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Problem merging XML files into a spreadsheet (CSV file) - no data appears

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Former Community Member
Hey all,



I have just upgraded to Acrobat Professional 8 and created a survey with Designer. I have sent it out to some people and got two XML files back. The files themselves contain the answers, I see the data there. I have re-named the files and saved them in a folder on my desktop.



I then open Acrobat Pro 8, go to forms > manage form data > merge data files into spread sheet, "add" the two XML files from that folder, then click "export" and save as "report.csv", which is the default setting. It comes up with a window saying "Done!" and I click on "View File now". This opens Excel, which is what I want.



THE PROBLEM IS that there is no data and I only see the two FILE NAMES in column A row 2 and 3. The file names are in full with ".xml" at the end. The data within the XML files (that I want) does not appear in this CSV spreadsheet that I just created.



One further comment: I did not have this problem with Acrobat Pro 7, the data sets came out and I easily edited them, created graphs etc.



Can you please provide some advice as to how I can solve this?



Best regards,

Dima Ivanov
2 Replies

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Former Community Member
I don't know whether this is the best way or not, but after creating the form in Designer I use the Distribute Forms process. There's a short cut icon within the Designer Toolbar or you can do it through Acrobat. The creates a dataset, seperate to the original form, which you can store elsewhere, and a version which can be edited and saved by Reader users (they should be using 8.x - especially if you're using dynamic forms). You then receive a return which will automatically open up to the last dataset accessed - or you may have to browse for or need to create a new one somewhere. When complete the form itself will open with a data view above it. You can select and export the data from this viewing pane to an xml file.

Then in Excel, using the Data>xml>xml source tool you can add your data set. As you receive further email returns, your pdf dataset grows. Export and update the xml file as required; go to the spreadsheet and refresh the data table.

I'm sure there are probably more efficient ways of doing this, but it works ok for me at least.

Hope this helps

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Former Community Member
Hello there,



Thank you very much for your reply. I have tried a similar option before - I simply imported the XML file that I get back from the people being surveyed into Excel, each imported file results in a line of data. All I have to do later is merge that data into a useable set, much like what you have described. Thank you again.



If anyone has a different solution or way of getting around my problem, or have experienced a similar glitch please do tell - I would love to know!



Best regards,

Dima Ivanov