Question Numbers#

Every question in a survey carries a number, Q1, Q2, and so on, assigned by the application. The numbers are computed from the survey’s structure each time it changes. They are not stored with the survey, and they cannot be edited.

The Numbering Rule#

One sequence runs through the whole survey in document order; sections do not restart it.
Only questions are numbered. A choice grid or a question grid counts as one question. Descriptive text, notes, computations, edit checks, sections, and rosters take no number.
Questions inside a roster or inside a display-logic branch are numbered in place, where they occur.
A question that is reused in more than one place is numbered where it first occurs.
Inserting, deleting, or reordering an item renumbers everything after it immediately.

Where Numbers Appear#

Surface	Form
Canvas cards	A pill at the left of the card header.
Structure tree	Before the question’s label.
Questions page	The No. column.
Routing page	On each question node in the graph, and beside each question in the conditions list.
Live preview	Before the question text, as `Q5.`.
Translations page	On each question row.
Comments rail	On each thread’s item name.
Specification PDF	Before each question, as `Q5`; cross references cite the number and the name, as `Q5 (AGE)`.
Paper Form PDF	Before each question, as `Q5.`.

The search rail does not show numbers.

Numbers in Exports#

The PDF exports number questions with the same walk as the canvas, so a printed number matches what the designer shows. A single section exported from its header keeps the numbers it has in the full survey; a section whose first question is Q12 on the canvas prints from Q12.