Create a new Plunkr project

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 107 views

Introduction

SurveyJS is a popular JavaScript library used for creating surveys and forms. However, when using custom CSS with the survey, it can fail to render if the "root" CSS config is not specified. In this article, we will explore this issue, provide a step-by-step guide to reproduce the problem, and discuss the expected behavior.

Describe the Bug

Using the setCss() method without specifying a "root" CSS config causes the survey to fail to render. This issue is particularly problematic when working with custom CSS, as it can lead to unexpected behavior and errors.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Create a new Plunkr project: Go to the Plunkr website and create a new project. You can use the following code as a starting point:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>SurveyJS Demo</title>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/survey-library@1.12.24/survey.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/survey-library@1.12.24/modernizr.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/survey-library@1.12.24/survey.angular.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-route.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-sanitize.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-animate.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-aria.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-material.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-messages.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-cookies.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-local-storage.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-static-files.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-url.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-partial.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-cookie.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-browser.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="https://unpkg.com/angular@1.8.2/angular-translate-loader-rootscope.min.js"></script>
  <script src="<br/>
**Survey Fails to Render if Custom CSS Without a "root" CSS Config**
===========================================================

**Q&A: Troubleshooting SurveyJS Custom CSS Issues**
----------------------------------------------

**Q: What is the issue with custom CSS in SurveyJS?**
A: The issue arises when using the `setCss()` method without specifying a "root" CSS config, causing the survey to fail to render.

**Q: What is the expected behavior of SurveyJS with custom CSS?**
A: The expected behavior is for the survey to render successfully, even with custom CSS configurations.

**Q: How do I reproduce the issue?**
A: To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

1. Create a new Plunkr project.
2. Include the SurveyJS library and Angular framework.
3. Use the `setCss()` method without specifying a "root" CSS config.
4. Observe the survey failing to render.

**Q: What is the solution to the issue?**
A: To resolve the issue, specify a "root" CSS config when using the `setCss()` method.

**Q: How do I specify a "root" CSS config?**
A: To specify a "root" CSS config, add the following code to your SurveyJS configuration:
```javascript
survey.css = {
  root: 'your-root-class'
};

Replace 'your-root-class' with the actual class name of your root element.

Q: What are the benefits of specifying a "root" CSS config? A: Specifying a "root" CSS config ensures that the survey renders correctly, even with custom CSS configurations.

Q: Are there any other issues related to custom CSS in SurveyJS? A: Yes, there are other issues related to custom CSS in SurveyJS. For example, using custom CSS can lead to unexpected behavior and errors if not implemented correctly.

Q: How can I troubleshoot custom CSS issues in SurveyJS? A: To troubleshoot custom CSS issues in SurveyJS, follow these steps:

Check the SurveyJS documentation for custom CSS configurations.
Verify that the "root" CSS config is specified correctly.
Inspect the survey's HTML and CSS to identify any issues.
Consult the SurveyJS community forums or support resources for assistance.

Q: What are the best practices for using custom CSS in SurveyJS? A: The best practices for using custom CSS in SurveyJS include:

Specifying a "root" CSS config.
Using a consistent naming convention for CSS classes.
Avoiding conflicts with SurveyJS's default CSS styles.
Testing the survey thoroughly with custom CSS configurations.

By following these best practices and troubleshooting tips, you can ensure that your SurveyJS surveys render correctly with custom CSS configurations.