Excel Questionnaire Column Mapping Options

When importing or completing an Excel questionnaire, it’s important to map the correct question and answer columns to ensure Vanta can accurately extract data from the questionnaire. Vanta provides a variety of column types to support a wide range of questionnaire formats. 

 

Available column options

  • Skip this column - This column is not a question or answer column.
    • When to use: Use this option when the column is not used for the question or answer.  
  • Question - Column where the question is provided. 
    • When to use: Every questionnaire should have a maximum of 1 question column per sheet. Select this option in the column where the question is located.  
  • Answer (Yes, No, N/A) - Column where yes, no, or N/A answers are provided.
    • When to use: Most commonly used when the questionnaire has a column for a boolean answer (yes, no, N/A) and a separate column for further notes or explanation. 
  • Answer and explanation - Column where the full answer (yes, no, N/A, and explanation) is provided within one cell.
    • When to use: Most commonly used when the questionnaire has a single answer column.
  • Explanation - Column where answer notes or explanations are provided. 
    • When to use: Most commonly used when a questionnaire has separate columns for yes, no, N/A answers and a column for further notes or explanation.
  • Yes answers only - Column where only “Yes” answers are provided.
    • When to use: Most commonly used when a questionnaire has separate columns for yes, no, N/A answers and a column for further notes or explanation.
  • No answers only - Column where only “No” answers are provided.
    • When to use: Most commonly used when a questionnaire has separate columns for yes, no, N/A answers and a column for further notes or explanation.
  • N/A answers only - Column where only “N/A” answers are provided.
    • When to use: Most commonly used when a questionnaire has separate columns for yes, no, N/A answers and a column for further notes or explanation.

Common mapping scenarios

  • 2 columns: One question and one answer column
    • Which columns types to map: Question, Answer, and explanation
    • Example:
  • 3 columns: One question column, one column for yes, no, N/A answers, and one column for notes/explanation
    • Which columns types to map: Question, Answer (Yes, No, N/A), Explanation
    • Example:
  • 5 columns: One question column, one column for yes answers, one column for no answers, one column for N/A answers, and one column for notes/explanation
    • Which columns types to map: Question, Yes answers only, No answers only, N/A answers only, Explanation
    • Example:

 

Mapping columns for files with multiple sheets 

For questionnaires with multiple sheets, complete the column selection for each sheet as described above. If a sheet has no questions to answer, skip all columns in that sheet. 

 


Additional Information

Updated