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Enter Data into Google Spreadsheets via Custom Forms
Posted by Gina Trapani at 10:38 AM on February 7, 2008
Google adds an interesting new feature to its online spreadsheets product: the ability to create and share an entry form with others for collecting information (versus giving them full access to the spreadsheet itself). Looks useful for surveys or any kind of easy information collection for a large number of people. Now that you don't have to be a Gmail user to use Google Docs (and Spreadsheets), it's open to everyone, too. To make a form for a spreadsheet, in the Share tab, check the "to fill out a form" option under "Invite people."
Tags: google | google docs | spreadsheets
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
XSteveMurphy
Posted 2:43 PM 7/2/08
And if they can't get an iPhone compatible Google Spreadsheet going, can they at least make the forms iPhone compatible? That would be useful.
XSteveMurphy
Daniel Milner
Posted 2:43 PM 7/2/08
I like this feature, but it'd be nice if they allowed you to reset the form in case you mess something up. (If for example, you delete a field...there's no easy way to get it back.) Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Daniel Milner
xxdesmus
Posted 3:42 PM 7/2/08
Or you could just use Wufoo.com because it owns all other form creation tools available.
Wufoo.com +1
xxdesmus
darrylh
Posted 10:42 PM 7/2/08
How do you keep the incorrect information provided by your "users" from over-riding any correct information provided by other "users"?
darrylh
razordead
Posted 10:42 PM 7/2/08
That would be great if Wufoo were free. You only get 3 forms, 3 reports, 10 fields & 100 entries/month for free. After that, you have to pay.
razordead
Dr.Jeckyl
Posted 10:42 PM 7/2/08
With only testing this for 2 minutes I can already see many uses for this. Nice find.
Dr.Jeckyl
J. D. Harper (aka Blog Jones)
Posted 2:43 AM 8/2/08
You know what would be really cool? If you could embed a form in your own site with this.
But this is definitely pretty slick all on its own.
J. D. Harper (aka Blog Jones)
DanYHKim
Posted 4:43 AM 8/2/08
Zoho Create has a similar feature, in which a form can be created, then embedded on your blog or website. The data is then collected for you in a convenient table.
There's some ability to make pick lists, radio button sets and combo boxes, I think, so the forms can be quite sophisiticated
DanYHKim
kalleguld
Posted 4:43 AM 8/2/08
Wow, that's nice. Now how do you get the data into an iGoogle app like trendalyzer?
kalleguld
for_dprefect
Posted 12:41 PM 8/2/08
@XSteveMurphy:
I dunno what you are talking about. I got the forms working on my iPhone. I just wish I could add the date and not just rely on the timestamp.
for_dprefect
AutoSponge
Posted 10:42 AM 9/2/08
Biggest disappointment: the inability to create secure forms. I'd like to see an option to force google login prior to form access and then have the authenticated username entered next to the timestamp in the spreadsheet.
That would actually be hugely helpful for Google Apps-based sites.
Otherwise, I can't see ever using this.
AutoSponge
andymurd
Posted 2:57 AM 12/2/08
There's a lot of work needed for Google to beat Wufoo but this shows real promise. Loads of bloggers are familiar with MS Excel but scared of HTML and PHP so they'll be willing to experiment with these techniques - needs an easier way of embedding than an iframe, though.
Getting the results out can be tortuous too, as I found when I tried to create an online poll with Google forms - as described in the link below:
[www.mmmeeja.com]
I'm definitely looking forward to the new iteration of this tool.
andymurd
chaerani
Posted 10:47 AM 1/3/08
this is a great way to track and calculate my time usage because the form is easily accessible from my cellphone!
chaerani