Getting your submission data out of Fillin Forge is straightforward. Whether you need a spreadsheet for analysis, a report for your team, or a formatted record for a single submission, Fillin Forge has you covered. Exporting is essential for reporting, backup, data analysis, and sharing form data with people who do not have access to your WordPress dashboard.
Data sitting in your dashboard is useful for day-to-day review, but exporting unlocks its full potential. You can sort, filter, chart, and share exported data in ways that the dashboard interface cannot match.
CSV Export (Bulk Data)
CSV export gives you all submissions for a form in a spreadsheet file that opens in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers, or any spreadsheet tool.
- Go to Fillin Forge > Submissions.
- Use the dropdown at the top to select the form you want to export.
- Click Export CSV at the top of the submissions list.
- A .csv file downloads to your computer.
- Open it in your spreadsheet application of choice.
- The first row contains the column headers. Each subsequent row is one submission.
The CSV file includes one row per submission. The first columns are ID, Date, Status and IP, followed by one column per user-facing field, headed by the field label. Internal/system fields such as payment metadata bags are hidden; Stripe submissions include readable Payment status, Payment amount, and Payment date columns instead (and a Payment note beside the status when the payment is not confirmed, not paid, or paid for another amount).
What You Can Do with Exported Data
| Use case | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Analyze trends | Sort by date, filter by field values, create pivot tables in Excel or Sheets |
| Share with your team | Email the CSV or upload to a shared drive |
| Import into a CRM | Most CRMs (Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho) accept CSV imports |
| Create visual reports | Use charts and graphs in Excel or Google Sheets |
| Backup your data | Periodic CSV exports serve as a secondary backup beyond your WordPress database |
| Feed into automation | Import into Zapier, Make, or custom scripts for further processing |
PDF Download (Individual Submissions)
For a single submission, you can generate a formatted PDF document.
- Go to Fillin Forge > Submissions.
- Find the submission you want.
- Click the PDF button next to it.
- A PDF file downloads or opens in your browser’s PDF viewer, depending on your browser settings.
- Save the file from the viewer if your browser opens it inline.
On a site with Fillin Forge Pro, the fields of the submission are sent to our API to build the PDF; if our API cannot be reached, the PDF is built on your site.
Real-world example: You are an event planner. After a corporate event, you export all registration submissions to CSV, open it in Google Sheets, and create a pivot table showing how many attendees chose each session. You also generate individual PDFs for VIP registrations to share with the venue coordinator.> Tip: Export CSV regularly if your form data is business-critical. While submissions are stored in your WordPress database and included in your backups, having an external copy in a spreadsheet provides an extra layer of protection.
> Good to know: Both CSV export and PDF print are available in the free version. You do not need PRO to export your data.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Opening CSV files in a plain text editor. CSV files are meant for spreadsheet applications. Open them in Excel, Google Sheets, or Numbers for proper formatting.
- Forgetting that exported data is a snapshot. If new submissions arrive after you export, they are not in your file. Export again when you need fresh data.
[Screenshot: The Submissions page with the Export CSV button highlighted at the top]
—