What Is Variable Import?
Variable import is a feature for additionally combining external variables (e.g., CRM information, sales data, etc.) with already-collected survey result data.
Even if you didn't directly ask respondents during the survey, as long as you have a unique key that can identify respondents, you can easily attach new analysis criteria to existing data for analysis.
Here's When Variable Import Is Useful
1️⃣ When you want to connect survey results with your company's CRM information
If survey respondents are members of your service, you can link information such as membership tier, join date, and cumulative purchase amount with the survey data. This enables deeper analysis such as "How does brand satisfaction differ by customer tier?"
2️⃣ When you want to use information that's difficult to ask respondents about
Instead of directly asking for information that respondents may find difficult to recall or be reluctant to answer — such as income level or exact number of purchases — you can import objective data you already hold to improve the accuracy of analysis. This also has the effect of reducing the number of survey questions, which lowers the dropout rate.
Before Running Variable Import, Please Make Sure to Check the Following!
To run variable import, the CSV file you intend to upload must be prepared in the correct format for the system. Please review the guide below before registering the file.
1️⃣ File format and constraints
File type: Only CSV UTF-8 (comma-separated CSV file) format is supported.
Personal data excluded: Data containing sensitive personal information — such as names, detailed addresses, or national identification numbers — cannot be imported.
File size: Files up to a maximum of 10MB can be uploaded.
2️⃣ Format guide (identifier variable)
The first column of the file to be imported must include an 'identifier variable' that can be linked to the existing survey data.
Reference identifier: The two datasets are matched using the 'Response ID' or 'user-defined key' collected during survey responses.
Data match: The identifier values in the file must match values that exist in the existing survey data in order for the data to be correctly combined with those responses.
How to Import Variables
📌 The variable import feature is available on the Professional or Enterprise plan.
1️⃣ Navigate to 'Variable import.'
In the Analytics screen for the project you want to analyze, navigate to the [Variables] tab, then click [Variable import] on the left side of the screen.
2️⃣ Download and upload the identifier file.
step 1. Select the identifier value (e.g., UID) that can distinguish respondents, then download the file. Downloading the identifier file is optional and not a required step.
If you want to add a new variable: Select only the reference identifier and download the file.
If you want to modify an existing variable: Select both the reference identifier and the existing variable you want to modify, then download the file.
💡 Usage tip | The identifier file includes BANSWERID, BPANELID, BUID, and BSTATUS columns by default, and the selected identifier variable is also added as a column.
step 2. Open the downloaded file, match it against the identifier, then enter the variable and values to upload.
💡 Usage tip | Variable names must only use lowercase English letters, numbers, underscores (_), hyphens (-), curly braces ({}), square brackets ([]), parentheses (()), and plus signs (+). Example: Gender, Age, membership_Grade
step 3. Once all values are entered, save in CSV UTF-8 format (comma-separated CSV file) and upload.
step 4. Next, select the 'Non-response handling method' and the 'Storage method for multiple-choice variables,' then click [Next].
Non-response display method: Select which value is displayed in the Excel file when a respondent did not answer a question.
Storage method for multiple-choice variables:
Unique value method: The response data cell displays the choice numbers selected by the respondent.
0/1 method: Each choice has a separate cell showing whether it was selected as 1 (selected) or 0 (not selected).
3️⃣ Specify the variable type.
step 1. If there are unnecessary variables, check those variables and click [Exclude variable].
step 2. Select the variables to add, then click the [Recommend variable type] button to view the recommended types. You can use the recommended type as-is or change it to a different type.
4️⃣ Enter labels and review the data.
step 1. Enter a label for the newly added variable.
💡 Usage tip | You can also enter labels all at once using the 'Bulk edit' feature, or update a large number of labels via a file using [Edit labeling file].
step 2. In 'Data review,' check that the data is displayed as intended. If everything looks correct, click [Done].
🧙 Frequently Asked Questions About Variable Import
✅ What happens if only some identifier values match?
New data is recorded only for responses where the identifier matches. Responses with no matching identifier value are treated as 'non-response' for that variable.
✅ Can the variable name duplicate an existing variable name?
A variable name (Name) that already exists cannot be used as a duplicate. Please modify the variable name in the first row of the import file so it does not overlap with existing names before uploading.
Have you got a good understanding of variable import?
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