convertxlsform: Convert an XLSForm to a Word or PDF document

In convertxlsform: Convert an 'XLSForm' to a 'Word' or PDF Document

Convert an XLSForm to a Word or PDF document

Description

Reads an XLSForm (as used by Open Data Kit and KoboToolbox) and writes a formatted paper version for interviewing and review. The default output is a Word document next to the input file. A PDF is made by converting the Word document with LibreOffice (or Microsoft Word through the doconv package); see docx_to_pdf() and has_libreoffice().

Usage

convertxlsform(xlsform, output = NULL, format = NULL, lang = NULL, ...)

Arguments

xlsform	Path to an XLSForm (.xlsx, .xlsm or .xls).
output	Output file or folder, see Details. NULL (default) writes next to xlsform.
format	"docx", "pdf", "both" or c("docx", "pdf"). NULL (default) takes the format from the extension of output, and is "docx" when there is no such extension.
lang	Language to use: a code ("fr"), a name ("French") or the full header suffix ("French (fr)"). NULL (default) uses the default_language of the settings sheet, or the first language found. See xlsform_languages().
...	Further options, all named. Defaults are in brackets. nested_serial_numbers (TRUE): number questions inside groups as 1.1, 1.2; FALSE gives flat numbers 1, 2, 3. include_relevants (TRUE): show skip logic ("Ask if: ..."). include_constraints (TRUE): show constraints. include_hints (TRUE): show hints and guidance hints. include_choice_name (TRUE): show the choice code after each choice label. show_variable_names (FALSE): show the variable name of each question. include_hidden (FALSE): include hidden types such as calculate, start and end. media_root (folder of xlsform): where images, audio, video and external choice files are looked up. title (NULL): form title; overrides form_title of the settings sheet. page_size ("A4"): "A4" or "letter". orientation ("portrait"): "portrait" or "landscape". margins_in (1): page margins in inches, above 0 and at most 2. font_family ("Arial"): font for the document. font_size (11): base font size in points, 6 to 20. template (NULL): a reference .docx whose styles are used. max_choices (30): choice lists longer than this get a code box layout instead of a printed list. strings (NULL): named list overriding connective phrases such as "Ask if". repeat_copies (1): number of blank copies printed for each repeat group, 1 to 20. font_family_cs (NULL): font for complex scripts; chosen from the language when NULL. overwrite (FALSE): replace existing output files. verbose (TRUE): print progress messages.

Value

The path or paths of the files written, as a character vector, invisibly.

Where the file goes

• output = NULL: same folder and base name as xlsform, with the new extension.

• output is an existing folder: ⁠<base name>.<ext>⁠ inside it.

• output is a file path: used as given. Its extension (.docx or .pdf) sets format when format is NULL, and must agree with format otherwise.

• Two formats (format = c("docx", "pdf")) write two files with the same base name. With a file path in output, its extension is replaced.

An existing file is never replaced unless overwrite = TRUE.

See Also

xlsform_outline() to inspect a form before converting it, docx_to_pdf(), and cli() for the terminal.

Examples

path <- system.file("extdata", "minimal", "minimal.xlsx",
                    package = "convertxlsform")
out <- file.path(tempdir(), "minimal.docx")
convertxlsform(path, output = out, verbose = FALSE, overwrite = TRUE)


# A multilingual form: another language, flat question numbers, US letter
path_ml <- system.file("extdata", "multilang", "multilang.xlsx",
                       package = "convertxlsform")
convertxlsform(path_ml, output = tempdir(), lang = "bn",
               nested_serial_numbers = FALSE, page_size = "letter",
               verbose = FALSE, overwrite = TRUE)

# PDF needs LibreOffice
if (interactive() && has_libreoffice()) {
  convertxlsform(path, output = tempdir(), format = "pdf",
                 verbose = FALSE, overwrite = TRUE)
}

convertxlsform documentation built on Oct. 22, 2026, 1:07 a.m.