Filter | Encryption | Table

If data is encrypted in a table, cant we filter it?

Also, if a table has few records which are encrypted but later, i remove the encryption, the old records still remain encrypted. Then , If i create a column based on a formula, example date_format (col_name, HH:MM), the new column shows 'Invalid data'.

How can this issue be solved so that filter can be applied and new formula column can be made, along with encryption?

Hi Amy,

Thanks for reaching out to us for help. Let me help you with that:

If data is encrypted in a Jotform table, the filter feature is disabled and cannot be applied to encrypted data. Also, if you remove encryption from a table, the old records that were encrypted will remain encrypted and this causes formula columns to show 'Invalid data' because they cannot process encrypted values.

Unfortunately, filtering and creating new formula columns alongside encryption is not supported due to the nature of data encryption in Jotform Tables.

To resolve this, you would need to decrypt the data first (by removing encryption and accessing the data with the access code) before applying filters or creating formula columns.

Let us know if you need further clarification.

Give it a try and let us know how it goes.

Hi Amy,

When a form is encrypted, the data stored in your Jotform Tables is also encrypted, which means filters and formula columns cannot process those entries. Even if you later disable encryption, the submissions that were originally encrypted will remain encrypted and will continue to show as, Invalid data, when used in formulas. This is because Jotform doesn’t retroactively decrypt old submissions once encryption is turned off.

Currently, filtering and creating new formula columns are only possible with non-encrypted data. If you need features like filters, date formatting, or calculations, the only workaround is to leave the form unencrypted or export the data while decrypted, using your access key, and then perform filtering or calculations outside of Jotform, such as in Excel or Google Sheets. For now, here are some workarounds:

1. Keep the form unencrypted if you plan to use Jotform’s built-in filters, sorting, and calculated columns.
2. Using your access key, you can decrypt and export data. Once exported to Excel or Google Sheets, you can apply filters, formatting, and formulas freely.
3. Use integrations like Google Sheets or Zapier to send decrypted data at the time of submission, so you can still apply filters and formulas outside of Jotform without losing functionality.

Due to the way encryption works, encrypted submissions already stored in Jotform can’t be converted back for use with filters or formulas. Moving forward, choosing between encryption and advanced table functions will depend on whether data privacy or data processing is your priority.

Give it a try and let us know if you have any other questions.