About Map/browser detection

Map/browser detection works in two ways. With a map, participants mark a location: they search for a place, click on the map or type coordinates, and a pin shows their answer. Without a map, the question records which browser the participant uses, without asking anything. Use the map for questions such as "Where did the incident happen?", and browser detection when you need to know which devices your participants use.

In the picture: 1 the search field, which needs at least three characters, 2 Latitude and Longitude, filled in when participants set the pin, 3 the map. Participants click to set the pin or drag it to move it.

Add a Map/browser detection question

1. Click the purple + in the top bar. The question type picker opens.

2. Under Dates & data, click Map/browser detection. The question appears at the end of the current question group.

3. Click Your question here and type your question.

4. On the Simple tab of the question settings, set Use mapping service: Google Maps or OpenStreetMap via MapQuest for a map, Off for browser detection.

Settings that matter

Select the question to open its settings on the right. The map settings are under Advanced > Location.

• Default position: where the map starts, as latitude and longitude separated by a space, for example 53.5511 9.9937.
• IP as default location: starts the map at the approximate location of the participant, based on their internet address. Turn it off if the map should always start at Default position.
• Zoom level: how close the map starts. Higher numbers show a smaller area.
• Save country, Save state, Save city and Save postal code: store these details of the pin location as well.
• Show platform information (Simple tab): for browser detection, adds the operating system to the browser.

How the answers are stored

With a map, the answer is the position of the pin as latitude and longitude, plus the country, state, city and postal code if you turned on their Save settings. With browser detection, the answer is a text such as Chrome (153.0) | Mac OSX (10.15.7): the browser with its version and, with Show platform information, the operating system. Participants see this text in a field they cannot change.

Note: A location can identify a person. Ask for it only when you need it, and mention it in your privacy policy.

Next steps

• Date/time
• File upload
• Export your responses

FAQ

The map starts somewhere unexpected. Why?

With IP as default location on, the map starts where the participant's internet connection appears to be, which can be the location of their provider. Turn it off and set Default position.

Can participants answer without using the map?

Yes. They can type the coordinates into Latitude and Longitude, or search for the place by name.

Can participants change the detected browser?

No. The field is filled in automatically and cannot be edited. Do not turn on Always hide this question for browser detection: a hidden question is not shown on the page, so nothing is detected.