question about forms + updating data stored in google sheets

  • David
    Asked on June 18, 2020 at 2:03 PM

    Hello,

    I have a client who uses jotForm to collect information into a Google Sheet. It works fine, but in some cases they need to update or augment that information.  

    Is it possible to:

    1) create a form that loads data into a google sheet. then have a user run that same form, or a different form, and have the data that is already in the row/sheet pre-populated into the form? that way, if a user simply wanted to update the data for a certain record, they could bring up the form and it would all be filled out, they just need to add/change whatever is needed


    2) is it possible to have, say, 50 fields for each record and then have several forms that a user can launch, each form affecting a subset of the total number of fields, all of which will pre-populate any fields that already have values. 

    Any advice appreciated! thanks, David

  • John Support Team Lead
    Replied on June 18, 2020 at 3:57 PM

    1) create a form that loads data into a google sheet. then have a user run that same form, or a different form, and have the data that is already in the row/sheet pre-populated into the form? that way, if a user simply wanted to update the data for a certain record, they could bring up the form and it would all be filled out, they just need to add/change whatever is needed

    Unfortunately, the feature to pull data from external sources including Google Sheets to JotForm is not possible. But you can download the Google Sheet to an Excel spreadsheet, you may upload it to the form using Spreadsheet to Form widget to populate the form fields using a unique ID from the sheet.

    GUIDE: How-to-Use-the-Spreadsheet-to-Form-Widget

    2) is it possible to have, say, 50 fields for each record and then have several forms that a user can launch, each form affecting a subset of the total number of fields, all of which will pre-populate any fields that already have values. 

    If you mean different forms to use only one submission page, this isn't possible. A workaround for that is to integrate each form with Google Sheets. Then create a "MAIN" sheet that pulls the data from different integrated Sheets. You can use the IMPORTRANGE function of Google Sheets to do that. Here's a guide: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/3093340?hl=en