Derived values and real-time computation in SurveyEngine

Creating new variables through real-time computation for piping back to respondents.

A step-by-step interactive tutorial on derived values and real-time computation in surveyengine in SurveyEngine. Preview the live tutorial, then download and upload it to your account to examine the construction.

Ben White, 08.07.2026

What this tutorial covers

Creating new variables through real-time computation for piping back to respondents.

Each page of the tutorial demonstrates a specific technique. Work through it as a respondent first, then open the editor to see how it was built.

What you will learn

After completing this tutorial you will be able to implement derived values and real-time computation in surveyengine in your own SurveyEngine surveys.

Download the tutorial ZIP and upload it to your account to use it as a starting point or template for your own work.

TLDR Quick links

Preview the live tutorial

Download the tutorial ZIP

Open a free account

Step-by-step walkthrough

Step 1: Create a derived value question. Add a derived value element to your page and write the computation expression.

Step 2: Write the computation expression. Use SurveyEngine's expression language to compute values from earlier responses - for example {Q1} + {Q2} or {Q3} * 0.1.

Step 3: Pipe the derived value. Reference the derived value in later question wording or as an attribute level in a choice experiment.

Step 4: Apply formatting. Use format functions to display derived values as currencies, percentages, or rounded numbers.

Step 5: Use derived values in display logic. Derived values can be used in display conditions to show or hide questions based on computed results.

Try the live tutorial

The live tutorial is a working SurveyEngine survey. Click through it as a respondent to see the finished result.

Then download the tutorial ZIP file and upload it to your SurveyEngine account to examine how it was built. Open any page in the editor to see the configuration.

Preview the live tutorial or download the ZIP file to load it into your account.