HomeDocumentationGravity Forms Schedule Entries ExportFAQ: Scheduled Entry Exports for Gravity Forms

FAQ: Scheduled Entry Exports for Gravity Forms

Frequently Asked Questions

Take a look at the most frequently asked questions for the Scheduled Entry Export for Gravity Forms. If you still have questions about this plugin, feel free to contact us.

What are the requirements to use this plugin?

To use this plugin, you must have the core Gravity Forms plugin installed and activated on your WordPress site. It requires at least Gravity Forms version 1.9.16, WordPress 5.0 or higher, and PHP 7.2 or higher.

Can I set up multiple different export schedules for a single form?

Yes! You can create multiple export schedules on a form-by-form basis. This allows you to send different data to different departments at different times.

How frequently can I schedule my data to be exported?

You can set the export frequency to run Hourly, Daily, Weekly, or Monthly. You can also configure the specific delivery day and time.

Do I have to export every single entry, or can I filter them?

You don’t have to export everything. You can utilize Gravity Forms Conditional Logic to only export entries that match specific criteria (for example, “Only export if Status is Complete”).

Can I send the export to multiple people?

Yes, you can send the batched CSV export to one or multiple email addresses. The plugin also fully supports CC and BCC fields.

How does the plugin handle the scheduling in the background?

The plugin utilizes the native WordPress Cron (WP-Cron) system to process the background schedules reliably without needing external services.

I set up a scheduled export feed, but I am not receiving any emails. Where should I start?

Because this plugin runs in the background and relies on your server’s email configuration, there are a few common reasons emails might not arrive. The best place to start is by enabling Gravity Forms Logging.
1. Go to Forms > Settings > Logging in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Ensure logging is turned on.
3. Wait for your scheduled export to run (or temporarily set it to run ‘Hourly’ to test it).
4. Go back to Forms > System Status > Logging and view the log for “Scheduled Entries Exports”.
This log will tell you if the background job triggered, if entries were found, if the CSV was created, and if WordPress successfully dispatched the email.

It seems like the scheduled export isn’t running at the exact time I set. Why is it delayed?

This plugin relies on the native WordPress Cron system (WP-Cron) to process background schedules. By default, WP-Cron only runs when someone visits your website. If your site has low traffic, the scheduled job may not run until the next time a user loads a page on your site.
For precise scheduling, you can disable the default WP-Cron and set up a “Real Server Cron Job” through your web host (cPanel, ServerPilot, etc.) to ping your site every 5-10 minutes.

I don’t want to email the file; can I send it to an FTP server or AWS S3 instead?

Yes! The plugin is highly extensible for developers. By using the gform_scheduled_exports_post_export action hook, you can intercept the background process at the very end and upload the generated CSV file to a third-party server (like an AWS S3 bucket or an FTP server) instead of, or in addition to, emailing it.

Can I customize the CSV formatting, such as changing headers or the delimiter?

Absolutely. The plugin includes several developer hooks. You can use the gform_scheduled_exports_csv_separator filter to change the delimiter (e.g., to a tab character), the gform_scheduled_exports_csv_headers filter to add, remove, or rename columns, and the gform_scheduled_exports_csv_row filter to alter specific row data.

We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. Read about how we use cookies and how you can control them in our Privacy Policy. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.