Question information structure

Whether wanting or answering, there is only ever one focus Q at once.

Static Q information, held in the QIS

• QID: global, typically a long number.
• QAuthor: the GUID of the original author of the Q. Note that GUIDs are not available to users.
• QOwner: the GUID of the current owner of the Q — that is, the person responsible for its maintenance.
• QTitle: @lang; Q title used for link text; mandatory
• QDescrip: Q description: further Q elaboration / explanation; optional; @lang
• QStruct: (see the question-struct index)
• QDetails: virtual field with everything else about the Q:
• for option lists, levels with no scheme and preferences between alternatives:
• QMultiB: can the Q have multiple answers?
• QOtherB: does the Q allow "other" at the end?
• QNI: number of choices (whether or not they have text)
• and for each item that has some associated text:
• QItemShort: short item text @lang (or blank)
• QItemLong: long item text @lang (or blank)
• Note that preferences can be represented the same way
• for position/range on a continuum only:
• QSmax: the absolute maximum value, if any
• QSmin: the absolute minimum value, if any
• QSunit: the unit for data recording
• for level questions only:
• QScheme: level scheme
• (though maybe we can use the same field for other structures?)
• for each super-Q or controlling Q
• QID of super-Q
• answer or range of answers to super-Q enabling this Q
(this presumes that we can find possible sub-questions from the listings of super-Qs)
• how do we do previous and newer versions, exactly?

Temporary revision information

The revisions are envisaged as being mainly to the text fields, or other mistakable things.

• QTitNew: revised title of Q, @lang
• QDescrNew: revised explanation of Q, @lang
• QItemShoNew: revised short item text @lang
• QItemLoNew: revised long item text @lang
• for preferences between alternatives:
• QPr1New: revised QPref1 description of one @lang
• QPr2New: revised QPref2 description of other @lang
• for positions in a continuum only:
• QSmaNew:revised QSmax possible value
• QSmiNew:revised QSmin possible value
• for level questions only:
• QSchNew: revised level scheme

Answers about Qs (not part of Q structure itself)

• good enough to use
• confusing / ambiguous / unhelpful
• polarizing or otherwise dangerous; should not be allowed

Answer readiness

For all Qs, readiness to answer is kept, in QAccept – see answer-info

Relevant interface pages

Distributed throughout, but particularly:

• Edit a question