Hello,

I have encountered an error with Limesurvey while using it in connection with SONA Systems.


Background is as follows: I am tasked with conducting an online survey over Limesurvey that, after completion, grants students a certain amount of credits on SONA Systems. To set up the integration I followed the steps described by SONA Systems ( www.sona-systems.com/help/limesurvey.aspx ). SONA Systems successfully directs the participants to the Limesurvey survey. The problem arises after the participants finish the survey and click on the final 'submit' button. The redirection link back to SONA Systems does not seem to work, because the final PASSTHRU bit in the end URL is cut out by limesurvey.

The End URL saved in Limesurvey is like this:
yourschool.sona-systems.com/webstudy_cre...ey_code={PASSTHRU:id }

But the actual redirection URL after submitting is:
yourschool.sona-systems.com/webstudy_cre...f9b638a&survey_code=

Note that the {PASSTHRU:id} part is missing, although it is properly saved in the settings. Thus far, I contacted SONA Systems support and they could replicate the problem. After thorough checking, the SONA Systems part seems to work completely. It must be a Limesurvey problem. Professional Limesurvey Support declined to help. Hope some of you have an idea what the source of the problem could be.

For clarification:
1. limesurvey.yourschool.edu/index.php?r=su...-en&id=%SURVEY_CODE% was used in SONA Systems as direction link to Limesurvey (this works)
2. In Limesurvey, the option "Automatically load end URL when survey is complete" is set to "yes"
3. In Limesurvey, the End URL is properly saved as stated above (with the PASSTHRU parameter at the end)
4. In Limesurvey, a panel integration parameter named "id" (all lower case; matching the PASSTHRU parameter exactly) was created and saved.
5. Limesurvey Version is 3.13.2+180709 (matches manual instructions on SONA Systems)

As I said SONA Systems support also suspects an error on the Limesurvey side, since trial and error testing with them over several days showed that on their side, everything works as it should.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

Do you have a hidden question with code "id"?

If so, have you tried this:

shouldn't survey code be "sid" rather than "id"?

shouldn't survey code be "sid" rather than "id"?

Don't think so, it looks like lg068014 is prefilling a question "id" with the survey entry URL.

Looks more like a bug in LimeSurvey with PASSTHRU.
The EndURL is a evergreen when it comes to regression.

I never use PASSTHUR since the data is then lost.

As Tony suggests, you should create e.g. a equation question at the beginning of the survey and hide it.
Assign the id value to that question. Then use the questioncode of that question (can be id) and use it in the EndURL {Questioncode}.

That way you got the id saved in your responses too and perhaps it it shown in the EndURL too.

Okay, thanks for the feedback.

@tpartner: I will try that URL with only "id" at the end. Let's see if it works out.


@jelo: I would love to do that, but the survey is already active and I cannot add questions anymore. Any more ideas?

I would save the current responses, export them to have them secure. Then deactivate the survey, include the additional question. This problem should have appeared during the test phase. Things like panel integration should always be tested. It is always a tricky thing (not only in LS) to integrate external applications. This needs to be tested thoroughly before the field start.

Now you need to do what is possible. I think the best way is to deactivate the survey, make it right and then reactivate it. Most probably you can even import the old response table again.

Of course, I tested before activation, but the problem code did not show up back then. I am hesitant to deactivate the survey, because I am afraid that it will create even more problems with the panel integration. I also do not know how the SONA Systems side will react to deactivating and changing the survey. Also, I do not know if the additional question "id" and then changing it in the survey end URL will actually work.

Also, I do not know if the additional question "id" and then changing it in the survey end URL will actually work.

That can easily be tested in another survey.