Exporting data from Microsoft Forms is a common requirement for further analysis, integration, or backup purposes. Microsoft Forms, while user-friendly for creating and distributing surveys, doesn't offer a direct export option within the application. However, there are several workarounds to achieve this. Let's explore how you can export Microsoft Forms data.
Before we dive into the methods, it's important to note that the data export functionality is not natively supported in Microsoft Forms. Therefore, you'll need to use third-party tools, built-in Microsoft services, or Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) for more advanced automation.
Using Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a popular choice for data analysis and manipulation. You can use it to export Microsoft Forms data by following these steps:
1. Open the Microsoft Forms website and navigate to the form you want to export data from.
2. Click on the 'Responses' tab to view the collected responses.
3. Click on the 'Select' button at the top of the responses list to select all responses.
4. Click on the 'Export' button and select 'Excel' as the format. This will download an Excel file containing your form responses.
Using Power Automate
Power Automate is a cloud-based service provided by Microsoft that allows you to automate workflows across multiple applications without writing code. You can use it to export Microsoft Forms data automatically on a schedule or whenever new responses are submitted.
1. Sign in to the Power Automate website and click on 'Create' to create a new flow.
2. Select 'Microsoft Forms' as the trigger and choose the form you want to export data from.
3. Add an 'Apply to each' action to loop through each response.
4. Add an 'Append to array' action inside the loop to collect response data.
5. Add an 'Excel Online (Business)' action to write the collected data to an Excel file.
6. Save and test your flow to ensure it works as expected.
Using Zapier or Integromat
Zapier and Integromat are third-party automation tools that can connect Microsoft Forms with various other applications, including Google Sheets, Airtable, or even a custom API. They allow you to export Microsoft Forms data to these platforms automatically.
1. Sign up for a Zapier or Integromat account and create a new Zap or scenario.
2. Select Microsoft Forms as the trigger app and choose the form you want to export data from.
3. Connect your Microsoft Forms account and test the trigger.
4. Add the desired action app (e.g., Google Sheets, Airtable) and set up the action to export data to the chosen platform.
5. Test your Zap or scenario and turn it on to start exporting Microsoft Forms data automatically.
Exporting Microsoft Forms Data to SharePoint
SharePoint is a web-based collaborative platform provided by Microsoft that integrates with many Microsoft Office applications, including Microsoft Forms. You can use it to store and manage your form responses.
1. Create a new list in SharePoint and configure its columns to match the fields in your Microsoft Form.
2. Use Power Automate to create a flow that triggers when new responses are submitted to your form.
3. Add an 'Add item' action to the flow and connect it to your SharePoint list.
4. Map the form fields to the corresponding SharePoint list columns.
5. Save and test your flow to ensure it works as expected.
In conclusion, while Microsoft Forms doesn't offer a built-in export option, there are several workarounds to export your form data. Depending on your needs, you can use Microsoft Excel, Power Automate, Zapier, Integromat, or SharePoint to automate the export process and make the most of your Microsoft Forms data. Happy exporting!