CSPLAN File

What are CSPLAN files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CSPLAN file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your CSPLAN files.

What is a CSPLAN file?

A .CSPLAN file is a SPSS Sampling Plan file.

SPSS Sampling Plan files store the complete specification of a complex sampling design used in SPSS Statistics (Premium Edition or the Complex Samples option). They encode how samples are to be drawn or analyzed when data come from stratified, clustered, multistage, or weighted survey designs. The plan includes stage labels, strata definitions, cluster identifiers, sampling methods, estimator types, size and inclusion probability, and sampling weights.

These files are produced by the CSPLAN command in SPSS or via the Sampling Wizard (Analyze → Complex Samples → Select a Sample… or Analysis Preparation). They do not themselves perform sampling or statistical analysis. To extract a sample, the plan feeds into the CSSELECT command; to analyze a sample with correct variance estimates, it feeds into SPSS Complex Samples analysis procedures such as CSDESCRIPTIVES, CSTABULATE or CSLOGISTIC.

The content is saved in XML format. The design specification uses elements for design stages and attributes for stratification, clusters, weight variables, estimation methods, and stagewise sampling properties. Options include simple random sampling (with or without replacement), systematic sampling, probability-proportional-to-size (PPS) methods (e.g. Brewer, Murthy, Sampford), and specification of analysis weights or previous weights for multistage designs.

How to open CSPLAN files

Important: Different programs may use files with the CSPLAN file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your CSPLAN file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: September 19, 2026

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