---
title: "GravityExport: Splitting complex fields in Multiple Columns"
date: 2026-04-23
author: "GravityKit"
link: "https://www.gravitykit.com/docs/gravityexport/gravityexport-splitting-complex-fields-in-multiple-columns/"
---

By default, complex fields like the Name, Address, and other fields that contain sub-fields get combined into one column during export. This is often not useful, especially for data analysis.

**With the Multiple Columns setting disabled:**

| Entry ID | Name |

|---|---|
| 1 | Miss   Alice   in   Wonderland   PhD |
| 2 | Mr.   Bob   Sponge   Squarepants   Ms |

Notice how all the sub-fields of the Name field are combined into one column.

**With the Multiple Columns setting enabled:**

| Entry ID | Prefix | First | Middle | Last | Suffix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miss | Alice | in | Wonderland | PhD |
| 2 | Mr. | Bob | Sponge | Squarepants | Ms |

When using GravityExport Lite, this setting is available in the GravityExport's Settings tab on the Gravity Forms' Settings page.

![Settings menu with GravityExport selected, showing option to split multi-fields into multiple columns enabled](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/file-TiqP8SjNrk.png)

## Checkbox Fields

The Multiple Columns setting only applies to Name and Address fields by default. If you need to split checkbox fields into separate columns, see [How to Export Checkbox Fields as Separate Columns](https://www.gravitykit.com/docs/gravityexport/how-to-export-checkbox-fields-as-separate-columns-in-gravityexport/).

## Changing the separator character

By default, when the Multiple Columns setting is disabled, sub-field values are combined using line breaks. If you prefer values to be separated by spaces instead (e.g., "Miss Alice in Wonderland PhD" on a single line), you can use the `gfexcel_field_value` filter to modify the output.

Add this code to your site ([learn where to put code samples](https://www.gravitykit.com/docs/gravityview/customizing-your-views/where-to-put-code-samples/)):

```
/**
 * Replaces line breaks with spaces in exported field values.
 *
 * When Multiple Columns is disabled, sub-field values are combined using
 * line breaks by default. This filter changes the separator to a space.
 *
 * @param mixed    $value    The field value being exported.
 * @param array    $entry    The entry being exported.
 * @param GF_Field $gf_field The Gravity Forms field object.
 *
 * @return mixed The modified field value.
 */
add_filter( 'gfexcel_field_value', function( $value, $entry, $gf_field ) {
    if ( is_string( $value ) ) {
        $value = str_replace( "\n", ' ', $value );
    }
    return $value;
}, 10, 3 );
```

```
/**
 * Replaces line breaks with spaces in exported field values.
 *
 * When Multiple Columns is disabled, sub-field values are combined using
 * line breaks by default. This filter changes the separator to a space.
 *
 * @param mixed    $value    The field value being exported.
 * @param array    $entry    The entry being exported.
 * @param GF_Field $gf_field The Gravity Forms field object.
 *
 * @return mixed The modified field value.
 */
add_filter( 'gfexcel_field_value', function( $value, $entry, $gf_field ) {
    if ( is_string( $value ) ) {
        $value = str_replace( "\n", ' ', $value );
    }
    return $value;
}, 10, 3 );
```

This code replaces all line breaks with spaces in exported field values.

**With the Multiple Columns setting disabled and the new lines replaced:**

| Entry ID | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Miss Alice in Wonderland PhD |
| 2 | Mr. Bob Sponge Squarepants Ms |

You can customize the separator to any character. For example, to use a comma and space:

```
/**
 * Replaces line breaks with spaces in exported field values.
 *
 * When Multiple Columns is disabled, sub-field values are combined using
 * line breaks by default. This filter changes the separator to a space.
 *
 * @param mixed    $value    The field value being exported.
 * @param array    $entry    The entry being exported.
 * @param GF_Field $gf_field The Gravity Forms field object.
 *
 * @return mixed The modified field value.
 */
add_filter( 'gfexcel_field_value', function( $value, $entry, $gf_field ) {
    if ( is_string( $value ) ) {
        $value = str_replace( "\n", ', ', $value );
    }
    return $value;
}, 10, 3 );
```

```
/**
 * Replaces line breaks with spaces in exported field values.
 *
 * When Multiple Columns is disabled, sub-field values are combined using
 * line breaks by default. This filter changes the separator to a space.
 *
 * @param mixed    $value    The field value being exported.
 * @param array    $entry    The entry being exported.
 * @param GF_Field $gf_field The Gravity Forms field object.
 *
 * @return mixed The modified field value.
 */
add_filter( 'gfexcel_field_value', function( $value, $entry, $gf_field ) {
    if ( is_string( $value ) ) {
        $value = str_replace( "\n", ', ', $value );
    }
    return $value;
}, 10, 3 );
```

| Entry ID | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Miss, Alice, in, Wonderland, PhD |
| 2 | Mr., Bob, Sponge, Squarepants, Ms |