New data column missing when linking Kobo to Power BI

[lucybattaglene]

Hi team wondering if anyone can help me here. I recent updated a form with a new question and since then have tried to link Kobo to PowerBI to create summaries. All my columns and data are showing apart from the new question I added last week. Any ideas why this would be? The form is redeployed and we have 100-120 submissions with data in this column. I can see the new column ad data is there when I download the form’s data in xls but can’t see it anywhere in Power BI. Am I forgetting to turn something on?

[Kal_Lam]

@lucybattaglene, this post discussed previously should help you solve your issue:

All columns do not appear when connecting to powerbi

Hi @tom.joseph I have gone through the communication trail above and I will narrow it to the last issue you raised as regards PowerBi. This is an issue with PowerBi and how it pulls the data. As you rightly pointed out, you need to have data in all the columns to fully defined how you want those columns displayed. However, you could try adapting the fix done in advanced editor I would also suggest you scheme through the following topics Stephane

[lucybattaglene]

Thanks @Kal_Lam so to confirm there in’t anything I need to do from the Kobo side of things in terms of the settings on the new question within the form? It is a linking error from Power BI I need to troubleshoot?

[Kal_Lam]

@lucybattaglene, maybe you will have to troubleshoot from the Power Bi side for this.

[lucybattaglene]

Thanks @Kal_Lam so if I can see my data column in the exported xls tables then there is no reason from my side to think Kobo isn’t functioning correctly and storing the submissions?

[Kal_Lam]

@lucybattaglene, OK in this case would you mind dong the following to see how this behaves:

• Create a dummy survey with say 4 variables.
• Deploy this survey and start collecting data.
• Submit the data collected to the server.
• Now connect your data from KoBoToolbox to Excel Power Query or Power Bi. You should see 4 variables that were added to the system.
• Now update your survey and add 1 more variable.
• Redeploy and start collecting data for the updated survey project.
• Submit the data collected to the server. In the server you should see all 5 variables.
• Now refresh your Excel Power Query or Power Bi. Are you able to see the updated variable here?

[lucybattaglene]

@Kal_Lam ok I can try now but the thing is I did not try to link to Power BI until AFTER I had made that additional question/column and new information.

But when we linked today the only column that isnt showing is my most recent one so that’s why I thought maybe I did something wrong with the new question. Does that make sense?

Will let you know how this test goes.

[lucybattaglene]

All worked from the suggestions above! Thank you!

[silasdasgupta]

I have found an alternative solution to show the newly adding column value. I applied the following steps:

1. deleted all the steps of query except the Source
2. From the transformation step, select “To Table”
3. Then expand the column

Then I found all the newly added column are showing with value.

Regards.