Merging Data from Multiple PDF Forms into an Excel Spreadsheet

Adobe® Acrobat® Tutorial

Introduction

This tutorial shows how to merge data from multiple PDF forms into an Excel spreadsheet using the Adobe® Acrobat®. Each row in the resulting spreadsheet contains the field values from a single PDF/FDF file.

Open "Prepare Form" Tool in Adobe Acrobat.

Open "Prepare Form" Tool (New Acrobat Interface)

Prepare Form tool is used in Adobe® Acrobat® to create and edit interactive PDF forms. Use it to add text fields, checkboxes, buttons and other interactive elements to the PDF documents.

If you are using a "new" Adobe® Acrobat® interface, then expand All tools and find Prepare Form tool located towards the bottom of the list. Depending on your screen size you may need to click on “View more” link to find it.

Open "Prepare Form" Tool (Classic Acrobat Interface)

If you are using a “classic” Adobe® Acrobat® interface, then expand Tools and find Prepare Form tool.

Select PDF Form or Document

Select any PDF form. We are selecting a form at this step merely for getting into a PDF form editor.

Click the "More" icon in the "Prepare Form" menu:

Select "Merge Data Files into Spreadsheet..." from the pop-up menu.

Click "Add Files" in the "Export Data From Multiple Forms" dialog.

Select files containing the form data (either PDF or FDF files). Click "Open". Please note that you have to select the PDF/FDF files that originate from the same form and have the same set of fields.  

Selected files would be displayed in the "Files To Export Data From" list. Click "Export" to proceed.

Specify the output file name and location. The file is saved in the *.CSV (comma-separate values) file format. This is a common file format for the data exchange. It is supported by most spreadsheet and database applications.

Examine the Results

The "Export Progress" dialog would appear showing the export progress. Click "View File Now" to open the resulting spreadsheet.

The resulting file would be opened using a default application (Microsoft Excel, for example).

Eeac data row will contain file name and field values for a single PDF/FDF file. Here is a sample of the output spreadsheet:

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