topic Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123? in Developers Questions

How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 22:55:32 GMT

Creating a package does not copy the value of the choice fields; it records the generic "choice1, choice2, choice3, ..." not my values or labels attached to the 'choice(s)'.

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

IsmaelChivite — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 13:01:08 GMT

Hi David. There is info about downloading Survey123 data in the https://community.esri.com/groups/survey123/blog/2015/11/10/downloading-data-captured-with-survey123-for-arcgis blog post. The reason why you see choice1, choice 2 etc is because these are the actual geodatabase domain values that get persisted when surveys are authored from the Web Designer. In the Web Designer, the labels you give to the choices in choice-lists are used to define the geodatabase coded value domain descriptions, but the actual geodatabase coded value domain values are automatically created with the convention choice0, choice1 etc

If you would like to have full control over the geodatabase coded value domain you will want to download your survey to Survey123 Connect for ArcGIS and define the coded value domain values in the XLSForm. This video describes how to create choice lists using XLSForms in Survey123 Connect for ArcGIS. Note that the Label column is used for the Descriptions, and the Name column for the actual values.

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 20:52:55 GMT

You are wonderful. Many thanks. I did copy the file, exported as a shape file and as a package. I eventually decided that I had to use Connect - but when I tried to change the actual geodatabase domain values in Connect, it gave me gave me an error. But I will try again knowing I am on the right track.

I saw my Web Designer version in Survey123 Connect, so I presume I can edit the Connect version (and save as a new survey)? Rather than recreating the whole anew?

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

IsmaelChivite — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 22:56:18 GMT

Hi. Once you download the survey you authored with Web Designer into Connect, you can either overwrite the survey or create a separate using the previous as a starting point. When changing the values keep in mind the following:

XLSForms does not like spaces in the NAME column of your choice lists. You will get a Warning, but you will be able to publish anyways.
If you change values in the NAME column, you need to make sure that any expression that references that NAME needs to be replaced. If you created 'rules' in Web Designer, you will want to look for this. Otherwise, you will get an error when validating.

Note that once you publish a survey from Survey123 Connect you can no longer use the survey to submit data from a web browser. Support for Survey123 Connect surveys from the web-based app is planned for version 2.1, which should be coming around May or so. At the moment, you can actually get your Connect surveys in the web, but only through technology that is in Beta. For details on this, you can check the Web Forms section in this blog post: https://community.esri.com/groups/survey123/blog/2017/02/24/survey123-for-arcgis-v-20-beta-available

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 23:16:56 GMT

I am so grateful.

The rub is in your first para. I cannot take that work. All the rest I was aware of - I had read your GeoNet. Thanks.

In Connect, I opened my most-recent web designer version. I opened the Excel version, saved to a new name. Edited one database field name (column 2). Saved . I then get the error message “Error converting XLSForm There has been a problem trying to replace $ with the Path to the survey element ‘field0’. …”

Clearly I am trying to edit the old version and I have not established a brand new and therefore unpublished and editable version. Why will it not me overwrite?

Re your 2. I do want to change the geodatabase field names (from the ‘field_0’ to my meaningful “Sitecode”). I have not knowingly made any further reference to be altered.

How do I overwrite or create a separate? The later seems a better option given the old works and has data attached.

Regards

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

IsmaelChivite — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 23:26:31 GMT

To clone your Web Designer survey: In the Survey Gallery in Connect, click on the small menu button in the lower-right corner of your survey and select: Create a new survey.

To overwrite your Web Designer survey: Open the survey preview and hit Publish

Given that you plan on changing field names, I recommend that you create a new survey.

By the way, I noticed you added your thread to the Developers Group. For future Survey123 specific questions you may want to post into the Survey123 for ArcGIS Group. You will get more visibility.

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 23:47:32 GMT

Ismael

I am making the cloned version work. Many thanks. Your image was a critical help.

Yes - I did initially go to the Developers Group, in my ignorance. Thanks for redirecting me.

I am also v troubled that the “Date now” puts a day earlier in the server version, though it is/was correct on the phone.

David

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

IsmaelChivite — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 00:00:14 GMT

When you use Date or DateTime questions in your survey, we store the user input in the Feature Service as a DateTime value in UTC. If you look at the values of your Feature Service from a Web Map, the DateTime value displayed should use your locale to determine the correct conversion. May you are looking at the data with a client that is not converting Date objects to local time... and what you are looking at is the UTC time.

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 00:06:44 GMT

I cannot make the cloned version work. In Excel, I alter one field name, save - and I get the same error message.

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

IsmaelChivite — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 00:11:54 GMT

Can you attach the XLSForm to this thread so I can have a look?

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 00:19:56 GMT

Ah - if do not save the Excel version but if I “Update survey from XLSForm…” I make progress. Thank goodness.

Re the DateNow issue - I am reporting that the Date now does not match the Time now - one might be in UTC (and is clearly ‘wrong’) but the Time now is local and correct. That apparent muddled mix is a problem. We are agreed I need to explore the UTC verse local times. Thank you - at least I know what to explore. Many thanks. David

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 03:16:57 GMT

Thank you, that is generous.

I think I have done the right things.

In Survey123 Connect (Mac)

My Survey Designs - On the Survey-project CameraTrap 6, create a new survey.

Create new survey from Camera Trap 3 copy - the last functioning survey-project. Give the clone a title.

New Survey-project icon displayed. Double Click

Form Preview displayed.

Click on spreadsheet icon - Open XLSForm spreadsheet.

Change the field names in column B , the GDB fields, from the generic “field_0, …. to properly formed 10-20 ch meaningful names.

Do not save exl spreadsheet but do click the Update survey XLSForm. Apparently updates.

Add a second picture field - image. Updates.

Have a look at Schema Preview. This does not match the revised XLSForm! Why not?

Form Preview does not match the revised XLS Form. No second image field.

I tried to publish but there Token error - more or less as expected because I had earlier got the error message previously reported.

Attached

- two error messages;

- My XLSForm, as requested

- my desktop

Thank you. I found the Web Designer a treat- that worked quickly and easily. The need to have my own copy drove me to try and backup. That exposed the difference between the Survey123-generated field names and list choices verses my labels. That forced me to try Connect to fix this issue and to give me access to a smarter form.

I think the only changes I made to last working version CameraTrap 3 copy and CameraTrap 6 is the change to the DB fields and the addition of a second image-photo field.

I am really grateful for your willingness to help.

David

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

IsmaelChivite — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 00:42:11 GMT

Hi,

attaching XLSForm with some changes.

You were getting an error because some expressions in the relevant column were till referencing the old field names.

I changed the type of question for Date Now from datetime to date. The reason is that if you plan to also add a separate question for the time it does not make sense to ask twice for the time. You could alternatively put the question type back to datetime and then remove the next time question. If you choose to go with a datetime question I suggest you set the value of the default column to now() rather than today(), because otherwise the datetime widget gets initialized to todays date at the beginning of the day, rather than the current date and time.

You may want to use the spinner appearance for your decimal questions. You can also use the multiline appearance in text questions where you want people to add lengthy descriptions.

In general, when working with Survey123 Connect you will want to always save changes in Microsoft Excel. This will ensure that the Preview is up to date. When you save the Excel file, Connect will attempt to update the preview immediately.

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 01:16:29 GMT

Thank you so much. Let me add these ideas. Originally (v 3) I used date now and time now but when I found the way the date was being displayed I began experimenting with Datetime now. I agree I do not need the redundancy in a final version.

Did you intend to attach your corrections to my Camera Trap 6? I cannot see the attachment.

I changed the field names and updated without getting an error. But when I went to publish I did get an error - because Survey123 found there were references to old field names. I presume I should have searched for the old field names to ensure there were unchanged instances?

I am very grateful for your support. It is a v impressive service.

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

IsmaelChivite — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 01:37:18 GMT

The attachment with my edits is in my last comment, but I will attach it again to this comment as well. It looks like you have things under control now anyways. The warning you are getting when attempting to publish is telling you that the feature service database schema in your XLSFile and the one in your already published feature service do not match. This is expected if you change the field names. Since you are publishing a survey that still people did not use to capture data, this should be no problem to you: Simply say that you understand that a new feature service will be created and proceed to publish. You should only worry about that message when you are publishing a survey on which people have been working and submitting data.

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 04:00:54 GMT

Ismael

This is so distressing. I cannot see the attachment in either emails. Is it in the GeoNet records not the email?

In the absence of your returned file, I tried to edit the EXL file I sent you

I made sure I changed all the field_x names everywhere in the spreadsheet.

But when I gave that file to Survey123 Connect, I got a flood of, well 10+, errors, warnings.

I hate having to ask for help finding the attachment, but I have to, if we are to gain from all your kindness.

David

PS I cannot see GeoNet at the moment but I fixing that.

Re: How do I backup the the server records for Survey123?

DavidNicholls — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 04:41:42 GMT

Update - I eventually got on to GeoNet and had no difficult finding the attachment - and I have successful opened it in Survey123 Connect. And the form preview looks like I expected and wanted. Many thanks. Let me analyse the changes made verses the ones I made.

I feel a lot better now. Thanks again for your time. And I got the messages on the Date specifications and the way Survey123 handles them.