How to use field types in Excel or Google Sheets to import into Formaloo forms

To ensure smooth data import into Formaloo, it’s essential to set up field types correctly in your Excel or Google Sheets file.

This guide will walk you through preparing field names and types to create an organized, fully functional form in Formaloo.

Step 1: Prepare your data with field types

Each column in your Excel or Google Sheets file should include a field name and type.

The format should be Field Name (Field Type).

Formaloo will automatically recognize these fields and create corresponding form fields.

Supported field types and examples

Short Text: (text)
Example: Full Name (text)
Email: (email)
Example: Email Address (email)
Single-Choice: (choice)
Example: Preferred Contact Method (choice)
Multi-Choice: (multiple_select)
Example: Favorite Foods (multiple_select)
Dropdown: (dropdown)
Example: Country (dropdown)
Date: (date)
Example: Date of Birth (date)
Phone: (phone)
Example: Contact Number (phone)
Number: (number)
Example: Age (number)
Yes/No: (yes_no)
Example: Are you over 18? (yes_no)
Other Types: (list other types like long_text, website, file, etc., with examples)

Step 2: Set up choice and multi-choice fields

For choice and multiple_select fields, ensure the options are present in subsequent rows for Formaloo to recognize them. For example:

Preferred Contact Method (choice)
Email
Phone
Text Message

Step 3: Finalize and import your data

Excel files: Upload your prepared file in .xlsx format and make sure it doesn't have more than 10,000 cells.
Google Sheets: Ensure the sheet title is correctly formatted, then insert the URL during import.

📝 Additional insights:

Need help with the full import process?

If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide on importing data into Formaloo, check out our comprehensive tutorial: How to Import Data from Excel, Google Sheets, or Google Forms for a detailed walkthrough.

Troubleshoot tips

Make sure your rows match Formaloo’s validation.

Formaloo validates responses to make sure the entered data matches the field type. To make sure your responses match with Formaloo’s validation, check the following points:

The options inside the single-choice and multi-choice fields will be added from the responses (other rows). So if there are options no response has ever selected, you can add them in a new row to your spreadsheet or later in your formaloo.
The date format in your Excel file should be in this format: YYYY-MM-DD.
If you downloaded responses from your previous form builder solution, the files are on the source servers and won’t be moved to Formaloo’s servers in this import. Therefore, at version 1 of Formaloo importer, it only creates a file field with no responses inside. So instead, you can make this field a URL type to store the URL of your files from the previous tool.
The section and video fields will create a field of that type. But since they’re meta fields and don’t collect data, you’ll have to add content/link to them at the form editor when the import is completed.
If Formaloo doesn’t recognize the format of some of your responses, it will ignore them.

List of field types

Find the right field type for your import in the following table:

Short text field
Add text in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: Full name (text)

Email field
Add email in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: What’s your email address? (email)

Single-choice field*
Add choice in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: Which model do you prefer the most? (choice)

Multi-choice field*
Add multiple_select in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: What are your favorite snacks? (multiple_select)

Phone field
Add phone in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: What’s your contact number? (phone)

Number field
Add number in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: How old are you? (number)

Long text field
Add long_text in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: Write down your question here (long_text)

Dropdown field
Add dropdown in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: Which class are you registering for? (dropdown)

Date field
Add date in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: When’s the best available date to meet? (date)

Website Field
Add website in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: What’s your website URL? (website)

File field
Add file in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: Upload your photo here (file)

Time field
Add time in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: What time best suits you? (time)

Score or Net promoter score (NPS) field
Add score in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: How likely are you to recommend us? (score)

Matrix field

Add a matrix field

Example: matrix field (matrix)

Product field

Add a product field for your online order forms

Example: Product field (product)

Rating field

Example: How you feeling? (hearthrate)

Star or customer satisfaction (CSAT) field
Add a star in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: How happy are you with our products? (star)

Yes / No field
Add yes_no in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: Do you accept our terms of service? (yes_no)

Like / Dislike field
Add like_dislike in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: Do you like Marvel movies? (like_dislike)

City field
Add the city in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: Where are you located? (city)

Video field
Add meta/video in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: Watch our latest demo video (meta/video)

Phone verification field

Example: Verify your phone number(phone_verification)

Page break field

Example: (page_break)

Variable field

Example: (var_decimal)

Variable field

Example: (var_text)

Variable field

Example: (var_integer)

Custom Validation Field

Example: (regex)

Email verification field

Example: Verify your email address (email_verification)

Table field

Example: table field (table)

Hidden field
Add hidden in the parentheses in front of your field name
Example: User’s email (hidden)

For example, if a field asks for the user’s full name, you’ll have a cell in the first row that says Full name(text). As a result, Formaloo will add a short text field to your form and name it Full name.

Didn’t find the field type you have in your form? Choose the closest field type or suggest/vote on the field types we’re adding to Formaloo in our product roadmap.

How to use Formaloo SDK

How to connect Google Sheets to your form

Two-way sync your formaloo with Google Sheets

Form builder field types

How to Import data from Excel, Google Sheets, or Google Forms