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DigitalChickster
DigitalChickster
Legend
November 28, 2016
Question

Best way to collect data from pdf form

  • November 28, 2016
  • 1 reply
  • 4012 views

Hi all! I've created many fillable forms using InDesign and Acrobat. But... I've never known how a client can take that form and collect data from the responses. I have a new client who wants to do this. There won't be a huge amount of responses... maybe 200. What is the most efficient way for her to be able to take the responses from the forms and collect the data in them?

Let me know if I left out some vital information that will help me get my question answered.

Thanks so much.

julie

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

G
George_Johnson
Inspiring
November 28, 2016

It depends on whether your client has Acrobat, as opposed to Reader, and how the forms will be returned by the users to your client. It also depends on what the users will be using to fill-in and save the forms. If you have any more information about any of this, it will be helpful in discussing the various options.

DigitalChickster
DigitalChicksterAuthor
Legend
November 28, 2016

I will find out.. .thanks!

G
George_Johnson
Inspiring
November 29, 2016

OK, so everyone filling in the forms will be using Reader.

I believe my client has access to Acrobat (the paid version). I am confirming that.

They want to have the forms emailed back to them directly... then (somehow) get the data from the forms into an Excel file.

Is this possible without buying special software (other than Acrobat)?

Let me know if I need to ask  more questions. Thanks.


Acrobat has a feature (Merge Data Files into Spreadsheet) that will export the form data from a collection of filled-in forms to a data file that can be opened in a spreadsheet. The format it uses is comma separated values (CSV).

If you want a more flexible approach, you can use a script to do the same. You;ll be able to exclude any fields that aren't needed, output the fields in a particular order, and do any needed data manipulation (e.g., convert "Off" values of check boxes to blank). You can also output to tab-delimited format, which is easy to generate, particularly because text field normally won't include tab characters. It's also easily imported into a spreadsheet, whereas CSV files seem to be more problematic when imported.

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