Sum() over calculate'ed values assumes they are Strings and concatenates

[JoseVidal]

In this simple survey:

type	name	label	calculation
begin repeat	group1	Group 1
decimal	repeated_decimal	Repeated Decimal Number
calculate	calculated_decimal		number(${repeated_decimal})
end repeat
decimal	sum_of_decimal	Sum of Decimal	round(sum(${calculated_decimal}),2)

the sum_of_decimal value ends up being the concatenation of the repeated_decimals, not the mathematical sum. It works OK if we sum() over repeated_decimal, but sum() assumes they are strings if over calculated_decimal

I tried adding number() in various places in the calculations, to no avail.

[DougBrowning]

Yep this is posted a lot.  In the bind type column set as decimal.  You do it in the main field no need for the calculate field.

[JoseVidal]

We need to use the "calculate" field, because of a problem with the survey app and refresh buttons.

So, is there any way to get sum() to add the numbers in a "calculate" field?

[DougBrowning · Accepted solution]

Ok you kinda lost me so I am attaching a sheet that shows you how.  You just need to set the bind type column to decimal.  Everything is a string while in 123 really until it uploads.  I know this sounds weird.  So you need to tell 123 to treat it as a decimal while in the form.  That is why it is doing a concat.

Edit :  Use a note to get around the refresh thing.  Then if you want the final value to store as a decimal use the bind esri field.  

See attached.

[JoseVidal]

Yes, that works! If I set bind::type of the calculate_decimal to decimal, as per below, then the sum() adds up the numbers. Thanks!

[ShannonPugh]

I don't have the bind::type column for some reason. Why would that be? Is it because I've had this survey for a while. It seems to be concatenating now, but it wasn't previously.

[DougBrowning]

Yes you would need to add any new columns manually if they are new.  This is fine for quick fixes.

Eventually you will prob want all the new drop down values etc.  See this post for 2 ways to do it.

https://community.esri.com/t5/arcgis-survey123-questions/how-do-i-update-xls-form-to-conicide-with-u...

Note the method I posted in there is now harder since the order of the columns is now a lot different.  Still not too difficult though.

Hope that helps

[ShannonPugh]

Thanks Doug, it helped tremendously. I had no idea that I could add the columns manually, but I did, and now the additions are working well. Thanks!