Type hidden (XLSForm) not working (when trying to edit) in KoBoToolbox (Formbuilder)

[wroos]

Hello,
the hidden type form the XLSForm specification does not work (not implemented?) in KoBoToolbox. Why? - Update: Problem seems only in Formbuilder!
http://xlsform.org/en/#question-types

I would suggest to mention this difference to the spec also in http://xlsform.org/en/ref-table/

I know that calculate ( or relevant = false() ) could be used as workaround…
Kind regards

[Kal_Lam]

Hi @wroos,

Would you mind having a look at the hidden question type discussed earlier. It has been used to hide a question with auto-fill response.

Hide question option, with autofill

type name label required default text city City false City_name I am collecting data from cities and would like to have the city name already in the default, and hidden to the viewer of the survey. However when I export the file, the city name is blank, despite being in default. Is there any way to hide a question and autofill it? Thanks

Reference xlsform:
Hidden Question.xls (32.5 KB)

HAVE a GREAT DAY!

[wroos]

Dear @Kal_Lam,
thank you very much! (We searched for “hidden” in the community before.)

So, the problem is just (edit) with Formbuilder.

.

Side-note: To find out the several differences between features of Collect, Enketo/View, Edit/Formbuilder is frustrating (& time-loss) as user. Sorry.
KIND regards
Wolfgang

[Kal_Lam]

Hi @wroos,

Thanks for flagging this out! Will report it to our developers!

HAVE a GREAT DAY!

[wroos]

Hello @Kal_Lam,
I would like to come back to the problem, that Enketo/Preview creates an error for hidden type on form edit after XLSForm import (like with audit). If you save the edit (and download) the hidden fields are lost.
Everything is working fine with hidden, beside this, in KoBoCollect, Enketo and https://getodk.org/xlsform/.
Could you transfer this to the developers, please? Or should I make a bug post?

Hidden is part of the spec: http://xlsform.org/en/#question-types
But is also not mentioned in the https://xlsform.org/en/ref-table/

To use calculate type instead is not always a good solution, for example if you want to exclude a variable form print & report.
Kind regards
Wolfgang

[Kal_Lam]

Hi @wroos,

Thank you on tracking the issue. Kindly please be informed that it has already been informed to the developers on March 2020. Hope we will be seeing this in the form builder UI soon.

Have a great day!

[wroos]

Any GitHub link for follow-up, please?

[Kal_Lam]

Hi @wroos,

It’s in one of our private repositories. Though i am not able to share the link, you could see the record made here:

Have a great day!