MAXQDA can import data from XLS/X files. The data must be organized as follows:
| Code | Variable 1 | ... | Variable N |
| Parent code 1Code 1 | Variable value for code 1 |
| Variable value for code 1 |
| Parent code 1Code 2 | Variable value for code 2 |
| Variable value for subcode 2 |
The first column heading is the unambiguous assignment of variable values to a code, so this column and its heading are mandatory. Each line must designate a code in the corresponding column. For subcodes, the entire path must be specified in the code system, in which the codes are separated by a backslash.
Only when a code, which matches this information exactly, is found in the “Code System” will the variable be imported. You can add as many variables as required in the subsequent columns.
After preparing and saving the import data, you can then start the import procedure by choosing Variables > Data import (code variables) from the drop-down menu. Alternatively, you can click on the Import data (code variables) 
button in the “List of code variables.”
A dialog field appears in which you can specify the source and target variables along with the type of variables to be imported.
MAXQDA does the following during the import:
- All variables in the import file that did not yet exist in the MAXQDA project are created.
- Variables that already existed will be updated with the new values in the import file.
