Need to create a custom CSV for export? Check out the new Table View CSV add-on that converts HTML tables to CSV.
Have you been exporting your form data to a CSV and then removing or combining columns manually? Or maybe you've been using the back-end link to export a CSV for front-end users?
Creating a customized export of the data in your forms isn't easy. There are third-party plugins that allow a table to be exported to a view. The limitation here, is that all the data to export must be included on a single page. If there are hundred of rows, this simply isn't a feasible option. Exporting filtered data from the front-end while honoring permissions is just plain difficult. Until now.
Now you can effortlessly add a link to export CSV data from the front-end. No need for a developer, custom code, or extra add-ons that don't cut the bill. We even added the option to schedule an automatic export of any table view on your site. You choose which views to export, how often, and where they should go. Then Formidable handles the rest.
Need to export tables to Excel instead? That's no problem.
How to Create a Table View
Before CSV can be exported, you've got to have a table View. You can use the View filters to show only the data you would like, make it searchable, sortable, or whatever you'd like. With the flexibility of Formidable Views, the options are endless.
The most basic version of creating a table View includes three steps.
- Go to create a new View. Select your form if it isn't already selected.
- Insert <table> in the Before Content box.
- Your form data will go in the Content box. It will look something like this, with [25] and [26] replaced with your fields:
<tr> <td>[25]</td> <td>[26]</td> </tr>
- Add </table> in the After Content box.
Easily convert an HTML Table in a View to CSV
Once you've got a table View, the Table View to CSV converter plugin will add a few extra options.
These settings can automatically add a link to export the table to CSV. This link will appear directly after the View. That's all there is to it.
Learn more about how to use the Table View to CSV settings.
Flexible options to convert a table to CSV
Of course, we didn't stop there since our goal is to offer you simplicity without sacrificing flexibility. Need an export link on a page without the table View? Or maybe you want to include a CSV export link in an email notification? You've got it.
In addition to an automatically added link, you can use a shortcode to add a link wherever you'd like. Add
[frm-export-view view=25 label="Export Now"]
in an email notification, on a page, or anywhere else a WordPress shortcode is allowed. This shortcode will convert the HTML table in the view to a CSV, even when the table to not included on the page.
If that's not enough, there's a third way of converting the table to a CSV. You can set a view to automatically export to a CSV.
Just select which views to export, where the exported files should go, and how often to run the export. Then it's all automatic from there. Use it for backups, daily email digests, and whatever else you dream up.
How to get started with exporting tables to CSV
Now that you know all the cool things the Table View to CSV converter plugin can do, you can get it up and running immediately. First you'll need to install Formidable Forms for WordPress. Activate the premium version of Formidable with your Business level (or higher) license. Now you have access to install the CSV exporter from the Formidable → Add-Ons page.
Ready to get started? Take a look at all the great form builder features to see why Formidable Forms is the very best WordPress form builder plugin around.
Amazing! I have been waiting on an official front-end export functionality for SO LONG! This is going to exponentially increase the value of projects I have built with Formidable Forms, and new projects going forward.
Thank you Steph and team for making this happen!
You're welcome! I'm so glad to hear this will help with your projects!
So is this how we can expect all new feature updates for Formidable Pro to come from now on, as an Addon that only current licenses get access to?
If *all* new features are getting added as Addons (which it very much feels like) it pretty much destroys the value of long time, grandfathered licenses. What we have in effect now is no active development other than bug fixes.
As an owner of a grandfathered license I originally lost support, now I am also losing access to any and all new features.
I have to say I feel quite annoyed at this, should exporting a view really be outside of the the original plugins purview, just seems like a great way to make us old customers that don't need support (the original argument for dropping support from lifetime licenses) renew their licenses. That clearly didn't work as a marketing tactic so now we need to pay for any feature upgrades.
This is at least how it feels to me, quite underhanded in my book.
I'm sorry to hear you feel this way. When we don't expect a new feature to benefit the majority of Formidable users, it's better to have in a separate plugin rather than continue to add more and more mass to the core plugin. This helps to simplify the code, makes updates and maintenance easier, and prevents issues with the plugin getting to big to upload on some servers (this was part of the reason we separated Pro and Lite).
Although exporting from the front-end has been highly requested, and will benefit many, it wouldn't be used by over 50% of Formidable users if it were in core. There have been bunches of other features that benefit those who choose not to renew. One of these was announced in the same email. Perhaps you missed that part?
The most recent big change was the new 4.0 UI. We also continue to release lots of smaller features as well.
At this point, most features that the majority will use have already been added. So many of the new, large features will be released as add-ons. Smaller features will be in the plugin since we don't believe in charging separately for vital features that the majority will need like conditional logic, file uploads, and more. Based on our stats, we may extract Form scheduling to an add-on since it doesn't meet the requirement of being heavily used. Although this was released into core, it probably shouldn't have been. We are working on preventing this mistake in the future.
I had similar feeling to Stuart Longcroft, I appreciate you taking time to personally explain your stance. I also suggest you take a another look at offering add-ons for purchase separately like you used too. Many of us will not use some of those add-ons available to us while desiring to tryout other add-on outside our licence.
I'm one of those using form scheduling, glad it's in the core. Being a new feature (Jan 2019 I suppose), it may take a while for it to be heavily implemented. Going by your stat may be too early.
Same feeling here. I also have a grand fathered license and I would be happy to support you and buy some addons, or even pay for the Elite upgrade at the current 50% promo pricing, but I can't afford to pay 599 $ USD (it's more than 825 $ CAD here in Canada) every year after. You should consider offering a rebate for yearly renewal. In another scenario, if a grandfathered user purchase the current Elite version to have all current addons, what it will happen after the 12 months expired? Is the license will continue to work like previous grandfathered licence permitting to install every addons and updates on customers website?
Hi Dee Jay,
We understand that the Formidable Forms plugin doesn't fit every budget. We strive to offer exceptional value being the only form builder to offer Views, automation, and many other features in one bundle. Formidable Forms is the most advanced and flexible form builder out there.
Just in the past few months, we have added PDF support, better quiz functionality, conversational and full page forms. AND we are not slowing down. We have huge plans for outcome/personality quizzes, visual form styler, and many more features coming soon.
The constant addition of these new features means Formidable continues to get better and better and provide more value for our users. I understand the appeal of selling and purchasing add-ons individually, but this results in an account with multiple licenses, subscriptions, renewal dates, etc. Additionally, most people purchased enough add-ons that they would have paid more than our bundle pricing. These are the main reasons why we no longer sell add-ons individually.
Regarding Grandfathered licenses, these can no longer be upgraded, so if you would like features included with the Elite package, you will need to purchase a new license. If the full renewal price concerns you, keep in mind that we do run promotions from time to time that can help with the renewal costs.
It also works to highlight the HTML table, copy, paste into Excel, and export as CSV. This assumes you have Excel. 🙂 Google Sheets might do it.