The countdownTimer function allows the setting of a time limit across pages and blocks. It displays the time remaining in the survey header. Once the time expires the remaining questions are skipped. The countdown timer can be turned on or off, allowing for timed and untimed survey sections and multiple timed sections in a survey. Configuration is done by setting values of embedded data fields in the survey flow. countdownTimer keeps accurate timing info even if the browser window is closed.

This function is available for a reasonable fee. Contact TomG on the Qualtrics Community to learn more.

Add the timer display html to the survey header. Go to Look & Feel → General → Header edit → and paste the following html:

<div id="timerDiv">Time Remaining: <span id="timer">0:00</span></div>

Add the countdownTimer JS function to the header. While still editing the survey header in html mode, add the provided function below the timer html:

<script>
/*Paste countdownTimer function JS here*/
</script>

To run the countdown timer add the countdownTimer function call to the Qualtrics addOnload function. While still editing the survey header in html mode, add the addOnload function inside the script tag added above:

<script>
/*Paste countdownTimer function JS here*/

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnload(function() {
    countdownTimer();
});
</script>

To override the default options, specify the desired options in a function argument as an object. For example:

countdownTimer({timerSecsVar:"timerSecs1"});

Use CSS to style the timer display. Go to Look & Feel → Style → Custom CSS edit and paste the following CSS:

#timerDiv { /*style the timer display */
	display: none;
	text-align: right;
}

Styling can be changed or added to as needed. Do NOT remove display:none;

Set the timer on/off embedded data field by setting the field to 1 (on) or 0 (off) at the appropriate places in the survey flow. For example, to turn the countdownTimer on:

timerOn = 1

Set the timer seconds embedded data field(s) by setting the field value in seconds at the appropriate places in the survey flow. Timer seconds is the amount of time allowed to complete a timed section of the survey. For example, to set the time limit to one hour:

timerSecs = 3600

If multiple timers are used in a survey, each timer seconds embedded field should have a unique name (e.g., timerSecs1, timerSecs2, etc.). The default field name is timerSecs, but this can be overridden in the function options.

Add a question block immediately after setting Timer On/Off and Timer Seconds embedded fields in the survey flow to initialize the countdown timer. The purpose of the initialization block is to make sure the timer is set so that if the browser window is closed the timer will be accurate when the respondent returns to the survey. The initialization block should contain a single Text/Graphic question with the following JavaScript:

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnReady(function() {
	var qobj = this;
	setTimeout(function() { qobj.clickNextButton(); },0);
});

The initialization question will flash by very quickly and in many cases barely be visible. The suggested question text is “Setting up countdown timer…”. If a survey has multiple timed sections, the same block can be used at the start of each timed survey section.

Add display logic based on the Timer Seconds embedded data field to ALL questions in the timed section so they only display if there is time remaining. For example:

if timerSecs Is Greater Than 0

Do NOT require response or add custom validation to any questions in the timed blocks. You may use request response. When using request response, once time expires the respondent will only be able to 'Continue without answering'.

In general, the default options should work for the vast majority of implementations.

on is a binary value that turns the timer on or off: 1=on and 0=off.

Default: ${e://Field/timerOn}

showRawSecs is a boolean to show the time remaining in raw seconds instead of hh:mm:ss format

Default: false

timerSecsVar is the name of the embedded field that contains the Timer Seconds.

Default: "timerSecs"

timerSelector is the css style selector for the time remaining display span.

Default: "#timer"

updateSecs specifies how often the timer should be updated and checked in seconds.

Default: 1

To pause a timer (have a timed section, pause, then start the timer where it left off), turn Timer On/Off off at the end of the first timed section, then when it is turned back on set the new Timer Seconds equal to the previous Timer Seconds. For example:

Block: Timed section
Set Embedded Data:
  timerOn = 0
Block: Untimed section
Set Embedded Data:
  timerOn = 1
  timerSecs2 = ${e://Field/timerSecs1}
Block: Initialization Block
Block: Continue timed section 

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