An ArcGIS Survey123 nested group or repeat with a grid layout does not span the full width of the survey

Description

In ArcGIS Survey123, when creating a survey with nested group or repeat questions in a grid layout, the nested group or repeat does not span the full width of the survey.

The image below shows a nested repeat in the survey with a dynamic grid layout in ArcGIS Survey123 Connect. The nested repeat is displayed as compressed to one side of the screen, leaving an empty space in the survey.

Cause

This issue occurs when the number of columns for the nested group or repeat to span within its parent group is not specified in the appearance column of the survey’s XLSForm. By default, questions within a group only occupy one column of the grid. When creating nested groups or repeats in a grid layout, the number of columns of the parent group must be specified, along with the number of columns each nested group or repeat is to span within its parent group.

Solution or Workaround

In ArcGIS Survey123 Connect, use the width parameter to specify the number of columns for the nested group or repeat to span in the appearance column of the survey’s XLSForm.

1. Open the survey’s XLSForm in ArcGIS Survey123 Connect.
2. In the appearance column for the nested begin repeat or begin group question type, type the formula provided below. Replace <columns> with the number of columns in the parent group, and <span> with the number of columns from the parent group the nested group or repeat is to span.

w<columns>:<span>

The code block below shows the full working formula. In this example, the formula is inserted into the appearance column for the nested begin repeat question type, and the nested repeat is to span three out of three columns from the parent group.

w3:3

3. Save the XLSForm, and in ArcGIS Survey123 Connect, click Publish survey to publish the survey.

The image below shows the nested repeat spanning the full width of the survey.