Publish, version, close and reopen a survey

Survey status determines whether people can respond; versions explain which form produced each response. First publication creates the live release. Material changes after launch should become a new published version so historic answers remain tied to their original questions. Closing stops new submissions without deleting responses, and reopening resumes collection on the current live form.

Before you start

• Resolve unfinished questions, test logic and take a sample journey before first publication.

• For a live survey change, decide whether the correction is truly harmless or must be communicated as a new version.

Step by step

1. Publish the first release

From the builder or survey actions, review warnings and choose Publish. Confirm the survey now shows an active version before distributing links or invitations.

2. Treat live edits carefully

Draft edits after launch can change what a later respondent sees according to the controls shown. Avoid substantive edits in place; finish the revised draft and publish a new version deliberately.

3. Publish a new version

Review the change summary, preview every branch and publish the revision. Existing responses remain associated with the version they answered rather than being rewritten against new wording.

4. Revert when necessary

Use the supported revert action only after comparing versions. Reverting restores prior form content for future respondents; it does not convert historic responses into another version.

5. Close collection

Close the survey when the response window ends. Confirm reminder activity and communicate that the link no longer accepts new work.

6. Reopen deliberately

Reopen when an authorised extension or correction requires more responses. Verify the current version, new deadline and audience before sending a reminder.

What happens next

• Filter or segment analysis by version when question wording or choices changed materially.

• Keep a short release note explaining why each post-launch version or reopen was necessary.

Troubleshooting

Publish is blocked

Finish or remove invalid questions, correct broken logic and ensure the survey contains a complete respondent path.

A respondent saw different wording from a colleague

Check the version and submission time for each response. Review whether draft edits or a new publication occurred between sessions.

Reopening did not restore an old response for editing

Reopening the survey accepts new work; it does not automatically reopen every submitted named response. Use the supported individual response control if available and appropriate.

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