Forms for Excel, new experience for Excel survey in Office 365
Published Sep 22 2017 01:23 AM 189K Views
Microsoft

Introducing Forms for Excel

Forms for Excel, in Preview for commercial customers, powered by Microsoft Forms, has replaced Excel Survey. This update, available for Office 365 Commercial and Education customers, comes with a modern experience to make it simple and easy to collect information from users in the same organization, to anyone in the world. Forms for Excel includes new features such as response time, responder name, images, videos, themes, and branching logic.

 

Create Forms for Excel

Use any of the following entry points:

  • OneDrive for Business: Click + New.
  • Document library of modern SharePoint team sites (O365 group backed): Click + New.
  • Excel Online: Click Forms > + New Form. The workbook is stored on OneDrive for Business or modern SharePoint team sites.

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Simple and easy to use

Create in minutes - Quickly build a form in your Excel workbook from Excel Online, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online.

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Send to anyone - Send your form to colleagues or go broad. Keep the Excel workbook response data safe on your OneDrive.

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See real time results - See summary result with charts in Microsoft Forms and check real time response data in your Excel workbook.

excel_results_animations.gif

 

Who can use "Forms for Excel"?

Office 365 Commercial and Education customers. No change for Office 365 Consumer customers. Learn more.

 

What does "Forms for Excel" mean for my existing Excel surveys?

All existing Excel surveys will continue to work.

 

What do I have for my classic SharePoint team sites?

You can still use Excel survey if "external sharing" is enabled for your classic SharePoint team sites.

 

Where is the data stored?

All data is primarily stored on servers of Microsoft Forms, and all response data is automatically stored in your Excel workbook. Get details about Security and Compliance for Microsoft Forms.

 

Does "Forms for Excel" depend on external sharing settings in my organization?

Forms for Excel can be used without changing your organization’s sharing settings.

 

How can I configure "Forms for Excel"?

Office 365 administrators can control how "Forms for Excel" is used in their organization through Microsoft Forms settings. Get more details about how to configure Microsoft Forms.

87 Comments
Deleted
Not applicable

Wow....!! very nice features. thanks for the post

Bronze Contributor
I don't get the difference between Forms for Excel and Microsoft Forms. Does it just create the exportable Excel File by default? How is the permission underneath handled?

@Ivan Ungerforms for excel means that every submission is immediately updated in the table in the Results file, otherwise it's just the same as Forms.

Microsoft

@Ivan Unger, Forms for Excel is the new experience for legacy Excel survey. As @Steven Collier has mentioned, it is just Microsoft Forms, but when you create the form, it connects to an Excel workbook on your OneDrive for Business / SharePoint Online by default. All the response data will show up in both Microsoft Forms and Excel workbook in real-time.

Bronze Contributor

Understood. Classic SharePoint List Export with active DataConnection.

Copper Contributor

How to share acticles from this blog to Linkedin?

Microsoft

@Albert Yin, currently Tech Communities doesn't have native support for Share to Linkedin. Please be free just share the URL of this blog. 

Thanks :)

Copper Contributor

How to change the language for the Forms app?

The language for my web browser and Office 365 account are set to English, but Forms is opening in Japanese, with Japanese menu, etc. which I do not understand. All other apps like Mail, Excel remain to open in English.

Microsoft

Hi @Kenneth Chen, thanks for the feedback.

As Microsoft Forms is a web app, it reads locale / language settings from your browers. You could change the default language for your browser, then it will apply to Forms.

 

Copper Contributor

Hi @Zhongzhong Li!

 

When will this function be availabe for organization-wide Team Sites (/SitePages/, not O365 group backed)??

 

I checked today and my Team Site still uses the old ugly Excel Surveys.

 

Thanks!

Ángel.-

Copper Contributor

I have been using Microsoft Forms since July 2016 when it came out in Preview and have been using it across our Education account. I just found out that a group of faculty created an official survey in Survey for Excel just before that and now want to convert it to Microsoft Forms.

Is it possible to take an Excel Online file with Surveys and just convert them to Microsoft Forms? (The biggest thing they want is the time stamp.)

 

Randy

Microsoft

Hi @Ángel Alegre García, yes, we don't have classical team site support yet (non O365 group backed site). It will align will overall SharePoint site and O365 group integration plan.

Microsoft

@Randy Watkins, this is a great feedback. I will bring it back to my team.

Copper Contributor

@Zhongzhong Li thanks for your answer!

 

So... what are exactly MS plans for classical team sites?? Will they be discontinued in favor of O365 group backed sites? Will they get the simpler modern UI from the group sites? Any idea of when will Forms integration arrive to the classical team sites?

 

Right now I have a team site for my whole organization (non group backed), and I really need the new Forms, but I don’t know if I should move to a group site or not so any advice would be appreciated.

 

Also, I totally agree with @Randy Watkins. The feature to migrate the old Excel surveys to Forma is very necessary to make the transition easier, so add a +1 from me for that :)

 

Thanks!

Ángel.-

@Ángel Alegre Garcíathe ability to 'upgrade' a legacy teamsite is coming pretty soon, see https://myignite.microsoft.com/videos/59122

 

Copper Contributor

Is there a way to directly connect Power BI to the results of surveys to get better looking analytics easily? If not, is it on the roadmap?

Microsoft

@Ángel Alegre García, we are working closely with SharePoint team for the solution for classical sites. We have similar problems for other O365 group backed features, e.g. Microsoft Teams. We want to provide aligned solution for all these features.

 

Microsoft

@Gerard GUINANE, if you want to generate a live Power BI report, the current solution is build up the connection via the live Excel workbook.

We do have plan forPower BI directly connection in our backlog after we improve the feature in Excel / OneDrive / SharePoint.

Brass Contributor

 

I love using forms, especially for the timestamp for each response that wasn't available in survey.

But, there are 2 things that I cannot found in forms (or maybe I just do not see it):

1. Input validation for length of text

I see that we can restrict the input so it has to be number. But I cannot find validation for length of text or regular expression such as in google form. Would be more perfect if that capability can be added! :)

2. When I used survey before, I could easily copy the excel (with the survey linked to it) and when I open the new file that was copied, the survey was also copied automatically (so I did not have to create the survey again, just copy the excel file and the survey was already there).

But now, when I copy the excel file (with a form linked to it), the new file that is copied does not have any form linked to it, so I have to create a new form again. Do I miss something? Maybe there was one or two steps that I did not do it correctly?

 

Would appreciate any help and response!

Thanks!

Microsoft

Hi @Esther Ida Krisanti,

 

Thanks for using Microsoft Forms.

 

For question #1 - Yes, we only have number restriction for today. Advanced text restriction is in our backlog.

For question #2 - You're right. For the new "Forms for Excel", copy the Excel workbook will only copy the data in the Excel, not the form. If you want to duplicate the form, you could find the form in forms.office.com, and click on "copy" button in the "..." menu for each of the form card.

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Brass Contributor

Hello @Zhongzhong Li,

Thank you for your fast response! 

For question 1, okay. I'm excited to wait for it! :)

For question 2, I try to duplicate the form. But, when I open in excel (from response tab), it only shows 4 default columns which are start time, completion time, email and name. I try to fill out the form, hoping that the other columns (I have 29 questions in total) will appear in the excel. I try to open in excel again and I can see the columns from my questions, but strangely, not in order. For example, I have these questions in my form: A, B, C, D. When I open the response in excel, the columns order change to: B,D,C,A. So I never copy the form because when I open the result in excel, the columns are not in order.

For now, it's still okay for me to create the forms for excel again every time I need it, but it would be really nice if I can just copy the form just like survey. It will save a lot of time :) Please kindly let us know if there's a way to copy the excel and its form (or the form and its excel).

 

 

Thanks!

Copper Contributor

Are there plans to enable this for quizzes in Office 365 for education. This would be immensely useful. I can sort of do it via flow at the moment but the data available is more limited than I can get from having the excel data 'live'.

 

It would enable immensely powerful automated feedback to students if this were implemented

Microsoft

Hi @Esther Ida Krisanti,

 

For question 2 - Copy "Forms for Excel". I think there is a bug than when you copy the form, the question columns doesn't recreate in Excel workbook. However, they should show up in the right order when the form recieves the 1st response. Could you have another try?

 

If you still have the problem, could you send the form URL to us for troubleshooting?

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Microsoft

Hi @Science Dept,

 

Forms for Excel doesn't support Quiz yet. There are techinal issues we need to solve which takes time.

Yes, we do have Quiz support in our plan.

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Brass Contributor

@Zhongzhong Li Hello! I try to duplicate the form again and add 2 responses. When I open in excel, the columns are still not in order, and it doesn't show the responses. Where can I send the URL for troubleshoot? 

 

Thanks!

 

Microsoft

Hi @Esther Ida Krisanti,

 

When you open the form, you could copy the web address in your browser. The URL contain your form ID, which will help us investigate the issue.

 

BTW, have you re-ordered questions in your form? There are tech limitation that re-order questions in form won't change the column order in Excel workbook.

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Brass Contributor

Hi @Zhongzhong Li,

My original form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/DesignPage.aspx?origin=shell#FormId=-f4kkNesmkqY0bciW2fPJMBxH9wZCL1Gv...

 

The copy version of the original form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/DesignPage.aspx?origin=shell#FormId=-f4kkNesmkqY0bciW2fPJMBxH9wZCL1Gv...

 

I didn't reorder the questions. Yes, I have noticed that re-order questions in form won't change the column order. Have tried it already several times. 

Thanks for your help and looking forward for your response! 

 

Regards,

Esther

 

Deleted
Not applicable

From an admin's perspective within a business, is it possible to see all forms and their responses created without them personally being shared with me? This would be helpful for us in terms of DLP as well as if someone leaves the company and had created Forms during their time here. 

 

Thank you!

Copper Contributor

Is there any plans on expanding the field types and formats? like drop down boxes, numeric fields or formula fields? I have to say it's very disappointing some of these basics have been missed or intentionally not included.

Copper Contributor

I have created one survey and users are able to respond to it. But I observe that they can respond to it at multiple times. Can we prevent it?

Copper Contributor

Great news!

Although I am really excited about this long-awaited feature coming to Office suit, but I am really sad for free plan users that cannot benefit from this outstanding addition to office. Since Google as a rival for MS Office provides all users with similar feature at no cost. Office Forms I think should be available for Office Online users with limitations in number of surveys per month or other considerations..

Thank every one who contributed making this feature come true.

Microsoft

Hi @Daniel Cvetkovic,

 

We have combined question types to provide simple solution.

For example, if you have more than 6 options in the choice question, it will be automatically shown as a drop down control. Numeric fields could be setup after you enable "restriction" for a text field question. And we are adding more features in Microsoft Forms.

 

Please let us know anything we could help.

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

 

Microsoft

Hi @Rajendra Manke,

 

You could find setting page in the "..." menu of your form. There is a setting for "one response per person".

I hope that could solve your problem.

 

one response.png

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Microsoft

Hi @Shahab Abbaszadeh,

 

Microsoft Forms is a new product, it is still under "Preview" for O365 business customers. Our next step is refining the product and removing the "Preview" label.

Consumer customers are also important for Office, it is a key item in our roadmap.

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Microsoft

Hi @Deleted, DLP support is in our plan.

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Copper Contributor

 Like Randy Watkins asked in September, can you convert Excel Survey files to Forms for Excel?  I really don't care to redo the survey I made before this transition if possible, thanks!

Copper Contributor

Hello,

 

Following up on Rajendra Manke's question, what if you want to limit it to one response from those to whom you sent a link?  In our case we want to make a form during a class we will give to our customers and they won't be in our "organization". I assume we'd give them access via the link, but only want one reply.  Of course, we'll put that in the form, but is there any other way to make sure we receive one response (something like setting a maximum number of responses for the survey (as an example?)

Brass Contributor

Hi @Zhongzhong Li,

Recall my message on 01 Nov, I still have problem when copy the form (the columns in the response file (excel) are not in order). 

Here are the URL (I copy from the browser as you suggested before):

My original form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/DesignPage.aspx?auth_pvr=OrgId&auth_upn=esther.krisanti@uph.edu&origi...

The copy version of the original form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/DesignPage.aspx?auth_pvr=OrgId&auth_upn=esther.krisanti@uph.edu&origi...

 

I have tried to re-copy other forms for excel several times before I came to this post. And this case (the columns are not in order in the copied file) always happen. So, if I have to create 20 forms for excel, I always create it one by one. It requires a huge amount of repetitive tasks.

Could you please help me in this case?

 

Thank you! 

Copper Contributor

Is there a way to convert a normal FROM into an Excel Form such that I can get the option of opening the answer o Excel online 

 

Thanks

h.meligy@ieee.org  

Copper Contributor

I would like to be able to save a workbook with xltm extension in excel online so that a vba code sends automatic responses to the partipants of the research.

 

Help me please!

 

Thanks

Brass Contributor

It took me one hole day to create a very complex form with Microsoft forms and now I learned the responses are stored somewhere where I cant have an excel file stored in OneDreive with the responses synced to it and where I can make some formulas and comments.

 

Is there a way to move this Form created with Microsoft Forms to OneDrive or Excel Online so I can have my data in an Excel file where I can add comments and formulas to responses? I see many people are asking about this and I voted for this in the community, but I cant find an answer to weather this is possible or not?

Copper Contributor

Yes. Even I wanted convert normal Microsoft Form to 'Form for Excel' type. Will that be possible ? 

Copper Contributor

I cant see that option coming to my share point New option. I have Office 365 Business Essentials - Am I missing something here - how can I get the New Forms for excel option on SharePoint?

 
Microsoft

Hi @Hema Rao,

 

Today, you could only create Forms for Excel in OneDrive for Business and O365 group backed team site.

It is a common ask to provide the live data connection with Excel for all the forms, which is already in our backlog.

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Microsoft

Hi @Anil Shrestha,

 

Could you find "Forms for Excel" in your OneDrive for Business?

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Copper Contributor

We've created a few forms and have been very happy with the simplicity of the interface! In the process, we have a form whose data extraction to Excel gets weird - e.g. inserts a bunch of empty lines either in replacement of a response or maybe as a bug - is there documentation somewhere of the actions that can make the data extraction weird like re-ordering questions or something?

Copper Contributor

Hi @Zhongzhong Li,

we have created a Form for Excel in a Sharepoint Team Site document library and now we want to copy that 20 times.

We need a different Excel file as host for every Forms answers, and all the Forms has the same questions.

We can't believe there isn't a way of doing that (from our test if you copy Excel file you lose the Form, and if you copy the Form you lose the Excel).

 

Any solution?

Thank you.

Microsoft

Hi @Brendan Horner,

 

Thanks for reaching out.

Could you send me the form URL in private message so we could do further investigation?

For the empty line, do you mind to send me a screenshot?

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Microsoft

Hi @Marco Zoni,

 

The feature you asked is in our backlog. 

I will send private mail to follow up with you to understand the your scenario.

 

Regards,

Zhongzhong

Copper Contributor

I created a form from an Excel file in an O365 group.  I tested it to be working fine wih responses populating.  After going back into the form to make numerous edits (changing Choice field to Multi Select, adding a branch, etc) the Excel file stopped updating and the link appears to be broken.  If I go into the Responses tab on the Form we can see there are new responses, but they are not being recorded in the spreadheet anymore. 

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