I cannot export Word form data into Excel the normal way

Question

Hello Everyone,

I designed a fillable form in Word for my work, and would like to export the data into an Excel document. I know how it is supposed to be done - by selecting the option "Save form data as delimited text file", and saving the file as plain text (.txt).

However, whenever I try to do that, I do not get any data saved whatsoever:

I have tried doing this with editing restrictions on and off. My only hunch is that the fact that my form is contained in a table is messing things up. Is that the case? If so, is there any way to get around it? Any other ideas?

Much appreciated,

Nathan

Answer 1

Your form uses Content Controls. The method you are attempting to use is for legacy form fields. To do it with Content Controls takes more than using a button.

Here is Greg Maxey's page on the same Add-In with thoughts on what you need to do with Content Controls to do the extraction.

https://gregmaxey.com/word_tip_pages/extract_da...

Here is a page that will take you step-by-step through the process of writing a macro to do what you want.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/29524537/ex...

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These are links to pages on one or more Word MVP websites. Those pages contain accurate safe information that I think will help you. They were written by a Microsoft Word MVP. However, as an Independent Advisor I am required to give the following notice when providing non-Microsoft links:

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Required Notice: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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Personally, if it were me, I would talk with someone in IT and see how you can get the Add-In. Otherwise, you are going to be re-ineventing the wheel.

Alternatively, shift to using legacy form fields.

Answer 2

Hi,

Graham Mayor, one of the MVPs has an Add-In devoted to getting data out of Word and into Excel.

http://www.gmayor.com/ExtractDataFromForms.htm

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This is a link to a Word MVP website. It contains accurate safe information that I think will help you. However, as an Independent Advisor I am required to give the following notice when providing non-Microsoft links:

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Required Notice: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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Please take a look at Graham's page. I hope this information helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions or require further help.

Regards

Answer 3

Otherwise, if you want, save a sample document with the problem on OneDrive or Dropbox and paste a link here. Remove any confidential or sensitive information first. I or someone else can take a look at it.

Answer 4

Thank you, Mr. Kenyon, for your quick reply. Unfortunately, I cannot access gmayor.com (my work network's firewall is preventing access).  Below is the link for a blanked version of the form I am working with. I checked, and it has the same problem as what I described.

Thanks again!

https://1drv.ms/w/s!Am6EpRL1UMTijWUlOI4U0pDqtLPY

Answer 5

Here is a video on developing such a macro in Excel with instructions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NoQXYTLOEc

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Required Notice: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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