"Duplicate Column Header" error when updating form

[VickiG]

Hi:  I have been getting the error seen in the screenshot:  "Duplicate Column Header: Unknown" and have searched the forum here and tried to backtrack to before the error and I am having no luck figuring out what happened.

I was changing a few fields to integer from select one lists and reordering some of the choice lists before this happened.

I have looked over the form many times and can't see an actual duplicate column header...does this error message cryptically refer to something else? 😉

I am using Survey123 Connect Version 3.17.55

I have attached the error message and a copy of the form.

Thanks for any ideas anyone may have!

Vicki

[michaelmark865]

The "Duplicate Column Header" error typically occurs when you are working with a form or spreadsheet, and you are trying to update or modify the structure of the form or spreadsheet by adding a column with a header that matches the name of an existing column. This error is a protective measure to prevent data conflicts and maintain the integrity of the data.

Here are steps to resolve the "Duplicate Column Header" error:

1. Check for Duplicates: Review the headers of the columns in your form or spreadsheet. Ensure that there are no two columns with the exact same name. The headers must be unique to avoid conflicts.

[michaelmark865]

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[EricaNova]

I had this issue as well. I found out that, interestingly, survey123 will check for column headers in different worksheets within your xlsx form. I had created a new worksheet, named "delete_later" and had pasted in some data there in case I needed to refer to it later. One of the column headers was labeled "hidden" and that's the column I got the warning about. So maybe don't create extra worksheet tabs for this purpose!!

[DougBrowning]

You could do this by using Right click Paste Values instead then it will not bring over the formulas.