Change data type

[mislampritom]

I want to change the data type of a specific question from integer to text in KoBoToolbox. I already have data collected in that question, and I want to:

1. Keep the existing data in KoBo without losing anything
2. Allow future submissions to accept text input (e.g., longer numbers like mobile numbers)

Please guide me on how to safely change the data type while keeping all previously collected data intact.

[Kal_Lam]

Welcome to the community, @mislampritom! This community post discussed previously should help you solve your issue:

How do you edit a question type once it’s been added to a form?

@aldercar, please be informed that I have split your issue so we can have a single post for a single issue and it’s easy for the community to search for related issues when needed. As confirmed by @wroos, changing the question type from one question type to another is impossible through the formbuilder. You could, however, download your form as XLSForm and then change the question type as needed. But, we always advise you to try this out on a dummy project first so that you will know hoe the da…

But please try this out on a dummy project before you test it out in your real one.

[mislampritom]

@mislampritom

• Keep the existing data in KoBo without losing anything
• Allow future submissions to accept text input (e.g., longer numbers like mobile numbers)

I want to change the data type of a specific field in my existing KoBo form (e.g., from integer to text) by editing the XLS form. I understand how to make this change in the XLS file, but my concern is keeping all previously submitted data intact.

I do not want to create a new form or project. I want to continue using the existing form—which already has collected data—by simply updating the question type in the form. However, I am facing difficulties in replacing or updating the current form while retaining the existing data.

How can I safely update the question’s data type without losing any of the submitted responses in KoBoToolbox?

My queries are Keep the existing data in KoBo without losing anything and Allow future submissions to accept text input.

[Kal_Lam]

@mislampritom

but my concern is keeping all previously submitted data intact.

@mislampritom, please be informed that you will not lose your data after changing the question type from one question type to another. Instead a new variable is created at the end for the new question type. You may need to merge the two variables manually later on during the data management process.

But please try this on a dummy project before you implement to a new project so that you can understand the structure of how the data is saved on the server.