For testing purposes, I'd like to export a survey from a recently update LS5 and, unfortunately, I thought I had an exported version from LS3 before I ran the comfort update, but I'm not finding one.

Is there a way to export from LS5 and import into LS3, recognizing that this is just a short-term solution?

Thank you.

No, not that I am aware of. The database structure and thus the structure of the LSS file has changed.

Maybe exporting as text works, but I have no experience with this.

You can use TSV (text separator value) export, wityh some update on the file

1. Export TSV
2. Edit (with libreoffice calc if poissble)
3. Remove the 2 1st column (id and related id)
4. Review the line with S for class : there are | or inherit etc ? you must update to Y, N etc …
5. Import

 
Since I recently faced the same challenge of importing a survey created with Limesurvey v 5.x into an older 3.x version, I am sharing my solution:

1. Export the survey at LS 5.x as tab separated value format
2. Open the TXT file with a text editor
3. Remove these two rows:
   1. ipanonymize
   2. tokenencryptionoptions
4. Save as TXT file
5. Import at LS 3.x

Depending on your survey structure and complexity, there could be further challenges to solve.
For me this worked for a multilingual survey with ~80 questions.
 

Mazi wrote:

 
Export the survey at LS 5.x as tab separated value format

1. Open the TXT file with a text editor
2. Remove these two rows:
   1. ipanonymize
   2. tokenencryptionoptions
3. Save as TXT file
4. Import at LS 3.

I don't do 2.1 and 2.2 BUT : i set all settings to something other than inherit. (and i delete the 2 1st columns)

Alternative solution (for monlingual survey): export as TXT a 3.X file, replace all S Class (start of file) by the one of the 3.X file.

Yes, not having any survey setting at the 5.x survey using "inherit" is important. You should switch these to different values before exporting.