Import Qualtrics surveys
Overview
The Qualtrics Connector enables survey authors to import Qualtrics QSF (Qualtrics Survey Format) files directly into new or existing BlueX surveys. This eliminates the need to manually re-enter survey questions one by one, reducing the risk of inconsistency and significantly accelerating the migration process.
Benefits
- Reduces manual rework – No need to recreate questions from scratch.
- Accelerates migration – Quickly transition existing Qualtrics surveys to BlueX.
- Maintains consistency – Minimizes human error associated with manual data entry.
- Consolidates survey operations – Helps organizations centralize their survey work within BlueX.
Who Can Use This Feature
The Qualtrics Connector is available to Survey Authors. Questions imported from a QSF file are added directly into the specific survey that is open in the Form Editor at the time of import.
Before You Begin
To use the Qualtrics Connector, you will need:
- A QSF file exported from Qualtrics containing the questions you want to import.
- Access to a new or existing BlueX survey in the Form Editor.
Tip: To export a QSF file from Qualtrics, navigate to the Survey tab, then click Tools > Import/Export > Export Survey.
Note: The Qualtrics Connector imports survey questions and formatting only — it does not currently include response data.
How to Import a Qualtrics Survey
Steps to Import
- Open your survey in the BlueX Form Editor.
- In the Form Editor ribbon, locate the Import section on the far right side of the toolbar. Click the Import icon.
- A file browser window will open — navigate to your QSF file and select it.
- A confirmation popup titled Import Questionnaire will appear, asking: "Would you like to import (name of file.qsf)? This action will only add the questions to the current survey."
- Click Import to confirm, or Cancel to abort.
- Your questions will be imported and added to the current survey.
- Review the imported questions to ensure everything looks as expected.
Important: Importing a QSF file will add questions to your new or existing survey - it will not replace or overwrite current content.
Figure 1: Import a Qualtrics survey
Supported Question Types
The following Qualtrics question types can be imported into BlueX:
Static Content
| Qualtrics Type | BlueX Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Text | Text (font format preserved) |
| Graphic | Image (placed in separate paragraph if combined with text) |
| File | File link (always opens in a new tab) |
Multiple Choice
| Qualtrics Type | BlueX Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Single answer – vertical | Single response choice – vertical |
| Single answer - horizontal | Single response choice – horizontal |
| Multiple answer - vertical | Checkbox choice – vertical |
| Multiple answer – horizontal | Checkbox choice – horizontal |
| Dropdown list (single answer) | Single response choice – dropdown list |
| Select box (single answer) | List box choice |
| Multi select box (multiple answer) | List box choice |
| Qualtrics Type | BlueX Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Single line | Single line comment question |
| Multiple line | Multi-line comment (width 100%, default height) |
| Essay text box | Multi-line comment (width 100%, default height) |
| Form | Comment question per field (width 100%, default height) |
| Qualtrics Type | BlueX Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Drag and drop | Ranking question (Numeric format) |
| Radio buttons | Ranking question (Numeric format) |
| Select box | Ranking question (Numeric format) |
| Text box | Ranking question (Numeric format, repeatable values on) |
| Qualtrics Type | BlueX Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Likert | Custom grid + Scale – Likert |
| Likert – Dropdown list | Dropdown list Custom grid + Scale – Dropdown |
| Profile – Single answer | Single answer Custom grid + Single response choice |
| Profile – Multiple answer | Multiple answer Custom grid + Checkbox choice |
| Profile | Dropdown list Custom grid + Dropdown choice |
| Text entry | Custom grid + Comment |
| Bipolar Custom grid + Scale | Likert (3-column) |
| Rank order | Spin box |
| Qualtrics Type | BlueX Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Bars | Custom grid + Numeric – Slider |
| Stars – Discrete | Custom grid + Numeric – Slider (increment = 1) |
| Stars – Half step | Half step Custom grid + Numeric – Slider (increment = 0.5) |
| Stars – Continuous | Continuous Custom grid + Numeric – Slider (increment = 0.01) |
| Qualtrics Type | BlueX Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Scaled response – Dropdown | Custom grid + Dropdown list choice |
| Scaled response – Single answer | Single answer Custom grid + Single response choice) |
| Scaled response – Multiple answer | Multiple answer Custom grid + Checkbox choice) |
| Open ended text | Custom grid + Comment) |
What Gets Imported vs. What Is Not Imported
Some Qualtrics features and settings are not supported in BlueX and will be handled as follows during import:
- Supported validations (e.g., Required/Force response, Maximum length, email format, phone number) are mapped to their BlueX equivalents.
- Unsupported validations (e.g., custom validation, request response, minimum length) are not imported.
- Answer randomization is supported where applicable.
- Text entry boxes added to individual choices or ranking items are not imported.
- Choice groups and advanced randomization are not imported.
- Certain question types (e.g., single answer column, multiple answer column, password fields) are not imported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will importing a QSF file overwrite my existing survey questions?
No. Importing a QSF file will only add questions to your current survey. Existing content will not be replaced or removed.
Can I import questions into an existing survey?
Yes. The Qualtrics Connector can be used to append questions to either a new or an existing BlueX survey.
What happens if my QSF file contains unsupported question types?
Unsupported question types are ignored during the import process.
Who can use the Qualtrics Connector?
The Qualtrics Connector import feature is available to Survey Authors in BlueX.