Survey File Format Glossary
Short, citable definitions of the terms that come up when converting questionnaires into LimeSurvey LSS and Qualtrics QSF files — from answer_l10ns to ESDEF10.
LSS (LimeSurvey Survey Structure)
The XML survey-definition format used by LimeSurvey for import, export, and backup. It mirrors LimeSurvey database tables — groups, questions, subquestions, answers — and contains no response data.
QSF (Qualtrics Survey Format)
The JSON survey-definition format Qualtrics uses to transfer surveys between accounts. It has two top-level objects: SurveyEntry (metadata) and SurveyElements (blocks, flow, options, questions).
DBVersion
A number at the top of an LSS file indicating which LimeSurvey database schema generation produced it. LimeSurvey 6-era files use higher values (for example 636) than LimeSurvey 3 legacy files.
answer_l10ns
The LimeSurvey localization table that stores answer option text per language. Since LimeSurvey 4+, answer text lives here (linked to the answers table by aid), not in the answers table itself.
Subquestions
Child rows of a LimeSurvey question. Matrix questions store their rows as subquestions, and multiple-choice (type M) questions store every option as a subquestion — not in the answers table.
Answer code
The short identifier of a LimeSurvey answer option, stored in the answers.code column — a 5-character alphanumeric field. Codes longer than 5 characters cause database errors on import.
SurveyEntry
The metadata object at the top of a QSF file: seventeen fields including SurveyID, SurveyName, SurveyBrandID, language, and timestamps. Qualtrics validates these fields on import.
SurveyElements
The array in a QSF file holding the survey content as typed entries: BL (blocks), FL (flow), SO (options), SCO (scoring), PROJ, STAT, QC (question count), RS (response set), and one SQ per question.
Survey Flow (FL)
The QSF element describing the order respondents move through blocks. The root node lists flow entries that reference block IDs; branches, randomizers, and embedded data also live here.
Trash block
A block with Type "Trash" ("Trash / Unused Questions") present in every native Qualtrics export. It holds deleted questions and is part of the expected Survey Blocks payload.
ESDEF10
The Qualtrics error code for "Data validation failure" on survey import. The response lists ValidationErrors naming the exact field, expected type, and rejected value.
DataExportTag
The per-question export identifier in Qualtrics (Q1, AGE_BAND, …) used in response datasets. Tags must be unique within a survey; duplicates break imports and data exports.
QID
The internal Qualtrics question identifier (QID1, QID2, …) used as the SQ element PrimaryAttribute and in block references. Unlike DataExportTag, QIDs are not user-editable and must be unique.
Question type codes (LimeSurvey)
Single-character codes in LSS files: L (list radio), M (multiple choice), T (long text), S (short text), F (array/matrix), Y (yes/no), N (numeric), 5 (5-point choice), X (text display).
Deep Parse
The staged conversion pipeline used by AI Tools for Survey: a document is normalized to Markdown, questions are extracted in stages (groups, questions, options, logic, metadata), and a reviewable schema gates the final LSS or QSF export.