Operation Manual

176
Forms
Last updated 4/7/2015
Manage form data files
You can move the answers on a PDF form to and from other file formats that preserve all the data in much less space
than a full PDF.
Import form data
In some workflow scenarios, individuals submit filled-in forms as data-only files rather than as complete PDF files.
These files are not PDFs, but use another file format, such as FDF or XML. You can view the data submitted by an
individual recipient in the context of the PDF by opening the original file and importing the information in the data file.
1 In Acrobat DC, open the PDF form into which you want to import data.
2 Choose To o ls > Prepare Form. In the right hand pane, choose More > Clear Form.
Note: When you import data from another file into a PDF form, the imported data replaces any information that
appeared previously in the individual form fields. However, if the imported data file contains one or more blank form
fields, importing will not clear the original data.
3 Choose More > Import Data.
4 In the Select File Containing Form Data dialog box, select a format in File Of Type corresponding to the data file
you want to import. Then locate and select that file, and click Open.
Note: Some formats are available only for specific types of PDF forms, depending on the application used to create the
form, such as Acrobat DC or Designer ES2. Data you import from a text file (.txt) must be formatted in tab-delimited
rows that form columns.
Export file data
You can save the information in a completed PDF form as a data file in another file format. Later, you can reuse the data
to fill in the form again or another form with the same fields and field names.
1 In Acrobat DC, open the completed form file.
2 In the right hand pane, choose More > Export Data.
3 In the Export Form Data As dialog box, select the format in which you want to save the form data (FDF, XFDF, XML,
or TXT). Then select a location and filename, and click Save.
Note: Some file formats are available only for specific types of PDF forms, depending on how the form was created.
Merge exported data files to a spreadsheet
If you want to compile data from forms that are not already in a data set, use the following process.
1 In the right hand pane, choose More > Merge Data Files Into Spreadsheet.
2 In the Export Data From Multiple Forms dialog box, clickAdd Files.
3 In the Select file Containing Form Data dialog box, select a file format option in File Of Type option (Acrobat Form
Data Files or All Files). Then locate the form files that you want to merge into the spreadsheet, select them, and click
Open.
4 Repeat the previous step to add form data files that are in other locations, as needed.
5 Click Export. Then select a folder and filename for the spreadsheet, and click Save.
6 In the Export Progress dialog box, click either View File Now to open the spreadsheet file or Close Dialog to return
to Acrobat DC.
Note: When returned forms are in a response file, the most efficient way to export the information into a spreadsheet is to
use the Export Data button in the left navigation panel for the PDF Portfolio response file.