Have a staff member who wishes to view, if possible, older data.
we always export the information prior to shutting down a survey. however, they realized data can be exported as SPSS (only just now after a few years of collecting information) - although not sure how it would really have changed what data they could potentially use. Most of the input information is "custom"/free text - very little numerical/rated data.

Any how. fairly certain once a survey is closed, the table for that survey is deleted from the database.

thanks in advance

Almost correct. Once the survey is closed the data is moved to a different database table (archived). In theory you can get the data back as long as this archive is not deleted.

Have a look in the manual or also here in the forum. There are many that have "lost" their databa because the did not expire the survey, but close it. You should be able to find solutions how to get the data back. Last option: get it directly from the mysql database.

One other thing: if you activate the survey again, from a certain LS version onwards, it should offer you the option to import old result tables. Maybe try this first.

See "How can I restore data from a deactivated survey?" - manual.limesurvey.org/General_FAQ#How_ca...eactivated_survey.3F