topic Re: Will Adding To Survey123 Connect Overwrite Data or Change Links? in ArcGIS Survey123 Questions

Will Adding To Survey123 Connect Overwrite Data or Change Links?

GRmapper — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 17:03:38 GMT

Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this but really appreciate all that I've seen so far.

I was given a task to add a new entry in an existing dropdown on a form created with Survey123 Connect. There is no new field being added, just another choice in the dropdown is being added. Now that I know Survey123 requires me to update the form using the .XLS because the original was created using Connect I want to be sure I am doing this correctly. My steps are:

1) Go to the survey in my AGO organization.

2) Download the survey into my Survey123 Connect app on my machine.

3) Edit the .XLS to add the new dropdown entry.

And then here is where I am less confident.

If I publish the updated .XLS back up will 1) any data already collected by the form go away?, 2) will the link currently being used by my team change?, 3) will any dashboards that use the associated feature layers or services no longer know about the updated survey?

Likely these are very simple questions. I just don't yet have the understanding to know exactly what will happen. I hope with publishing it just update the survey and all continue to work flawlessly.

Thanks in advance!!

Re: Will Adding To Survey123 Connect Overwrite Data or Change Links?

AllanBrown — Fri, 24 Dec 2021 22:16:38 GMT

Yes that is correct. Happens a lot as your survey questions become mature

Re: Will Adding To Survey123 Connect Overwrite Data or Change Links?

GRmapper — Sat, 25 Dec 2021 03:54:51 GMT

Thanks Allan. So to be clear you answered yes to the notion that editing with the connector app and republishing simply updates the survey and makes no changes to existing data or links. And the issues I listed in 1), 2) and 3) aren’t concerns? Thanks again.

Re: Will Adding To Survey123 Connect Overwrite Data or Change Links?

Kanin — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 10:09:47 GMT

Hello Greg,

Generally, adding new rows for choices or drop-down entries won't affect existing data. However, deleting or altering choices and questions could affect the data. If you are simply adding a new choice, there should be no issues. E.g.
- BEFORE: Washington, Oregon, California
- AFTER: Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada
The feature layer item ID and feature service URL will not change if you overwrite the form.
Because of #2, your dashboard won't be affected as it is referencing the same URL via the web map. Although you may need to refresh the data in elements/charts/selectors by loading the categories again.

Hope this helps!

Best regards,
Kanin

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Re: Will Adding To Survey123 Connect Overwrite Data or Change Links?

GRmapper — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 10:44:38 GMT

Thank You Kanin. Very detailed and very helpful.

Re: Will Adding To Survey123 Connect Overwrite Data or Change Links?

Kanin — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 10:46:29 GMT

The pleasure is all mine, Greg!

BR,
Kanin