> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.pears.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.pears.io/plan/surveys/format-a-survey.md).

# Format a Survey

Learn how to format and organize questions on a survey in PEARS.

The Questions page includes tools to reorder, indent, edit, and configure questions after they have been added to a survey.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

#### Navigate to the Questions page

Open the survey and click **Questions** in the progress panel.
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{% step %}

#### Reorder questions

Click and drag questions into the desired order on the page.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Indent questions

Click the **Increase depth** arrow <i class="fa-chevron-right">:chevron-right:</i> to indent questions for visual organization, or the **Decrease depth** arrow <i class="fa-chevron-left">:chevron-left:</i> to move them back out. This is useful for grouping related or multi-part questions together.

{% hint style="info" %}
**TIP:** A maximum of 3 depth layers is allowed. Questions increase one layer at a time, a question can be indented at most one layer deeper than the question above it, and the first question cannot be indented.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Edit question text

Click the **pencil icon** on a question to edit its wording. You can also adjust **Alternate question text for post or follow-up survey** (shown on post and follow-up surveys) and set the **Field name for reports** used in data exports.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Mark questions as required

Click the **asterisk icon** on a question to mark it as required. Required questions must be answered before the survey can be submitted.
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{% step %}

#### Remove question numbering

Click the **numbering icon** <i class="fa-list-ol">:list-ol:</i> on a heading or question to remove its number. Click it again to restore the number.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Lock a question

Click the **lock icon** to prevent a question from being removed in future survey copies.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**NOTE:** In copies of the survey, only the survey owner and users who can edit the owner's records can unlock or remove a locked question.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Duplicate a question

Click the **copy icon** to duplicate a question along with its response options.
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{% step %}

#### View metadata

Click **Show Metadata** below a question to view advanced information such as the question ID, question type, and field name for reports.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

#### Continue

Click **Continue** to proceed to the [Permissions](/plan/surveys/survey-permissions.md) page.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}