Skip to main contentSkip to navigation
Qualtrics file guide

What Is a QSF File?

A QSF file is a Qualtrics Survey Format file: a JSON-based import and export package used to move a survey into or out of Qualtrics. The QSF file format stores survey structure so Qualtrics can recreate questions, choices, blocks, flow, and related settings.

Convert Word to QSFInspect a QSF file

How Qualtrics uses QSF files

Qualtrics uses QSF files as survey transfer packages. When you export a survey, Qualtrics creates a .qsf file. When you import a QSF file, Qualtrics reads the encoded structure and attempts to rebuild the survey project.

That makes QSF useful for backups, survey templates, migration work, and turning a drafted questionnaire into a Qualtrics-ready starting point. A QSF file is not a response data export or a polished document format; it is a platform-specific survey structure file.

What is inside a QSF file?

A QSF file is JSON-based. Depending on the survey, the QSF file format can include survey metadata, question text, answer choices, blocks, survey flow, embedded data references, display logic, validation rules, scoring, and other Qualtrics-specific configuration.

The exact fields vary by Qualtrics features, account configuration, and product changes, so two valid Qualtrics QSF files may not have the same shape.

When to use a Word to QSF converter

Use a QSF converter when your questionnaire starts in Word, DOCX, PDF, TXT, or Markdown and you want a structured Qualtrics draft instead of manually rebuilding every question.

The best workflow is: upload the document, review the extracted schema, export the QSF file, import it into a blank Qualtrics project, then compare the result against the original questionnaire before launch. If you already have a QSF file, inspect it before import to catch obvious structure or content issues.

QSF quick facts

Extension: .qsf

Platform: Qualtrics

Format: JSON-based Qualtrics survey structure.

Common intent: import, export, backup, migration, and survey drafting.

Best next step: convert or inspect, import into a test project, then validate.

QSF File FAQ

QSF commonly refers to Qualtrics Survey Format, the file format Qualtrics uses to import and export survey projects.

Yes. A converter can extract questions from Word or DOCX files and build a QSF file, but you should review the survey after importing because advanced Qualtrics logic may need manual adjustment.

A QSF file is JSON-based. The QSF file format can contain survey metadata, questions, choices, blocks, flow, logic, validation, and other Qualtrics-specific fields.

Qualtrics does not publish a stable complete public QSF schema for every field, so generated files should be imported into a blank or non-critical Qualtrics project first and checked against the source questionnaire.

No. A QSF file stores the Qualtrics survey project structure, not respondent data. It is used for import, export, backup, migration, and survey drafting workflows.