Thanks @baxterdmutt.

The maximum chars was chosen as it was already a field for the array text type.

There are a few alternative solutions here:

1. You can export to queXML, edit the queXML file, change the "format" of question to be "longtext" instead of text to get a field not limited to individual characters, then use the queXML Tools to generate the PDF
2. Set the maximum chars to a limit that is right for both paper and online
3. We could alter the default output format of LimeSurvey to queXML to be "longtext" for array text style questions

I'm not sure though if there are many other users that consider this an issue.

Are you able to try a suggested workaround for now and if there is some other interest in changing this default we can?

Adam

My view would be that 10 is quite short. There is a lot of room on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper.
Most other fields take the width of the sheet.10 char is really short. In my mind setting the maximum characters is backwards. It should be that the field has a minimum and maximum characters. But if you feel most don’t require this I can respect that.

Where is the QueXML file located and I’ll just change that as suggested. Seems the easiest way to fix this.

@adamzammit : see https://gitlab.com/SondagesPro/QuestionTheme/arrayTextArea

I don't think we must have a multiple lines system, but clearly : you must allow more character by default. 10 is really low here.

Maybe adding a Question attribute via the plugin ?

I wouldn’t think a multi line field would be needed. A single line or most of it would be very useful.

Maybe best solution is to create Question attribute where admin can choose some settings
For this one but maybe for other one too ?

The queXML file is the .xml file inside the ZIP file when you export to queXMLPDF

You can edit it like a text file, then either install queXML to generate the PDF locally or use this website: https://quexmltools.acspri.org.au/quexml/ to produce the PDF based on the XML file.

@baxterdmutt Maybe have a play with that and let me know what you think a sensible default is and we can change it in LS

That absolutely will not work. First, there is more than one question like that.
More importantly my end users will not be up for that task.
Sorry.

I think you don't understand Adam proposition : he ask you the good default option.
Testing to update XML, and see if there are a really better option (maybe 20 or 12 etc …)

Oh. Yes. I did misunderstand. I’m tied up on other stuff I might not get to this until tomorrow.

A complete line is 25 characters. Having the space automatically take up the whole line makes the most sense to me. I compared the length of a long survey (71 pdf pages) to 10 characters on a line vs. 25 char on a line. There are 30 array type fields. Because the last page was not completely filed, the length of the document changed very little. At 10 char per line the 71st page was 1/4 filed. At 25 characters per line, the 71st page was a bit less than 1/2 full. Not much of a change in such a big document. So it’s my suggestion that 25 characters as a default length makes the most sense. I still think it would also be nice to have a setting someplace that allowed the minimum length to be set on the pdf. It could be a nice way to satisfy everyone. Yes I know you can set the maximum and that will lengthen that field on the pdf but it also restricts the size on the web version. Consider this:
-You use the array to enter a complete address:
-maybe I’m wrong but I think the pdf version is mostly used if it’s not possible for someone to use the online survey. But I think most times the online survey is used.
-so everyone online has no restrictions on their field length. But the rarer pdf is restricted in length.
-so the issues of running out of space will only happen occasionally on the pdf version, but as it is now, the online version could run out of space regularly.
I don’t know if any of that makes sense to anyone else.

• Rarely will you get a huge street.

Apologies for the delayed reply.

I don't think there is much interest from other users in changing the default here.

It seems like you have a specific use case in mind.

In that case - I suggest you change the value of "10" in the code here:

https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey/blob/eb27f86043718396dd71bcbde31b898683114615/application/helpers/export_helper.php#L1842

on your copy of LimeSurvey with 25 or whatever you choose and that will be the default for your installation.

I don't think there is much interest from other users in changing the default here.

i don't understand this point of view  …

Else what's is your opinion on

Maybe best solution is to create Question attribute where admin can choose some settings
For this one but maybe for other one too ?

?

Well… I’m satisfied with that dolution for myself, if it had worked. I made the changes and the Multiple Sort Text fields remain at 10 when exported as QueXML PDF

that code change will work for array text types.

If you want to alter the default for other types, please look here:

https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey/blob/40401b81b08a66ee97749c8686523788286fcac7/application/helpers/export_helper.php#L1942

https://github.com/LimeSurvey/LimeSurvey/blob/40401b81b08a66ee97749c8686523788286fcac7/application/helpers/export_helper.php#L1947

... etc