Output File Format

Excel or CSV. The Excel file includes a Raw Data sheet plus individual question data. The CSV contains raw data only.

CSV

Qualtrics imports CSV or TSV. CSV also avoids extra sheets, which can’t be saved into one CSV, and Excel’s silent reformatting of dates and leading zeros.

Single Header Row

The default file has 2 header rows, with extra information for some question types. This option merges them into one.

On

You need one clean header row that you can rename to match Qualtrics’s export tags.

Columnwise Looping Data

For surveys using QuestionPro’s Looping, Off stacks each loop iteration as its own row. On spreads iterations across columns (for example, Q5_Loop1, Q5_Loop2).

On for looped surveys.

No effect if there’s no looping.

Qualtrics’s importer needs one row per respondent. Stacked loop rows would create duplicate or fragmented responses.

Open-Ended Text Data

When enabled Open-Ended Text Data is included in the file. This option is enabled by default and is available only in Excel, not CSV.

Leave at the default (On)

With CSV output the option isn’t available. Open-ended answers stay in the raw data either way (CVS or Excel)

Raw Data

Includes the respondent-level Raw Data sheet in the Excel file. On by default.

On

The respondent-level data is what you import.

Answer Codes/Index or Answer Values

Controls how each selected choice is written in the export. Answer Codes/Index exports a number for the choice (1, 2, 3...). Answer Values exports the choice's text label (for example, "Agree"). On the export screen these are either/or options under Raw data, and neither is included by default.

Optional (choose one)

Either works. With codes, each Qualtrics choice's recode value must equal the QuestionPro code, or every answer shifts to the wrong choice with no error message.

With text, the exported labels must match the Qualtrics choice text exactly, including spacing and punctuation, and each label must be mapped on the Mapping Values screen during import.

In both cases, keep the answer options in the same order as when the responses were collected, because QuestionPro stores codes by position, and reordering options later changes what existing responses mean. Verify a few responses after importing.

Custom Scale Values / Answer Codes or Values

Appears only if a question uses custom scaling. Exports the custom scale values or codes instead of the default index. If it doesn’t appear on your export screen, the survey probably has no custom scaling.

Match your Qualtrics recode values, if it appears

The exported numbers must equal the recode values you set in Qualtrics. If QuestionPro’s custom values differ from the default 1, 2, 3 order, importing the wrong set shifts every answer without any error notification.

Question Codes instead of Text

Uses question codes (for example, Q1, Q2) as column headers instead of the full question text. Useful when question text is long or contains images or HTML.

Optional (On or Off)

Either option works. Full question text is easier to read, while short codes are easier to map to Qualtrics. If you use codes, they must match the question numbers in the original QuestionPro survey, and your Qualtrics survey must use the same numbering. A mismatch can map columns to the wrong questions and produce erroneous data. Check a few columns in the import preview before loading the full file.

Unselected Checkboxes with ‘0’

By default, selected checkboxes are 1, and unselected or hidden ones are blank.

Off

Qualtrics multi-select data uses 1 for selected and blank for unselected. Turning it on can hamper with the import process in Qualtrics.

The tradeoff is that blanks can’t distinguish “unselected” from “not shown,” so consider turning it on for your archive copy, not the import copy.

Show Questions Not Displayed

Includes questions in the export that weren’t shown to respondents.

Off

The import needs only questions respondents could answer. Extra columns for unshown questions add empty or unmapped columns.

Content URL (upload question data)

Relates to file-upload questions. It adds a link to each uploaded file, since the export can't contain the files.

Off

Links point back to QuestionPro and won't create working uploads in Qualtrics. They may also break once your account closes. Download the files separately and keep an archive export with this on to record who uploaded what.

Geo Code & Additional Info

Adds geo-code data to the export when toggled on.

Off

Not needed for the import. The extra columns need renaming to fit Qualtrics’s location fields, and location data is personal data. It is generally not recommended to enable this to protect privacy unless being used for data analysis.

Randomization Data (not in the article)

Adds columns recording the order in which randomized items were shown.

Off

It has no standard Qualtrics import equivalent. Keep it in an archive export if you need it.

Data Filter – Date

Limits the exports to a date range.

Full range

Exports full history. Use date ranges only to split a large export or to import in stages.

Data Filter – Response Status

Chooses which responses go into the export. For example:

Entire Dataset-- is the default and exports every response regardless of date or status.

Response Status & Date reveals the Start Date, End Date, and Response Status fields.

Entire Dataset

Completes are usually what analysis needs, and screen-outs would distort counts. If you need partials in Qualtrics, include them and map status to Finished.

Filter Data Cuts (max 5)

Apply up to five of your existing saved data filters to the export.

Leave empty

The import file should be one complete dataset, and cuts would drop responses.