Generating an Export
Flex Forms operates on a “What You See Is What You Export” principle. The export engine respects your active filters.1
Apply the Correct Filter
Before exporting, ensure you are on the correct tab (e.g., Completed). If you export while on the All tab, your spreadsheet will contain messy, abandoned Partial submissions.
2
Choose CSV or Excel
In the Submissions toolbar, click Download CSV or Download Excel. Both respect the active filter and stream the file directly (nothing is buffered into the Studio page).
3
Retrieve the File
The file downloads immediately, named with the form slug and the current filter for easy archiving.
Understanding the file structure
The exported file is structured to be immediately consumable by BI tools (like Tableau) or CRMs (like Salesforce).System Metadata
The first few columns are system-generated. This includes the precise Submitted At timestamp and the entry’s Status (Completed/Partial).
Block Data
Every block on your form gets a dedicated column, organized in the exact order they appear in the Studio Canvas.
Handling Complex Data
- Multi-Select & Checkboxes: If a respondent selects multiple options (e.g., “Red”, “Blue”), they are exported into a single cell, separated by commas:
Red, Blue. - File Uploads & Signatures: Flex Forms does not embed raw binary files. Instead, it exports the absolute URL to the securely stored file.
- Encrypted answers: When Encrypt submission answers is on, exports still contain decrypted plaintext for authorized Studio users — encryption protects the database at rest, not the download.
- Deleted Fields: If you removed a field from the Studio Canvas, it still exports! The column header will simply be appended with
(Unpublished)to preserve your historical data integrity.