# Panel Linking

Using panel linking you can link any of your [panels](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/panels) to either update its data or add new data to it from within any survey form. 

Once linked to a survey the [panel attributes](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/panels/untitled) will be made available as a question that you can move anywhere inside the form as you would with any normal [question](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions).

Linked panels can be useful in following use cases.

* [**Panel auto filling**](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-auto-filling) to add a new panelists on the go based on new respondent answers.
* [**Panel updating**](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-updating) to let respondents update pre-existing panel data from within a survey.

## 👪 Linking a panel to your form 

To link a panel you need to **insert a new question** and chose the **Panel question** type. This will open a wizard to chose the panel you would like to use in your survey form.

![](https://1025048312-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M8fLhS0bmfBRyq0HdUm%2F-MBjPmqvssQH3m1pbPbQ%2F-MBjTNlHdOcWZWvGWJ7v%2Fcaptured%20\(6\)-min.gif?alt=media\&token=7cd49e29-754d-4f5b-bb9e-dc7a2206bfb6)

The respondent will now either be able to [add new panelist](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-auto-filling) using that linked question or [update ](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-updating)pre-existing panelist data.

## 🔅 Panel attribute link properties 

You may also configure each [panel attribute](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/panels/untitled) behavior from the [panel attributes properties](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/panels/untitled) to make a  it read only, visible, updatable depending if the linked panel question is used for [panel filling](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-auto-filling) or [panel updating](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-updating).

![](https://1025048312-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M8fLhS0bmfBRyq0HdUm%2F-MBjPmqvssQH3m1pbPbQ%2F-MBjXK2h2Z8QKd-4WrMP%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=931c4dc3-eaee-4653-907c-67e7ca2cd3a2)

* **`Always shown`** will always display the attributes to the respondent.
* **`Always hidden`** will be hidden to the respondent.
* **`Read only on update`** will be available for [auto-filling](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-auto-filling) but read only on [update](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-updating).
* **`Hide on update`** will be available for [auto-filling](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-auto-filling) but hidden on [update](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-updating).
* **`Hide on add`** will be hidden for [auto-filling](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-auto-filling) but available on [update](https://docs.ngsurvey.com/form-management/form-designer/questions/panel-linking/panel-updating).