will not add them to your questionnaire

Postal Code Format Variations

• Different countries use varying postal code formats
• Validation rules may only accommodate Canadian, US, UK and Israeli post/zip codes 

Data Quality Challenges

• Respondents may provide incorrect, outdated, or fictional postal codes
• Validation helps with format but cannot verify actual postal code existence