Survey design often requires flexibility to collect data in various formats, particularly dates and times. While Qualtrics offers basic date pickers, integrating advanced tools like Flatpickr (flatpickr ) can significantly elevate your survey's functionality. This article provides a step-by-step guide on using Flatpickr to create calendar picker questions in Qualtrics, covering standard date pickers, date range pickers, combined date-time pickers, and time-only pickers. We'll also explore customization options and additional features to fine-tune your calendar pickers.

Open your Qualtrics survey.
Go to the Look & Feel section and then to the Advanced tab.
Add the following lines in the Header section:
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/flatpickr/dist/flatpickr.min.css"> <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/flatpickr"></script>

Step 2: Assigning a Target Input Field

In the survey question where you want to use Flatpickr, identify the input field to be enhanced. You can assign a unique class or ID to this field using HTML view in Qualtrics.

Example:

<input type="text" id="datePicker" class="flatpickr">

Creating Various Calendar Picker Types

1. Standard Date Picker

A simple calendar to select a single date is often sufficient for most surveys. Here’s how to implement it:

jQuery("#"+this.questionId+" .InputText").flatpickr({
	dateFormat: "m/d/Y",
	maxDate: "today"
});

2. Date Range Picker

To allow respondents to select a range of dates, use Flatpickr's mode: "range" option:

3. Combined Date and Time Picker

Enable both date and time selection for more precise inputs:

4. Time-Only Picker

For scenarios requiring time selection without a date, configure Flatpickr as follows:

Customizing the Flatpickr Appearance

1. Changing Fonts and Colors

Flatpickr supports multiple themes out of the box. Include a theme in the header:

For additional customization, use CSS:

2. Adjusting Calendar Layout

You can resize or adjust the layout with custom CSS. For example:

Specifying Date and Time Constraints

1. Setting Minimum and Maximum Dates

Prevent users from selecting dates outside a specific range:

2. Defining Available Time Slots

To limit time inputs:

Additional Features to Explore

1. Multi-Date Selection

Enable users to select multiple dates:

2. Localization Options

Flatpickr supports localization for languages, first day of the week, and time zones:

3. Adding Custom Buttons

Add buttons like "Clear" to enhance user experience:

Troubleshooting and Optimization

Common Issues

Conflict with Qualtrics’ Native Date Picker: Disable the default picker using custom code.
Flatpickr Not Rendering: Ensure the script is placed correctly and input fields are properly targeted.

Performance Tips

Limit the number of active Flatpickr instances in surveys with high traffic.
Use CSS selectors efficiently to target input fields.

Conclusion

Flatpickr offers an intuitive, customizable solution for creating various calendar pickers in Qualtrics. By leveraging its extensive features and customization options, you can design surveys that are both visually appealing and functionally robust. Experiment with different configurations to discover what works best for your specific survey needs.

Special thanks to Charles GPT for helping organize and refine this article.

Healthyhorns

Using Flatpickr to create calendar picker questions

Contents

Getting Started: Integrating Flatpickr into Qualtrics

Step 1: Adding the Flatpickr Library