CENTRL now supports exporting completed questionnaire answers directly into the original ILPA or AIMA template format. If your questionnaire was created from a standard ILPA or AIMA Centrl Template, you can export your answers back into that template's original layout — cutting reformatting time from hours to minutes.
About Original Format Export
When a questionnaire instance is created from a supported industry-standard template (for example, the ILPA Questionnaire 2.0 or an AIMA module template), it is automatically flagged as a standard-template questionnaire. This flag is what makes the Original Format export option available for that questionnaire.
Original Format export is only available for questionnaires created new from a standard ILPA/AIMA template. Existing questionnaires created before this feature became available are not eligible and will need to use the standard CENTRL export formats instead.
Note: If you edit the structure of a standard-template questionnaire — for example, adding, editing, or deleting a question or section — the questionnaire is delinked from its original template and Original Format export is no longer available. See Editing a Standard-Template Questionnaire below.
Exporting Your Answers in Original Format
- Navigate to the External RFPs & DDQs module.
- Next to a questionnaire you want to export, click Export.
- In the Export options modal, select Original Format.
- When you select Original Format, an informational banner appears letting you know that some formatting adjustments to the exported document may still be required.
- Click Export to generate and download the file.
Note: If Original Format is grayed out, the questionnaire has likely been edited since it was created and is no longer linked to its original template. Use one of the other available export formats instead.
What's Included in the Export
Original Format export currently supports the following answer types, mapped into their corresponding fields in the ILPA/AIMA template:
- Open-text answers
- Checkbox answers (single- and multi-select checkboxes)
- Table answers
- Multiselect answers
Unanswered or empty questions are exported as blank fields rather than causing an export error.
Note: The following are not currently included in Original Format export:
- Follow-up and sub-questions are not exported.
- Attachments, images, and other rich media included in an answer are not exported — only the text portion of the answer is included. An inline note in the exported document flags where content was omitted, and the Export modal displays a warning before you export.
- Comments on questions or answers are silently excluded from the export.
Editing a Standard-Template Questionnaire
Because Original Format export relies on your questionnaire matching the structure of the original ILPA/AIMA template, editing that structure will disable the export option.
If you attempt any of the following actions on a standard-template questionnaire, you'll see a warning before the change is applied:
- Adding a question or section
- Editing a question or section
- Reordering (arranging) a question
- Deleting a question, section, or subsection
The warning gives you two options:
- Continue — the edit is applied, and the questionnaire is delinked from its Centrl Template. Original Format export is then disabled for this questionnaire going forward. You can still export using the standard CENTRL export formats.
- Cancel — no changes are made. The questionnaire stays linked to its Centrl Template, and Original Format export remains available.
Note: Once a questionnaire is delinked, this cannot be undone. If you need Original Format export after editing a questionnaire, you'll need to start over from an unedited standard template.
FAQs
What happens if I edit an answer after exporting?
Editing answers after you've already exported doesn't affect the export file you downloaded. However, if you edit the questionnaire's structure (adding/removing/reordering questions or sections) and export again, you'll need to do so before making those structural changes, since Original Format export is disabled once the questionnaire is delinked.
Which templates are currently supported?
Original Format export currently supports the ILPA Questionnaire 2.0 and a set of AIMA module templates. Support for additional templates may be added over time — contact your CENTRL representative if you have a specific template you'd like to see supported.
Can I re-enable Original Format export after it's been disabled?
No. Once a questionnaire is delinked from its Centrl Template (by editing its structure), Original Format export cannot be re-enabled for that questionnaire. You would need to create a new questionnaire from the standard template.
Is this available for Portfolio Company (PC-side) questionnaires?
Not at this time. Original Format export is currently available in Response Management (CC-side) only.
What happens to attachments or images in my answers when I export?
Only the text portion of an answer is exported. Attachments, images, and other rich media are not included. The exported document includes an inline note wherever content was omitted, and you'll see a warning in the Export modal before you export.
Are comments included in the export?
No. Comments on questions or answers are not included in Original Format export.