idea User Generated Dynamic Choice Lists from Repeat Answers in ArcGIS Survey123 Ideas

User Generated Dynamic Choice Lists from Repeat Answers

JohnDanahy — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 22:06:24 GMT

Hi All,

I have looked for this functionality but have not been able to find it so thought I would add it as an idea. If this is possible right now, I would love to learn how.

Using survey 123 Connect, I would like to have a way of generating a dynamic list of "choices" that is populated with answers from a previse text questions, potentially in a repeat. Essentially, I want a function that allows users to build there own pick-list and be able to use it later in the same survey. Having this list be user generated within the survey from survey answer is the key, as we already have functions to pull lists from external tables and data sources with Search() and Pulldata().

How I am trying to implement this is a data request form. Users will provide there own area of interest (AOI) shapes with custom names (i.e. cedar river, north field, and site 5) at the beginning of the form in a repeat. When the user is picking their the data types they need, they can select from a pick list what AOIs that applies to (i.e. imagery for cedar river and north field. LiDAR for north field and site 5). I'm sure there are lots of way to work around this with the current tools but functionality I am describing would be useful in a bunk of ways.

Another option would be the ability to calculate a value into the "name" and "labels" coulombs of the "choices" wordsheet so lists could be made from user inputs. if calculations were supported in these fields then more creative solutions to building dynamic choice list could be use (i.e. using a join() function to collate a repeats values, then building a list from then using regex).

Thanks!

Re: User Generated Dynamic Choice Lists from Repeat Answers

DougBrowning — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:02:17 GMT

I have seen regex work for this actually. Did you see this post from last week? https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-survey123-questions/refer-to-repeat-entry/m-p/1333755

I agree though now that the lists are stored in the SQLite DB it should be possible. The one I have been pushing for years is I want the list to track the number of times a choice has been made and then sort on that. The team said it should be possible but not done yet.

Hope that helps

Re: User Generated Dynamic Choice Lists from Repeat Answers

hsummers_scf — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:09:32 GMT

Hi @DougBrowning

I'm trying to understand your answer and use it in my scenario, and was wondering if you could provide some additional details. I looked at the answer you provided in the linked post above, but I don't quite understand how to use regex in this scenario. I want to take custom text values that a user writes in a repeat, and store them in a list for the user to"select_one" while still in the repeat. I tried to use the answer you provided in the linked post using regex, but I'm not sure what to put in "type" column since they are custom data, not a currently accessible list with a name and predefined values. I'm essentially hoping to make a dynamic choice list using custom text values that the user has typed into their survey. Is this possible using regex? Or using another method?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you!

Re: User Generated Dynamic Choice Lists from Repeat Answers

DougBrowning — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:17:02 GMT

@hsummers_scf It was not my trick so I am not positive.

But its something like

create a join() field of choice

join(",",${AddPlants})

then use that in the choice filter column like this

regex(${SpeciesListJoin}, name)

This assumes there is a master list that you are filtering. So it may not work for you since it sounds like yours is completely on the fly.

I cannot think of a way to do it really.

Re: User Generated Dynamic Choice Lists from Repeat Answers

AlfredBaldenweck — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:46:42 GMT

You could probably use some Javascript to make a list. Unfortunately, S123 still doesn't have an array or list type native to it.