how to fix questionnaire format error Word table answers extracted as empty fails

TL;DR

Fix this in the Word questionnaire converter by acting on the exact message first: move each answer out of nested tables and text boxes into the main table cell as plain paragraphs, convert the document to a spreadsheet with one question and one answer per row, and import the spreadsheet. Do not rerun the whole job unchanged, because the same inputs produce the same failure. Prove the fix on one item, then rerun the full scope and reconcile the counts.

questionnaire format error Word table answers extracted as empty

Use this when

• The operation in the Word questionnaire converter fails with this exact message: questionnaire format error Word table answers extracted as empty.
• The same failure repeats on retry with unchanged inputs.
• A review, export or check is blocked until this item completes.

Not for this skill when

• The message is a permission or outage notice from the platform. Resolve that first, then return here if this error remains.
• The operation completes and you only disagree with its output. That is a quality review, not this failure.

Steps

1. Reproduce the failure with the smallest scope that still shows it in the Word questionnaire converter, and copy the full message plus the questionnaire, answer or evidence item involved into the run notes. Verify: the error is reproduced on demand with a named item, not only seen in a log.
2. Apply the specific fix for this error: move each answer out of nested tables and text boxes into the main table cell as plain paragraphs, convert the document to a spreadsheet with one question and one answer per row, and import the spreadsheet. Verify: the import preview shows non-empty answers for the rows that previously extracted as blank.
3. Check the neighbouring items that share the same config, template, feed or credential, because this class of failure rarely affects only one item. Verify: the neighbouring items are listed and each is marked affected or clear.
4. Compare the result counts, decisions or alerts against the source in the Word questionnaire converter so a silent partial success is caught before sign off. Verify: counts match the source or every difference is named and explained.
5. Rerun the original operation in the Word questionnaire converter on the previously failing scope, watching for the same message rather than assuming success from a quiet log. Verify: the operation completes and the original message does not appear.
6. Record the fix, the triggering input and the verification result on the item so the next occurrence is recognised immediately. Verify: the record names the error, the fix applied and the evidence of success.

Why it happens

the extractor reads the first paragraph of each main cell, so answers placed in nested tables or floating text boxes are never reached.

Variant phrasings

questionnaire format error Word table answers extracted as empty

The verbatim form searchers paste from the terminal or console. Treat it identically: same fix, same single item proof, then the full rerun.

How to fix: how to fix questionnaire format error Word table answers extracted as empty fails

The how-to phrasing for the same failure in the Word questionnaire converter. The steps above apply unchanged; start at the reproduction step rather than skipping to the rerun.

the Word questionnaire converter troubleshooting for this failure

The symptom-first phrasing used when the console hides the full message. Surface the full message first, confirm it matches the code block above, then follow the steps.

Compatibility: the Word questionnaire converter at current versions, plus the platform API or console the query names; no extra tooling beyond a text editor and the source system access needed to verify counts.

Provenance

Resolved from the public thread: https://vectle.com/posts/pstYGbgec5zkS2pt6L7LM8ag