That type of design usually has novelties with certain types of questions. We generally don't use it for that reason.

Hi! I made select2 work using simple layout and a list box (as dropdown doesn’t have <select>). However, I cannot identify why after selecting a country on a mandatory question, the answer doesn’t get passed to the back end. Then, an error shows to the participant saying they must answer the question.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! 

Here is the code I added to the country question:
 

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnload(function() {
    // Get the ID of the question container and ensure it only has the correct "QID" prefix
    var qid = this.getQuestionContainer().id.replace("question-", "");

    // Find the select element within the question container
    var selectElement = $("#" + this.getQuestionContainer().id).find("select");

    // Set the correct 'name' attribute to ensure Qualtrics captures the selection
    selectElement.attr("name", qid);  // This sets the name to "QID18" correctly

    // Retrieve and log the language variable
    var lang = "${e://Field/Q_Language}";
    console.log("Current language code: " + lang);

    // Function to set placeholder based on language
    function setPlaceholder() {
        var placeholders = {
            "EN": "Select your country",                    
            "AR": "اختر بلدك",                               
            "BS": "Odaberi svoju zemlju",                  
            "PT-BR": "Selecione seu país",                  
            "ZH-S": "选择你的国家",                         
            "HR": "Odaberi svoju zemlju",                  
            "FR-CA": "Sélectionne ton pays",               
            "HI": "अपना देश चुनें",                         
            "KO": "당신의 나라를 선택하세요",                
            "ES": "Selecciona tu país",                    
            "TE": "మీ దేశాన్ని ఎంచుకోండి"                    
        };

        var placeholderText = placeholders�lang] || placeholders""EN"];

        // Destroy the existing Select2 instance if it exists
        if (selectElement.data('select2')) {
            selectElement.select2('destroy');
        }

        // Initialize Select2 with the dynamic placeholder
        selectElement.select2({
            placeholder: placeholderText,
            allowClear: true,
            minimumResultsForSearch: 0  
        });
    }

    // Initial set of the placeholder
    setPlaceholder();

    // Capture changes in the dropdown and log the selected value
    selectElement.on("change", function() {
        var selectedValue = $(this).val();
        console.log("Selected value: " + selectedValue);  

        // Store the selected value in Embedded Data
        Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.setJSEmbeddedData("CountrySelection", selectedValue);
    });
});

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnReady(function() {
    // Code here runs when the page is fully displayed
});

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnUnload(function() {
    // This code runs when the page is unloaded (useful for cleanup)
});

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnload(function() {
    // Get the ID of the question container and ensure it only has the correct "QID" prefix
    var qid = this.getQuestionContainer().id.replace("question-", "");

    // Find the select element within the question container
    var selectElement = $("#" + this.getQuestionContainer().id).find("select");

    // Set the correct 'name' attribute to ensure Qualtrics captures the selection
    selectElement.attr("name", qid);  // This sets the name to "QID18" correctly

    // Retrieve and log the language variable
    var lang = "${e://Field/Q_Language}";
    console.log("Current language code: " + lang);

    // Function to set placeholder based on language
    function setPlaceholder() {
        var placeholders = {
            "EN": "Select your country",                    
            "AR": "اختر بلدك",                               
            "BS": "Odaberi svoju zemlju",                  
            "PT-BR": "Selecione seu país",                  
            "ZH-S": "选择你的国家",                         
            "HR": "Odaberi svoju zemlju",                  
            "FR-CA": "Sélectionne ton pays",               
            "HI": "अपना देश चुनें",                         
            "KO": "당신의 나라를 선택하세요",                
            "ES": "Selecciona tu país",                    
            "TE": "మీ దేశాన్ని ఎంచుకోండి"                    
        };

        var placeholderText = placeholders�lang] || placeholders""EN"];

        // Destroy the existing Select2 instance if it exists
        if (selectElement.data('select2')) {
            selectElement.select2('destroy');
        }

        // Initialize Select2 with the dynamic placeholder
        selectElement.select2({
            placeholder: placeholderText,
            allowClear: true,
            minimumResultsForSearch: 0  
        });
    }

    // Initial set of the placeholder
    setPlaceholder();

    // Capture changes in the dropdown and log the selected value
    selectElement.on("change", function() {
        var selectedValue = $(this).val();
        console.log("Selected value: " + selectedValue);  

        // Store the selected value in Embedded Data
        Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.setJSEmbeddedData("CountrySelection", selectedValue);
    });
});

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnReady(function() {
    // Code here runs when the page is fully displayed
});

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnUnload(function() {
    // This code runs when the page is unloaded (useful for cleanup)
});

I sorted it out in another way, but posting it here in case it helps anyone.

Template: Simple Layout
Question type: multiple choice
Format: drop down
Translations: multiple
Choices: full list of countries.

Behaviour: sort list in any language which is not English, while keeping the first and last <li> element in their original position.

You only need to add this to the question > javascript. changing “QID18” for your question ID.

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnload(function() {
    // Get the language setting from embedded data
    var lang = "${e://Field/Q_Language}";
    console.log("Current language code: " + lang);

    // Only proceed with sorting if the language is not English
    if (lang !== "EN") {
        // Get the list of <li> elements
        var menuList = document.querySelectorAll("#select-menu-QID18 li.menu-item");

        // Convert the NodeList to an array
        var menuArray = Array.prototype.slice.call(menuList);

        // Separate the first and last elements
        var firstItem = menuArray.shift(); // Removes and stores the first item
        var lastItem = menuArray.pop();    // Removes and stores the last item

        // Sort the remaining items based on the text content
        menuArray.sort(function(a, b) {
            var textA = a.textContent.trim().toUpperCase();
            var textB = b.textContent.trim().toUpperCase();
            return textA.localeCompare(textB);
        });

        // Get the parent element
        var parent = document.querySelector("#select-menu-QID18");

        // Append the first item back to the parent
        parent.appendChild(firstItem);

        // Append the sorted items to the parent
        menuArray.forEach(function(item) {
            parent.appendChild(item);
        });

        // Append the last item back to the parent
        parent.appendChild(lastItem);

        console.log("Options sorted with first and last items preserved.");
    }
});

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnReady(function() {
    // Code here runs when the page is fully displayed
});

Qualtrics.SurveyEngine.addOnUnload(function() {
    // This code runs when the page is unloaded (useful for cleanup)
});

@SKB , thanks for the help on this post! @Elisabeth , please confirm if the solution is effective and mark it as ‘Best Answer’ to help future community members facing a similar issue