How do I export form data from my PDF?

First, open your form in Adobe Acrobat. Go to the 'Options' menu within the form tools. Select 'Export data' and choose the file type you want, like FDF, XML, or CSV. This saves your form's information into a separate file for easy use elsewhere.

Why would someone choose to flatten a PDF form?

To make the form's content permanent and prevent further changes to the fields. To ensure the form looks the same for everyone, regardless of their PDF viewer. To remove interactive elements for security or archiving purposes.

What is the difference between exporting form data and flattening a form?

Action What it does Result. Export form data Saves the information from form fields into a separate file (like FDF, XML, CSV). The original form remains interactive. You get a file with just the data. Flatten a form Changes the interactive form fields into fixed text on the page. The form fields are no longer editable. The form becomes a static document.

Maintain Searchable Submissions in Adobe Acrobat — How-to & AI prompts

AI prompts

2 ways to ask · copy any one

AExecute — “help me do it”Add Bates numbers to each site plan submission PDF, include the submission date in the stamp,…+

Add Bates numbers to each site plan submission PDF, include the submission date in the stamp, and save all numbered PDFs in a searchable review folder for the review team to track changes.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

BImprove — “do it better”Before publishing the submission set, make tracking instantaneous — apply consistent Bates…+

Before publishing the submission set, make tracking instantaneous — apply consistent Bates numbering and include submission date and version on the stamp, OCR each document so text is searchable, produce a CSV index mapping Bates ranges to submission metadata, and store the package in the shared review folder for reviewers to trace changes over time.

when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed.

How to do it

the tool · the steps · what to avoid

1
Open the PDF form you want to manage in Adobe Acrobat.
2
Select the Prepare Form tool from the right pane or the Tools center.
3
Click the More button in the toolbar and choose Manage Form Data.
4
Choose the desired action, such as Merge Data Files into Spreadsheet, Export Data, or Import Data.
5
Follow the prompts to select files or specify locations as required by your chosen action.
6
Complete the process by saving or opening the resulting file as prompted.
Best practiceFor large sets of responses, exporting form data to a spreadsheet can simplify analysis and backup.

In the appWith the API

You can quickly export or import form data using the Manage Form Data options in the Prepare Form tool.

This runs in the Acrobat app - there is no separate API for this task.

Glossary

words on this page

Flatten a formMake all form fields permanent and unchangeable by turning them into normal page text.ExampleYou flatten a form to ensure no one can change the information you typed into the fields.

Export dataTo save information from a form into a separate file.ExampleAfter filling out the survey, you can export data from the form into a separate text file.

Import dataLoad saved answers back into a PDF form to see or combine responses.ExampleYou can import data to see all the responses someone previously saved in a form.

Who does this

3 roles

Office AdministratorHR SpecialistProject Coordinator

FAQ

about this task

First, open your form in Adobe Acrobat.
Go to the 'Options' menu within the form tools.
Select 'Export data' and choose the file type you want, like FDF, XML, or CSV.
This saves your form's information into a separate file for easy use elsewhere.

Flattening a form means making its interactive fields become fixed text on the page. Imagine printing the form; the information you typed into the fields becomes part of the document itself, and you can no longer click or type into those areas. This makes the form's content permanent and prevents further editing of the fields.

If you flatten an XFA form, you will lose all its special features. This includes all interactive fields, any layers, buttons, and JavaScript code built into the form. The form becomes a simple, static document. It's a one-way process; once flattened, you cannot get these features back or edit the fields as interactive elements again. Always make a copy before flattening an XFA form if you need to keep the original interactive version.

To make the form's content permanent and prevent further changes to the fields.
To ensure the form looks the same for everyone, regardless of their PDF viewer.
To remove interactive elements for security or archiving purposes.

Action	What it does	Result
Export form data	Saves the information from form fields into a separate file (like FDF, XML, CSV).	The original form remains interactive. You get a file with just the data.
Flatten a form	Changes the interactive form fields into fixed text on the page.	The form fields are no longer editable. The form becomes a static document.

Maintain Searchable Submissions

When to use it

AI prompts

How to do it

Glossary

The real tasks

Who does this

FAQ

Sources

Adobe help