How to convert Word Docx into an Excel Spreadsheet....

[Seagoon]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

Hi,
I'm not that bright and am very new to Excel.

I have a questionnaire as a Word docx that I want to convert into an Excel file.
Is there any simple way Office 08 can do this or are there any tutorials on how it can be done manually?

Sorry for the lame question but any advice would be informative!
Cheers

 

[CyberTaz]

You can't simply "convert" a file from one type to another unless they are
of a similar kind - word processing & spreadsheet aren't. If you can provide
more specifics about the questionnaire as well as what your actual objective
is perhaps there are alternatives to consider.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Seagoon]

I thought a simple switch in file types wasn't possible, but held out hope 08 had something built in.

As per your request,
I have a questionnaire drawn up in Word (docx) and I would like to move it into an Excel file as the answers will be used in a survey. I would like to have this survey done over e-mail, so a savable & e-mailable file is important.
I'm primitive in the technology, thus haven't thought of working around this problem until now.

My guy who is doing the statistical analysis says Excel is best, but I dont know how to make a "text" file on Excel's spreadsheets (a good idea for a tutorial, if there is the will power -by the way, the tutorials on this site are really good!).
I'm not sure if this answers your question for "need to know more", but thanks for your attention and any help you can offer.

Seagoon

 

[CyberTaz]

Just wanted to be clear - we often see situations where the "Word document"
turns out to be a scanned form inserted as a graphic object

How is the document "drawn up"? Did you use Word's fields from the Forms
Toolbar to create a Protected Form? If so you don't need anything more...

When you receive the completed forms just use Word> Preferences> Save - Save
Data Only For Forms to generate the data as a Text File which can then be
imported into Excel. Distributing an Excel file to collect the data would
require completely constructing a new form from scratch & it doesn't make
much sense to distribute something like that for data collection without
going to great lengths to make it 'look' like fill-in-the-blanks form.

HTH |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Seagoon]

Thanks a lot Bob,

That was a good reply, and I gave it a shot -I really did. Unfortunately, nothing came up in Excel.

I saved it in Word as you said (above), I used all the Mac defaults & pre-selected options (i.e. I didn't change anything, I just went through it as it came up).
Tried to open it in Excel, went through the Text Import Wizard > Delimited was selected > Delimited by Tabs, then Column Data >General
Nothing.

Before I even got to the Import Wizard I noticed that the micro-shot of the file in the Finder window was blank.....
Sorry for being an idiot, but what did I do wrong here?

Thanks a ton!
Seagoon

 

[Mike Middleton]

Seagoon -

Suggestion: Use Survey Monkey or some other web-based questionnaire service
to gather the data. Download the survey data in Excel format from the
service. Then do the statistical analysis using Excel.

- Mike

http://www.MikeMiddleton.com

 

[CyberTaz]

I get the impression that the starting document was *not* designed as a Word
Form as described in my previous reply:

If Fields were not used to create an actual Form you simply have a Word doc
that people are editing to add their responses as normal text - there would
be nothing in the text file output from such a document. You may need to
recreate the questionnaire as a true Form or go with Mike's suggestion.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Seagoon]

Yes, you are right.
I didn't make a Form for this survey. I didn't even know what they were ....
Please recall, I never claimed to be smart.

I have since made a Form for this survey/questionnaire on Word, and it seems to have gone well.
But, a person I am working with asks that the survey be in Excel, so I have tried to A) import the Word Form into Excel using that Text file type recommended above &, failing that, B) remake the Form in Excel.

My problem with Excel for this is that I am totally new to Excel..... Secondly, on the Word Form I have created Drop-Down boxes for answer selection, but I cannot seem to do this in the Excel Form I am trying to make...
The List Box in Excel is not the same thing ....?
I dont know, but when I use it on the template the choices under the category do not 'hide', so I think that the List is fixed as always 'open'.

How can I make Drop-Down boxes in Excel like I can do in Word?

Am I confusing you? Is this too much detail in too many directions?

As for the Survey Monkey site, that is really good.
However, this survey is e-mail distributed to known participants, and the company that has agreed to cooperate is worried about privacy and such. Although it would make my life easier, I think sticking with the e-mail Form is the best way.

Seagoon

 

[Laroche J]

My problem with Excel for this is that I am totally new to Excel.....
Secondly, on the Word Form I have created Drop-Down boxes for answer
selection, but I cannot seem to do this in the Excel Form I am trying to
make...
....


How can I make Drop-Down boxes in Excel like I can do in Word?

To make drop-downs in Excel, select a cell (or a range of cells that will
feed from the same list of allowed answers), then go to Data, Validation.

As the validation criteria, Allow List and define the Source range where the
allowed answers are stored (they should be on another sheet that you'll hide
later).

Optionally, fill Input Message and Error Alert as you see fit.

JL
Mac OS X 10.4.11
Office v.X 10.1.9, Office 2008 trial

 

[CyberTaz]

Further to what JL suggests: If you're using the List Box Control from the
Forms Toolbar that's exactly what it's supposed to do - List Boxes are
designed to display a minimum of 3 items (rows) in the list with the
selected item highlighted. For an example of how they can be used take a
look in Excel> Preferences> Custom Lists - there are 2 of them there.

What you're looking for instead is the Combo Box Control which is comparable
to what is called a Drop-Down Form Field in Word. Word doesn't provide a
tool comparable to the List Box offered in Excel.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac