Importing library collections using XLSForm

Last updated: 20 Mar 2026

A collection is a group of related questions, question blocks, and templates organized in your KoboToolbox library. Collections help you manage reusable content by project, theme, country, or organization.

You can import multiple questions or question blocks at once as a collection using an XLSForm. This approach is useful when preparing standardized question sets outside the KoboToolbox Formbuilder or migrating existing XLSForm content into your library.

This article explains how to structure and upload an XLSForm so it is imported as a collection.

Setting up your XLSForm

To be imported successfully into your KoboToolbox question library, your XLSForm must follow a specific structure. Once you have a working XLSForm, you can adapt it to function as a collection by modifying its structure:

  1. Rename the main worksheet: Replace the standard survey worksheet with a worksheet named library.

  2. Include individual questions or question groups: You may include standalone questions or full question groups in the library worksheet.

  3. Define question blocks using a block column: Add a column named block to group related questions into a question block.

    • Enter the same block title in each row that belongs to that block.

    • Any row without a value in the block column will be imported as an individual question.

  4. Add tags (optional): To assign tags to a question or block, add a column using the format tag:[tag name] (e.g., tag:wash).

    • Enter 1 in each row that should receive the tag.

    • Within blocks, it is sufficient to mark only one row from the block, though marking multiple rows will not cause issues.

For an example of the required structure, see this sample XLSForm.

Uploading your XLSForm

Once your XLSForm is structured correctly as a collection, you can upload it to your KoboToolbox library.

To upload your XLSForm:

  1. Log in to your KoboToolbox account.

  2. Click Library in the left-side menu to open the library.

  3. Click NEW in the top left corner.

  4. Select Upload and import your XLSForm. Click Upload.

The file will be imported as a collection in your question library.

To learn more about the KoboToolbox library, see Using the KoboToolbox question library.

Additional considerations

Groups within blocks

You may include begin_group and end_group rows inside a block. Ensure that the begin_group row has a unique name value, as required in standard XLSForm structure. The opening and closing group rows must both be included within the same block.

Using the block name as the group label can help maintain clarity after import.

To learn more about question groups in XLSForm, see Grouping questions in XLSForm.

Skip logic and validation rules

You can include relevance logic, constraints, and other form logic in your XLSForm. These settings will be preserved during import, which is useful when reusing complex question blocks without rebuilding advanced logic.

To learn more about form logic in XLSForm, see Introduction to form logic in XLSForm.

Multiple languages

You can include translations using standard XLSForm syntax, such as label::English (en) or label::Español (es). Translated labels and choice labels will be imported with the block.

To learn more about adding translations in XLSForm, see Adding translations in XLSForm.