Google Forms has no import button. There is no way to upload a Word document, PDF, or Excel file and have it become a form. The only automated path in is through Google Apps Script — a built-in scripting tool that can create form questions programmatically. Pirai AI generates that script for you from any document, so you never have to write a single line of code.
Why Google Forms Requires Apps Script
Unlike Qualtrics (which accepts a QSF file) or QuestionPro (which accepts a Word file), Google Forms has no native import mechanism. The platform is designed for building forms manually through the browser interface.
The workaround used by researchers and developers worldwide is Google Apps Script — JavaScript that runs inside your Google account and can interact with Google Forms directly. Pirai AI converts your document into a pre-written, pre-populated Apps Script that builds your entire form when you click Run. No coding required.
File Types Pirai AI Converts for Google Forms
| Your File | Extension | Common Source |
|---|---|---|
| Word document | .docx | Microsoft Word, Google Docs (downloaded) |
| Native PDFs, scanned documents, Word exports | ||
| Excel spreadsheet | .xlsx | Survey specs in tabular form, structured templates |
| CSV file | .csv | Survey data exports, structured question lists |
| Plain text | .txt | Simple questionnaire text, pasted content |
| XML file | .xml | LimeSurvey, SurveyMonkey, platform exports |
| Qualtrics survey | .qsf | Migrating from Qualtrics to Google Forms |
You can also paste plain survey text directly into the platform without uploading a file.
What Pirai AI outputs for Google Forms
A .txt file containing a complete, ready-to-run Google Apps Script. The script is pre-populated with all your questions, answer options, and question types. Paste it into the Apps Script editor, click Run, and your form is built automatically.
Ready to convert? Upload your document and get an Apps Script in minutes.
Convert NowHow to Convert and Import: Step by Step
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1Upload your document to Pirai AI Go to platform.piraiai.com and upload your file. Accepted formats: .docx .pdf .xlsx .csv .txt .xml .qsf. Or paste your survey text directly.
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2Select Google Forms as your target platform Choose Google Forms from the platform list. Pirai AI generates a .txt file containing a complete Google Apps Script pre-populated with all your questions and answer options.
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3Download the Apps Script file and copy its contents Download the .txt file from Pirai AI. Open it, select all the script content, and copy it to your clipboard.
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4Open Google Forms and go to Apps Script Open an existing Google Form or create a blank one at forms.google.com. Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the form and select Apps Script. The editor opens in a new browser tab.
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5Paste the script, save, and run Delete any existing default code in the editor. Paste your copied script. Click Save (disk icon), then click Run (play button) to execute the script.
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6Grant permissions and check your form When prompted, grant the necessary permissions for the script to access Google Forms on your behalf. Return to your Google Form. All questions and answer options will have been created automatically.
About the permissions prompt: Google Apps Script requires one-time permission to interact with your Google Forms. Click Review Permissions, select your Google account, and click Allow. The script only accesses the specific form it was launched from — no other files or data.
Supported Question Types
| Question Type | Google Forms Equivalent | Supported |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice (single select) | Multiple choice | Yes |
| Multiple choice (multi-select) | Checkboxes | Yes |
| Open-ended / text entry | Short answer / Paragraph | Yes |
| Rating / Likert scale | Linear scale | Yes |
| Matrix / grid questions | Multiple choice grid / Checkbox grid | Yes |
| Dropdown select | Dropdown | Yes |
Why Not Build the Form Manually?
| Survey Size | Manual Entry in Google Forms | Pirai AI + Apps Script |
|---|---|---|
| 10 questions | 20-30 minutes | Under 10 minutes |
| 50 questions | 3-4 hours | Under 10 minutes |
| 100 questions + grids | 6-8 hours | Under 15 minutes |
Pirai AI also supports 50+ languages with UTF-8 encoding, handles all Google Forms question types, and generates a script that runs cleanly without errors on the first attempt.
Supported File Types and Conversion Details
A reference index of every file type Pirai AI converts for Google Forms, and how each is handled.
- .docx (Word)
- Microsoft Word documents containing survey questions and answer options. Pirai AI extracts all content and generates a Google Apps Script .txt file that builds the complete Google Form when run.
- .doc (Legacy Word)
- Older Microsoft Word format. Pirai AI extracts survey content and generates a Google Apps Script for automatic form creation.
- .pdf (PDF)
- Native and scanned PDF survey files. Pirai AI extracts questions, options, and grid questions from the PDF and generates a Google Apps Script. Supports multi-page surveys.
- .xlsx (Excel)
- Excel spreadsheets with survey question data in tabular format. Pirai AI reads the structure and generates a Google Apps Script that builds the form automatically.
- .csv (CSV)
- Comma-separated value files with structured survey data. Pirai AI parses the CSV and generates a Google Apps Script for automatic Google Forms creation.
- .txt (Plain text)
- Plain text survey files. Pirai AI structures the content and generates a Google Apps Script .txt file for import into Google Forms via the Apps Script editor.
- .xml (XML)
- XML survey exports from LimeSurvey, SurveyMonkey, or other platforms. Pirai AI parses the XML and converts to a Google Apps Script.
- .qsf (Qualtrics)
- Qualtrics Survey Format files. Upload to migrate from Qualtrics to Google Forms. Pirai AI converts the QSF to a Google Apps Script that builds the equivalent form.
- Plain text (pasted)
- Survey text pasted directly into platform.piraiai.com. No file upload required. The AI parses the text and generates a Google Apps Script.
- Google Docs
- Download your Google Doc as .docx (File > Download > Microsoft Word), upload to Pirai AI, and select Google Forms. The Apps Script builds the form automatically.
- Scanned documents
- Scanned paper surveys saved as PDF. Pirai AI processes the scan and generates a Google Apps Script for automatic Google Forms creation.
This guide covers how to: import a Word document into Google Forms, convert a PDF survey to Google Forms, upload an Excel questionnaire to Google Forms, transfer a CSV to Google Forms, bring a Google Doc into Google Forms as a form, import a .docx file into Google Forms, convert a plain text survey to Google Forms, migrate a Qualtrics QSF to Google Forms, import XML into Google Forms, add questions from Word to Google Forms automatically, build a Google Form from a Word document without coding, automate Google Forms creation from a document, digitize a paper questionnaire into Google Forms, import a questionnaire into Google Forms without typing, convert a survey spec document to Google Forms, create a Google Form from a PDF, import matrix questions into Google Forms, import Likert scale questions into Google Forms from Word, transfer survey questions from Word to Google Forms using Apps Script, migrate SurveyMonkey to Google Forms, migrate Qualtrics to Google Forms, migrate REDCap to Google Forms, and convert any document format to Google Forms automatically.
Get Started
Upload your document at platform.piraiai.com. Select Google Forms, download your Apps Script file, and paste it into the Google Forms Apps Script editor. Your form is built in one click.
For the full import reference across all platforms, see the Pirai AI Platform Import Guide. To compare the Google Forms workflow against Qualtrics, see How to Convert and Import into Qualtrics.