How to Reorder Acrobat Form Fields in Exported Survey Data
Question details
The user needs a method to customize the column order of survey data compiled and exported from multiple Adobe Acrobat forms.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat / Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Exporting survey responses from multiple PDF forms into a spreadsheet where radio buttons and comment fields alternate sequentially.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat natively compiles and exports the data in an alternating column format corresponding to the form layout, without providing a built-in setting to specify a custom column order for the compiled data.
Before attempting to reorganize your columns, ensure all of your Adobe Acrobat form responses are fully compiled and exported to your computer as a single CSV or XML file.
Reorganize Exported Data Using an Excel Macro
Since Adobe Acrobat cannot natively reorder exported form data, you can use an Excel script or macro to automate sorting the data into a new worksheet.
Adobe Acrobat compiles form data based on the internal order and physical layout of the form fields. To group specific data types together, such as consolidating all radio button responses separately from text comments, you must manipulate the resulting exported file in a spreadsheet application.
In Adobe Acrobat, compile your returned PDF forms and export the collected data to a spreadsheet, saving it as a CSV or XML format.
Launch Microsoft Excel or WPS Spreadsheet and open the exported data file containing the alternating columns.
Navigate to the Developer tab and select 'Visual Basic' or 'Record Macro'. Create a script designed to identify comment columns, cut them, and append them sequentially at the end of the radio-button data columns.
Execute your script to automatically copy and reorganize the survey data into your desired, logically grouped column order on a new worksheet.
Manually Move Columns in Your Spreadsheet
If you only have a limited number of form fields to organize, manually cutting and pasting columns in your spreadsheet application is the most straightforward workaround.
Seamlessly Manage and Organize Exported PDF Form Data with WPS Office
While Adobe Acrobat limits export customizations, WPS Office provides an integrated suite where you can seamlessly handle PDF files and instantly use WPS Spreadsheet to reorganize, filter, and format your exported survey data effortlessly.
- 1. Open the Data File: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the CSV or XML file containing your exported PDF form data.
- 2. Select the Columns: Highlight the headers of the columns containing the alternating radio-button values and comment fields that need rearranging.
- 3. Drag to Reorder: Hold down the Shift key, click the edge of the highlighted column, and seamlessly drag it to your desired location to quickly reorganize your data structure.
- 4. Save Your Custom Layout: Go to 'Menu' > 'Save As' and save the newly organized survey data as a standard .xlsx file for future analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the internal tab order of PDF form fields before exporting?
Yes, in your PDF editor, you can change the tab order of the form fields to improve user navigation. However, this does not dictate the column order in the compiled CSV export, as that is often determined by the chronological field creation order or internal document structure.
What file format does Acrobat use when exporting compiled form data?
Adobe Acrobat typically compiles and exports form data into a CSV (Comma Separated Values) or XML file. Both formats are widely supported and can be easily opened and edited in spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel or WPS Spreadsheet.
Why do my exported form fields alternate instead of grouping together by type?
Form fields generally export based on their physical layout sequence or creation order within the original PDF document. If a radio button is immediately followed by a comment text box in the form's design, they will export in that exact same alternating sequence in your data file.
