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Hi

I would very much like to know if it is possible to get the people who fill out my form indexed i a database. This database should be able to be transferred into an excel spreadsheet.

Best regards

Nina Balslev

Hi Nina,

You can use a DB Save action in your form to save some or all of the form data into a table. You can then use a separate form with a CSV Export action to read records from the table and export them for re-importing into Excel.

Or, possibly better you can save records directly from your form into a Google Spreadsheet when they are submitted (this is true for CFv5, I'm not sure about CFv6 yet).

Bob

Hi Bob

I enclose an image which shows that I already have a DB save action. Before I start to experiment with the CSV Export action I have the following questions:

1)
Is this DB save action sufficient or do I have to create a new one?

2)
If it is sufficient, is it then placed correctly or do I have to drag it somewhere else?

Best regards
Nina Balslev

Hi Nina,

The location looks OK - does it work correctly when you test?

Bob

Hi Bob

That depend on what you mean by test🙂

The form does function but so far I have not tested the CSV export action

Best regards

Nina Balslev

Hi Nina,

I meant does it save the form data to the database table?

Bob

Hi Bob

How do I check whether the form data are saved to the database table?

Best regards

Nina Balslev

HI Nina,

You look at the table -

+ You can click the Connected table link in the ChronoForms Forms Manager
+ You can use PHPMyAdmin on your web host
+ You can use a Joomla! component like AceSQL or MijoSQL

Bob

Hi Bob

I have tested the form which seems to work. Anyhow, when I create table for the relevant form in the ChronoForms Forms Manager I can't find any form data.

I enclose 3 images which show the content of the table. As far as I see there are not any relevant information.

I do not know whether you remember that you have helped me create the following Table: jos_cf_Kontaktformular.

What I am doing wrong?

Best regards

Nina Balslev

Hi Nina,

All of those images are from the Create Table icon - none of them show the contents of the table. Please check my last post for three ways you can use to see the contents.

Bob

Hi Bob

Now I have found the database which seems to have all the data saved. I have one question to this. I can see the name of the enclosed images but I cannot - sorry if I do not use the correct English word - sort of extract/reconstruct the images. Should I be able to do that?

Best regards

Nina Balslev

Hi NIna,

The images are saved in a folder on your server - the folder named in the Files Upload action settings. The name is all that is in the database table. You can use that you show an image with a normal HTML image link using the folder path and the saved saved name.

Bob

Hi Bob

I think that I have found the right place in the files upload action settings show at the enclosed image. My Question is now how to find the Chronoforms uploads/form_name/ directory?

Best regards

Nina Balslev

Hi Bob


You informed me, that I had to make a new form with the CSV-action. Actually, I cannot figure out how to do it. I can find the the CSV Export under data management. but how do I get it to function?

Best regards

Nina Balslev

Hi NIna,

The path on your site will be /components/com_chronoforms5/uploads/form_name/ - but with 'form_name' replaced by the name of your form. If you add a Debugger action to your form you will see exactly what the folder path is.

What exactly is the problem you are having with the CSV Export action? The basics are to set Enabled to Yes, and select the Table name in the Table name box.

Bob

Hi Bob

What I am looking for, is that my customers are able to use the form "normally". My customers do not have to know that their information are saved in an excel spreadsheet. When I test the form - after having connected the CSV Export to the relevant table and set it to yes - then I am asked to hide the form as a comma separated file when I use the submit button. Please also see enclosed image.

What I want is that when my customers use the for. and use the submit button, then they get the automatic message "thank you for your request" and behind this the chronoform automatically get all the information and transfer it to an excel spreadsheet🙂

Best regards
Nina Balslev

Hi Nina,

If you do a CSV export from a single form then you (or someone) has to manually import that into the Excel table. I generally think that this in not a very practical solution. Here are some alternatives:

a. You can use a GSheet instead and ChronoForms can add each new record directly to a GSheet form; or

b. You can save the records to a Joomla! database table and then every few days export any new records to a CSV file to be imported into the spreadsheet; or

c. You could use the MySQL for Excel extension that will let you link Excel directly to your database table.

Bob