Dynamic text lets one survey carry each row's own details in its wording, such as the place or the date. You write a placeholder once, and every printed copy replaces it with that row's value from your prefill list. Web links made from the list replace it too, but only in question text, and only when a question with that name saves the column. This article covers the placeholder syntax and its layout rules; for the full workflow see the complete prefill guide.
How placeholders work
Wrap a column name in double curly braces anywhere in a question, heading, or description:
Thanks for visiting _{{location}}_ on _{{date}}_. Would you mind answering a few questions?
Combined with this list, uploaded as a prefill list:
| ID | location | date |
|---|---|---|
| 123 | XYZ Restaurant | 2026-01-10 |
| 124 | ABC Exhibition | 2026-02-01 |
Each generated copy carries its own wording:
- "Thanks for visiting XYZ Restaurant on 2026-01-10. Would you mind answering..."
- "Thanks for visiting ABC Exhibition on 2026-02-01. Would you mind answering..."
The placeholder uses the column's name as typed. Spaces just inside the braces are fine ({{ location }} works), but the name itself must be spelled as it is in the list.
Keep the layout stable on paper
On printed surveys, replaced text that runs longer or shorter than the placeholder shifts everything after it, and a layout that moves between copies hurts recognition. Wrap dynamic text in a height box so every copy occupies exactly the same space:
[height=2 lines]Thanks for visiting {{location}} on {{date}}.[/height]
A height in lines holds that many lines of text at the survey's text size, and a longer value is shrunk to fit. In tight layouts, constrain the width as well: [width=10cm][height=1 line]{{variable}}[/height][/width]. Heights and widths also accept centimeters, millimeters or inches. Web forms reflow naturally, so this only matters for paper.
Placeholders on web links
On web links, a placeholder works only in question text, and only when a question with that name saves the column. In the example above, Prefill Data questions that save location and date make both placeholders work on the web. Anywhere else, such as in help text, the web form shows the placeholder as raw text. Before any link is created, What each link saves in the links dialog warns about a placeholder in question text that would show as raw text. One extra convenience: if your survey text contains the survey's plain web address, each generated copy swaps it for that row's own link, so "complete this online at ..." always points to that row's pre-filled form. See Generating Prefill Links in Bulk for expiration dates and submission rules.
Beyond wording
Dynamic text is one of three ways a column can reach the survey. A column can also fill a matching question's answer field directly, or ride along invisibly as a Prefill Data question for filtering and exports. All three, plus printing, identifiers, and return tracking, are covered in the complete guide.