diff --git a/pybossa/util.py b/pybossa/util.py
index 1871e33c9b..e8ba3cadc1 100644
--- a/pybossa/util.py
+++ b/pybossa/util.py
@@ -1192,15 +1192,16 @@ def process_annex_load(tp_code, response_value):
     regex = r"(\w+)\.(loadDocument|loadDocumentLite)\s*\(\s*.*\s*(\))"
     matches = re.finditer(regex, tp_code)
     count = 0
-    for match in matches:  # maching for pure javascript Annex code
+    for match in matches:  # matching docx Annex code
         annex_tab = match[1]  # the first group: (\w+)
         code_to_append = f".then(() => {annex_tab}.loadAnnotationFromJson('{odfoa}'))"
         right_parenthesis_end = match.end(3) + len(code_to_append) * count  # the 3rd group: (\)) - exclusive
         tp_code = tp_code[:right_parenthesis_end] + code_to_append + tp_code[right_parenthesis_end:]
         count += 1
 
-    # Looking for code snippet like shell.setAttribute("hash", "abc");
-    regex = r"(\w+)\.setAttribute\(\"hash\",\s*\"\w+\"\);"
+    # Looking for code snippet like shell = document.getElementById("annex-viewer"); or
+    # shell = document.getElementById("shell-container");
+    regex = r"(\w+)\s*=\s*document\.getElementById\s*\(\s*('|\")?(annex-viewer|shell-container)('|\")?\s*\)\s*;"
     matches = re.finditer(regex, tp_code)
     count = 0
     for match in matches:
@@ -1273,7 +1274,17 @@ def process_table_component(tp_code, user_response, task):
                     break
                 existing_data = request_fields
             elif initial_data_str.strip().startswith("["):  # if it is a list
-                existing_data = json.loads(initial_data_str)
+                try:
+                    pattern = r"task\.info(\.\w+)+"
+                    for m in re.finditer(pattern, initial_data_str):
+                        old_str = m.group(0)
+                        new_str = extract_task_info_data(task, old_str)
+                        initial_data_str = initial_data_str.replace(old_str, new_str)
+                    existing_data = json.loads(initial_data_str)
+                except Exception as e:
+                    current_app.logger.error(
+                        'parsing initial_data_str: {} error: {}'.format(
+                            initial_data_str, str(e)))
 
             # merge existing_data into response_value
             for i in range(min(len(existing_data), len(response_values))):
@@ -1332,3 +1343,19 @@ def remove_element_attributes(page_element, attribute):
     for attr in attributes:
         if page_element.has_attr(attr):
             del page_element[attr]
+
+
+def extract_task_info_data(task, task_info_str):
+    """
+    Extract data from javascript string.
+    e.g. task.info.a.b -> task.info.get('a').get('b')
+
+    :param task: task object
+    :param task_info_str: javascript task info string
+    :return: JSON string
+    """
+    attributes = task_info_str.split(".")
+    request_fields = task.info
+    for attribute in attributes[2:]:  # skip "task" and "info"
+        request_fields = request_fields.get(attribute, {})
+    return json.dumps(request_fields)
diff --git a/test/test_util.py b/test/test_util.py
index cc09113bf3..acd67f6235 100644
--- a/test/test_util.py
+++ b/test/test_util.py
@@ -1155,6 +1155,27 @@ def test_process_table_component_with_initial_data_from_task(self):
                     </div>
                 
                 </table-element>
+                    <table-element
+                      :key='task.id'
+                      :data='[{"cusip":task.info.CUSIP,"refix_date":task.info.FLT_REFIX_DT,"c":task.info.c.d,"e":task.info.c.e}]'
+                      :columns='["cusip","refix_date","nested_data","c","e"]'
+                      :options='{
+                        "headings": {
+                            "cusip": "Report CUSIP",
+                            "refix_date": "Refix Date",
+                            "nested_data": "Nested Data",
+                            "c": "CCC",
+                            "e": "EEE"
+                        }
+                      }'
+                      column-id='__col_id'
+                      >
+                    </table-element>
+                    <table-element
+                      :key='task.id'
+                      :data='[{"cusip":bad_string}]'
+                      >
+                    </table-element>
                   <task-timer>2</task-timer>
                   </task-presenter>
                 </div>
@@ -1204,6 +1225,12 @@ def test_process_table_component_with_initial_data_from_task(self):
                               'hgrt_variable_type': 'MONEY'}
                          ]
                      },
+                     'CUSIP': 'Test Cusip',
+                     'FLT_REFIX_DT': ['test1', 'test2'],
+                     'c': {
+                         'd': 'nested d',
+                         "e": 123
+                     },
                      'ruleset_name': 'SR_Q1',
                      'work_item_completion_date': '3/24/2020'}
         result = util.process_table_component(tp_code, user_response, task)
@@ -1216,6 +1243,10 @@ def test_process_table_component_with_initial_data_from_task(self):
         assert expected_result in result
         assert ':initial-value="props.row.QC_Reason"' in result
         assert ':initial-value="props.row.QC_Notes"' in result
+        assert '"Test Cusip"' in result, result
+        assert '["test1", "test2"]' in result, result
+        assert '"nested d"' in result, result
+        assert '123' in result, result
 
     def test_get_first_existing_data(self):
         tag = BeautifulSoup('<b id="boldest">bold</b>', 'html.parser').b
@@ -1245,6 +1276,33 @@ def test_remove_element_attributes(self):
         assert not tag.has_attr(":id")
         assert not tag.has_attr("id")
 
+    @with_request_context
+    def test_extract_task_info_data(self):
+        project = ProjectFactory.create(published=True, id=1)
+        task = TaskFactory.create(id=101, project=project)
+
+        task.info = {'a': {'b': 'answer1'},
+                     'c': 'answer2',
+                     'd': ['hello', 'world'],
+                     'e': 123
+                     }
+
+        task_info_str = 'task.info.a.b'
+        res = util.extract_task_info_data(task, task_info_str)
+        assert res == '"answer1"', res
+
+        task_info_str = 'task.info.c'
+        res = util.extract_task_info_data(task, task_info_str)
+        assert res == '"answer2"', res
+
+        task_info_str = 'task.info.d'
+        res = util.extract_task_info_data(task, task_info_str)
+        assert res == '["hello", "world"]', res
+
+        task_info_str = 'task.info.e'
+        res = util.extract_task_info_data(task, task_info_str)
+        assert res == '123', res
+
 
 class TestIsReservedName(object):
     from test import flask_app as app