Does updating and redeploying a survey project during an ongoing data collection affect the dataset?

[stephanealoo]

Hi @wroos

I do hope you are keeping safe. Let me respond to each issue and @Kal_Lam can chime in.

@wroos

a) on export and

On export your data will be defined based on the latest form definition. Please note, you can get previous data downloaded as you may already know however, the format of columns will be determined by the latest version of the form.

@wroos

) on re-edit of the previous data on the server:

• if a type is changed, like text to date?

Changes on the data type affect the export such that the predominant definition takes defines the export definition e.g. when text data exists in a date column for excel, the data will be defined as text on export. As you rightly noted, changing the type definitely get so messy.

@wroos

if a new calculation is added?

The calculation will only be effected on data collected using the form with the added calculation.

@wroos

if a new relevant is added?

Data collected previously before the relevant will not take the new relevant definition.

@wroos

if a constraint is added or changed?

Same to relevant, the constraint would not be applied to what was collected before the constraint was added.

@wroos

if a choice item is added or removed?

You can do this, but be very keen not to mix the codes e.g. if your initial response options were

1. for Handwashing
   2 for Wearing a mask
   3 for Using sanitizer

Be sure not to mix up when you remove something like wearing a mask and you end up with
1 for Handwashing
2 for using Sanitizer

In this case all data previously collected as 2 will now appear as using sanitizer.

Regards
Stephane