This tutorial demonstrates how to set a time limit for a section of your task (spanning multiple screens and/or displays) and how to show a countdown. Unlike the Screen Timelimit and Countdown tutorial, which applies to a single screen, Section Time Limit lets you control the time spent in entire sections of the task. You can also set a response for when the Section Time Limit expires and, for example, branch participants to different screens or end the task when this response is received. The Section Countdown keeps participants aware of remaining time across screens.
Setting up Section Time Limit
First, you need to start the Section Time Limit. This is achieved by adding the component to the Screen tab where you would like the Section Time Limit to begin. By setting this to Start mode, you can define the total time limit for the section. Then, you need to add the Section Time Limit in Check mode to the screens within that section. If there is time remaining, the task continues. If not, the defined response is received. In this tutorial, the response section-timeout is received. This response is then used within the Jump To Row component to send participants to the end display. If there are screens where you do not want the time spent to contribute to the overall Section Time Limit, set the Section Time Limit to Pause mode. Finally, add the Section Time Limit in Stop mode where the time limit should end.
Displaying the Countdown
On any screens where you would like to present the time remaining to participants, add the Section Countdown component. In the component, choose how much time to display in the Show Partial Time Remaining setting.
Both the Section Time Limit and Section Countdown component values can be fixed numbers, as shown in this tutorial, or bound to spreadsheet columns. You can find more information about binding to the spreadsheet in our Binding Guide.
