Editing Custom Variables

About Editing Custom Variables

After creating a bucketed, formula, or combined variable, you may realize that you want to make changes. Custom variables can be edited in the Data & Analysis tab at any time without hurting your previously collected data. As with the creation of these variables, all changes made will affect past and future responses.

Visit our Manual Variable Creation page to learn how to edit this third kind of custom variable.

Changing Variable Names & Types

The field type refers to the format the data should be in. A field’s type determines what kind of edits you can make to the data and what widgets you can use in results dashboards. These field types are almost exactly the same as those in CX Dashboards; see Field Types & Widget Compatibility for more info.

1. Select Field Editor.
   
2. Click on a field name within the “Destination” column.
   
3. Type the new name.
4. Click on the dropdown in the “Type” column to select a different field type.
   Attention: You can only change the field type of manually created fields.
5. Click Review and Publish.
6. Select Publish your Changes.
   

Changing the Rule

After setting up your variable, you may realize that you need to add more groups, mixed up the variables in your equation, or need to make another major change to the logic behind the variable. In this case, you would edit the Rule behind your variable.

1. Select Field Editor.
   
   
2. Click the 3 vertical dots next to the field you want to edit.
   
3. Select Edit Variable Rule.
4. Change fields as needed. See our bucketed, formula, and combined variable pages for step-by-step instructions.
5. When you’re done, click Edit Variable.
   
6. Click Review and Publish.
   
7. Select Publish your Changes.
   

Recoding a Variable

After setting up your variable, you may realize that you need to change the values of a response choice or exclude it from analysis. In this case, you would Recode the values of your variable.

1. Select Field Editor.
   
2. Click the 3 vertical dots next to the field you want to recode.
   
3. Click Recode.
4. Recode your values or choose to exclude them from analysis. See Recode Values for more information.
5. Click Review and Publish.
   
6. Select Publish your Changes.
   

Formatting Dates

After setting up your variable, you may realize that you need to change the format of a date field.  In this case, you can use the Format dates button to specify a format and time zone for the field.

1. Select Field Editor.
   
   
2. Click the 3 vertical dots next to the date field you want to edit.
   
3. Select Format dates.
4. Select a date format from the dropdown. See Date Format Syntax for more information about the available date formats.
   
5. Select a time zone.
6. Click Apply.
7. Click Review and Publish.
   
8. Select Publish your Changes.
   

Marking a Field as Sensitive

Sometimes you may want to hide some data from reports or dashboards, such as personal respondent information. Fields marked as sensitive will be hidden to dashboard viewers. To mark a field as sensitive, follow these steps:

1. Select Field Editor.
   
2. Click the 3 vertical dots next to the field you want to mark sensitive.
   
3. Select Mark sensitive. A lock icon will appear next to fields that are marked sensitive.
   Qtip: To mark a field insensitive, repeat steps 1-2 and select Mark insensitive.
4. Click Review and Publish.
   
   
5. Click Publish your Changes.
   
   

Removing a Variable

1. Select Field Editor.
   
2. Click the 3 vertical dots next to the field you want to delete.
   
3. Click Remove.
4. Click Review and Publish.
   
5. Select Publish your Changes.
   

FAQs