Connect results to Excel as a data source rather than opening a new workbook each time
The form is great in terms of collecting responses. That said, if you need to view all the data at once, you need to open the form results in Excel. If you do that, it appears to open a separate result each time. There is no way to edit the results workbook. For example, I want to add a column to the results where I can keep track of whether or not I have contacted the person since they have filled out the form. If I add that column to the table, it will be gone when I next click "Open in Excel" to get the latest data. It would be great if it creates a connection to the workbook and is treated like a data source for the workbook.
Ashleigh
shared this idea
Hi Forms users,
Thanks for using Microsoft Forms and providing feedback.
We just enabled a new feature “Forms for Excel” for all Microsoft Forms customers. When you create Forms for Excel in your OneDrive for Business / modern SharePoint team sites, you will get an Excel workbook at the same time. All the responses data will show up in your Excel workbook in real time.
You could get more detail from – https://aka.ms/formsforexcel
Please be free to leave comments if you have any question.
Regards,
Microsoft Forms Team
126 comments
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Anonymous
commented
DEFINITELY- we need to post process the data using macros so we need to be able to easily access the the excel sheet via our one drive easily
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A.Sharaf
commented
I cam hereto say the samething...:) wel said
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Scott
commented
This functionality is critical for me to move away from Google Docs and Google Forms. I use Google Forms to have my Field Engineers enter their activities for the day. I need to edit the source "database", Google Sheet or Excel Spreadsheet in this case, for two reasons. One, I need to make adjustments to the type of activity or details of the activity based on conversations I have with the team after they submit the activity. This gives me the ability to ensure the quality of the data and allows a human filter to an otherwise automated solution. The second reason is that I have added several columns to do calculations. For example, I might assign a certain number of points or an average number of minutes for a support call. They log a call and the new column multiplies that by the number of points or minutes. I can also make a separate sheet for pivot tables, which are obviously great for reporting.
Bonus points to Microsoft if they let us use the Forms graphs and pie charts on custom columns without having to create Pivot Tables on the second sheet.
We have to be able to see and edit the data behind the responses in order for this to be a viable solution for all types of surveys/quizzes/report trackers.
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Anonymous
commented
Just to point out it;s great telling people how to kink to forms in 2016/O365. Some of us have access to forms etc. via SharePoint but are still on 2013. That functionality is unavailable to us and Flow does not allow automation even if the Excel file is in SharePoint. We will be moving to 2016 soon so I won;t lose too much sleep over this, but it seems that MS once again develop solutions that are only current version compatible.
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Anonymous
commented
You can use flow to create update an excel spreadsheet every time a new form is submitted.
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Bill Blais
commented
Related caveat to my earlier comment about how to do this via OneDrive/Sharepoint: Currently, only a single form can be connected to a given Excel workbook (I have a new suggestion for this, but it's still pending approval).
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Bill Blais
commented
This is actually possible right now, if you use OneDrive or Sharepoint. Unfortunately, it's a bit buried.
I recently posted a step-by-step with screen clips here:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_o365edu-mso_forms/microsoft-forms-excel-spreadsheet/13cc0e55-aada-4a30-9d5e-2db063f50ab4#LastReplyThere are a couple ways, but the short version is:
1 - Create the Excel worksbook in OneDrive or Sharepoint
2 - In the workbook, click "Insert" > "Forms" > "New Form"This will bring you to MS Forms with a blank form titled with your filename, by default. In the originating Excel file, a new sheet will be created tied to this form. Any subsequent submissions will be recorded live in that Excel file, rather than having to go to the form and then download the results.
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edh
commented
Agreed. The Excel file needs to be in Office 365 Sharepoint somewhere - a team, group, something, not downloaded each time you want to see the data.
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Edwin Broens
commented
You can use flow to do just this. And send an email to confirm as well!
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Michelle Hicks
commented
We are trying to use a form to collect information on parent communication that requires action. It would be nice to be able to edit an online form when action is completed without having to complete the entire form again for each incident.
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Anonymous
commented
I think that having:
- an online form that can be filled in, like the student services referral form
- an automatic email notifying tutors, SPMs and students when their placements have been received and then cleared
- an easy to confirm online form for placements to confirm that they have had the student in and their hours (the University of Gloucester has a very simple link sent to placement people that is a one-click confirmation)
- an online diary that allows students to input it without printing
would minimise printing, make it easier for students, staff and placement representatives to track and increase student and placement engagement with the system. -
Daniel Mustoe
commented
This would be really handy for collaboration and the spreadsheet to be 'live'.
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John
commented
I'd like to be able to add notes alongside responses e.g. done or needs more work etc.
Also I'd like others (in my team) to be able to access and add to the responses sheet.
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Clint Hamada
commented
This is similar to what already happens in Google Forms. In addition to the summary responses my team can get from the Forms interface, the ability to access realtime and shareable updates of the raw data would be great.
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Julia Legg
commented
This needs to be a live version instead of just uploading it to OneDrive, it needs to sync and be connected.
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Jose Barzaga
commented
Allow the spreadsheet of responses to open on an Excel Online spreadsheet so that collaborators on the form can add notes to the spreadsheet. Right now it only opens on the Excel desktop app and you cannot see the notes that are being added. It's like having multiple files all over the place. It would be great that the same spreadsheet opens for all to see and use.
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Aaron Rosengarn
commented
Trevelyan +1
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sam
commented
Agree!
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John King
commented
Submit to SharePoint List also please!
The problem with OneDrive in a business is that it associates the data with a specific person.
As users move on, their OneDrive is usually blindly decommissioned. The user forgets they set up an ongoing form, which is usually associated with a process belonging to whatever department they were working for. -
John Mathieson
commented
Having the Excel file saved to one drive will foster greater usage of forms. That we have to copy and paste to a seperate file if we want to add any notes, corrections or document the progress is cumbersome. We know the data is stored in a file of up to 5000 entries. Would be good if we could access the master file and not just the downloaded file. This would allow us to filter on ones where we have already responded or made corrections (The filter)