Contact Form 7 (CF7) is a widely used WordPress plugin for creating forms. However, it doesn’t store form submissions in the database by default. This blog post will guide you through the process of using the “Advanced CF7 DB” plugin to store CF7 inquiries in a database and export them to Excel. For a visual walkthrough, check out our video tutorial.
Table of Contents
Features of Advanced CF7 DB
- Export and Import data in CSV file.
- Enable or disable columns display.
- Date range filter and Keyword search to filter entries easily.
- Easy to update each field label name.
- Drag and drop columns for sort order.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, ensure you have the following:
- A WordPress website with Contact Form 7 installed and activated.
- Administrative access to your WordPress dashboard.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Install and Activate Advanced CF7 DB
- Log in to Your WordPress Dashboard
- Access your WordPress admin panel by navigating to your website’s login page.
- Install the Plugin
- Go to Plugins > Add New.
- Search for “Advanced CF7 DB”.
- Click Install Now, then activate the plugin.
Step 2: Configure Advanced CF7 DB to Store Form Submissions
- Verify Plugin Installation
- After activation, you should see a new menu item called Advanced CF7 DB in your WordPress dashboard.
- Setup Your Contact Form
- Navigate to Contact > Contact Forms.
- Select the form you want to store submissions for and ensure it is properly configured with all necessary fields.
Step 3: Access Stored Form Submissions
- View Submissions
- Go to Advanced CF7 DB > Contact Form DB.
- You will see a list of forms. Click on the form name to view its submissions.
- Filter and Sort Entries
- Use the date range filter and keyword search to find specific entries.
- Enable or disable columns as needed for better viewing.
Step 4: Export Submissions to Excel
- Export Data
- In the Contact Form DB page, select the form for which you want to export data.
- Click on the Export to CSV button.
- Convert CSV to Excel
- Open the downloaded CSV file in Excel.
- Save the file as an Excel workbook (*.xlsx).
Detailed Steps and Tips
Step 1: Install and Activate Advanced CF7 DB
- Search and Install:
- In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New.
- Type “Advanced CF7 DB” in the search bar.
- Look for the plugin, click Install Now, and then Activate.
- Verify Installation:
- Check your dashboard for a new menu item called Advanced CF7 DB to confirm successful installation.
Step 2: Configure Advanced CF7 DB to Store Form Submissions
- Ensure Form Fields Are Set:
- Go to Contact > Contact Forms.
- Select and edit the form you want to store submissions for.
- Verify that all fields are correctly configured and labeled.
Step 3: Access Stored Form Submissions
- View Submissions:
- Navigate to Advanced CF7 DB > Contact Form DB.
- Click on the form name to view all stored entries.
- Use sorting and filtering options to manage data effectively.
Step 4: Export Submissions to Excel
- Download CSV:
- On the Advanced CF7 DB > Contact Form DB page, select the desired form.
- Click the Export to CSV button to download the data.
- Convert to Excel:
- Open the downloaded CSV file with Excel.
- Review the data and save the file as an Excel workbook (*.xlsx) for easier handling and compatibility.
Conclusion
Storing Contact Form 7 submissions in a database and exporting them to Excel is straightforward with the Advanced CF7 DB plugin. This process ensures that you never lose an inquiry and that all data is easily accessible for analysis or follow-up. Follow these steps to enhance your WordPress site’s functionality and streamline your form submission handling.
For a visual guide, check out our video tutorial to see each step in action. By using Advanced CF7 DB, you can ensure that no inquiry is lost and that all data is readily available for analysis or follow-up. Happy managing!
