How to setup form to create Google Spreadsheet with data instead of creating PDF of each submission?

How do I set up the form to populate a google drive excel instead of sending me individual .pdf's?

Based on what you have said you seem to have Google Drive integration set up on your form. This creates folder with the uploaded files and the PDF of each submission.

Now what you are looking for is Google Spreadsheet integration. It will create a spreadsheet on your Google Drive and will then update the same spreadsheet with the data from each submission.

You can see how to create the same by following these steps: How to Integrate Form with Google Spreadsheet

Do let us know how it goes.

very helpful.  Last question.  If I have 4 forms and want one google spreadsheet... is there any way to have 1 spreadsheet attach to multiple forms?

Unfortunately no, it would not be possible since each integration is made to a specific sheet (it creates its own sheet) and can not be updated by anything other than itself.