I would like to generate HTML code and save it to a column/field in the database.

I've created a hidden question with 'sHTML' code which corresponds to the column/field
in the survey table I would like to save the HTML.

I've also created a plugin and it handles the afterSurveyComplete event.

Can I read the survey/response from the database and then modify the sHTML column
and update the modified record to the database?

I've tried reading the survey/response from the database using the internal API calls, but it doesn't appear to read the record.

I assume the record is created at this point since I'm in the afterSurveyComplete but maybe the record hasn't been created yet.

Does anyone know how to go about handling the above situation?

The record is created after submission of the first question page, regardless of whether the survey is complete.

If you cannot load the hidden (presumably long-text-type) question from within the survey, how about using the API update_response() method - api.limesurvey.org/classes/remotecontrol...thod_update_response .