Export a survey
About exporting a survey
Exporting saves a survey as a file: its questions, question groups, logic and settings. Use the file as a backup, to move the survey to another LimeSurvey site, or to share it with a colleague who imports it. Exporting a survey is not the same as exporting its responses. For the answers of your participants, see Export your responses.
Export from the editor
Open the survey and click the ... menu at the top right of the editor (1).
Point to Export under Tools (2).
Click the format you need (3). The file downloads right away.
In the picture: 1 the ... menu, 2 Export, 3 the formats. Survey archive is greyed out while the survey is not active.
Choose the format
| Format | What you get | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Survey structure (.lss) | Questions, groups, logic and settings | Backups, moving a survey, sharing it for import |
| Survey archive (.lsa) | The structure plus responses, participants and timings | Keeping a complete copy of an active survey |
| queXML format (.xml) | The survey in the queXML standard | Tools that read queXML |
| Tab-separated-values format (.txt) | The structure as a table | Editing the survey in a spreadsheet, then importing it again |
| Printable survey (.html) | A printable HTML version of the survey, as a download | Paper versions and archives |
| Printable survey | The printable version in your browser | Reading or printing all questions at once |
For a backup or a move, Survey structure (.lss) is the right choice in most cases. See Import a survey.
Export several surveys at once
In the workspace, switch to the list view with the list icon at the top right.
Select the surveys with the checkboxes.
In the bar at the bottom of the page, click Export and choose Survey archive (*.lsa), Survey structure (*.lss) or Printable survey (*.html).
Next steps
FAQ
Why is Survey archive greyed out?
A survey archive contains responses, so the editor offers it only while the survey is active. For the questions alone, use Survey structure (.lss).
Are responses in the .lss file?
No. A survey structure file has no responses and no participants. To keep responses, export a survey archive of the active survey, or export your responses.
Can I export a single question or question group?
Not in the editor. Export the whole survey, or reuse questions within LimeSurvey. See Reuse questions and groups.