# Ideas **URL:** https://forum.getodk.org/c/ideas/9.md [Latest](https://forum.getodk.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://forum.getodk.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://forum.getodk.org/tags.md) --- ## [About the Ideas category](https://forum.getodk.org/t/about-the-ideas-category/6667)
**Author:** [@getodk](https://forum.getodk.org/u/getodk)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 3, 2017, 5:23pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/about-the-ideas-category/6667 "2017-06-03T17:23:15Z")
Would you like to change something in ODK? Describe it here. The roadmap at getodk.org/roadmap has the ideas we're working on now. --- ## [Using MIME type to determine external app for media in Collect (re big-image)](https://forum.getodk.org/t/using-mime-type-to-determine-external-app-for-media-in-collect-re-big-image/58693)
**Author:** [@ahblake](https://forum.getodk.org/u/ahblake)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 20, 2026, 12:34am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/using-mime-type-to-determine-external-app-for-media-in-collect-re-big-image/58693 "2026-10-20T00:34:42Z")
Being able to put pdfs as the big-image file (with a png/jpg preview image) and then open these to zoom/pan &see additional pages is an unofficially supported use case, but it is extremely useful for me. (showcase) Pain… --- ## [Collect: Display media in the summary view](https://forum.getodk.org/t/collect-display-media-in-the-summary-view/46879)
**Author:** [@Aly\_Blenkin](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Aly_Blenkin)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/collect-display-media-in-the-summary-view/46879 "2026-10-19T19:58:13Z")
Our aim is to improve the user experience when viewing media in the summary or hierarchy view so that data collectors can verify the information is correct and feel confident when sending or viewing sent forms. We've he… --- ## [Read-only view for submissions in ODK Central](https://forum.getodk.org/t/read-only-view-for-submissions-in-odk-central/45637)
**Author:** [@Collin\_Schwantes](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Collin_Schwantes)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2026, 5:58am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/read-only-view-for-submissions-in-odk-central/45637 "2026-10-17T05:58:42Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. Would like to view form submissions in a read-only view. A project at my organization is using a log based data validation system that handles multiple data types well. The log… --- ## [Show geopoint summary in decimal degree format rather than in degrees/minutes/seconds](https://forum.getodk.org/t/show-geopoint-summary-in-decimal-degree-format-rather-than-in-degrees-minutes-seconds/36431)
**Author:** [@Olivier\_Poujade](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Olivier_Poujade)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2026, 11:22pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/show-geopoint-summary-in-decimal-degree-format-rather-than-in-degrees-minutes-seconds/36431 "2026-10-16T23:22:13Z")
Hi, 1. What is the general goal of the feature? It would be nice if we could choose the syntax of the position data format: actually : DD°MM'SS.S" new : DD.DDDDD° 2. What are some example use cases for this featu… --- ## [XLSForm expression delimiter syntax](https://forum.getodk.org/t/xlsform-expression-delimiter-syntax/58634)
**Author:** [@Lindsay\_Stevens\_Au](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Lindsay_Stevens_Au)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2026, 6:45pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/xlsform-expression-delimiter-syntax/58634 "2026-10-16T18:45:03Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? Currently, in labels user can write instance() expressions to pipe data from other question responses or secondary instances (including entities) into a question or choic… --- ## [Web Forms: jump quickly to specific questions or form end](https://forum.getodk.org/t/web-forms-jump-quickly-to-specific-questions-or-form-end/58659)
**Author:** [@alfonso](https://forum.getodk.org/u/alfonso)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 12, 2026, 5:19pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/web-forms-jump-quickly-to-specific-questions-or-form-end/58659 "2026-10-12T17:19:29Z")
The previous version (Enketo) had the functionality (similar to collect) to navigate to a specific question quickly. This is useful for editing in case a specific error has been identified. There was also the possibilit… --- ## [Sticky Top Percentage Progress Bar that Accounts for Skip Logic](https://forum.getodk.org/t/sticky-top-percentage-progress-bar-that-accounts-for-skip-logic/58653)
**Author:** [@Ebrahim](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Ebrahim)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2026, 7:01am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/sticky-top-percentage-progress-bar-that-accounts-for-skip-logic/58653 "2026-10-06T07:01:32Z")
What is the general goal of this feature? We need a native, "sticky" percentage progress bar positioned at the top of the interface in both ODK Collect (mobile) and Web Forms (Enketo). Currently, there is no native way t… --- ## [Support media attachments to Entities](https://forum.getodk.org/t/support-media-attachments-to-entities/58203)
**Author:** [@Pierre\_Floods](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Pierre_Floods)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2026, 1:43am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/support-media-attachments-to-entities/58203 "2026-10-01T01:43:43Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? It can sometimes be difficult to identify an object of interest (such as a tree or elements of a building) in the field using only a GPS coordinate or a text description.… --- ## [More compact image widget display in Collect](https://forum.getodk.org/t/more-compact-image-widget-display-in-collect/54087)
**Author:** [@ahblake](https://forum.getodk.org/u/ahblake)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 10:20pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/more-compact-image-widget-display-in-collect/54087 "2026-09-30T22:20:19Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? Fit more form content on screen and reduce scrolling up & down. Currently the image fills the entire screen width, so an unanswered image question in landscape on a hands… --- ## [Default to new Web Forms experience for new forms](https://forum.getodk.org/t/default-to-new-web-forms-experience-for-new-forms/58162)
**Author:** [@norlowski](https://forum.getodk.org/u/norlowski)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/default-to-new-web-forms-experience-for-new-forms/58162 "2026-09-30T19:20:36Z")
A reorganized form experience Forms will now be organized into three clearer sections: Published: the currently published version of the form Draft: unpublished changes you are actively working on History: previous … --- ## [Updating the location indicator to a modern "blue dot"](https://forum.getodk.org/t/updating-the-location-indicator-to-a-modern-blue-dot/57691)
**Author:** [@Aly\_Blenkin](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Aly_Blenkin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 7:18pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/updating-the-location-indicator-to-a-modern-blue-dot/57691 "2026-09-30T19:18:04Z")
We plan to update the location indicator (the current crosshair icon) to a modern blue dot with an accuracy radius. This change will be coming to both ODK Collect and Web Forms to help users better understand their po… --- ## [Ideas for image annotation in Web Forms](https://forum.getodk.org/t/ideas-for-image-annotation-in-web-forms/57994)
**Author:** [@Aly\_Blenkin](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Aly_Blenkin)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/ideas-for-image-annotation-in-web-forms/57994 "2026-09-30T19:17:06Z")
We’ve been working on user flows for annotation! Technically, drawing, signatures, and annotation share a lot of commonalities, so we’re exploring library options that set us up for long-term success. While the backen… --- ## [Limiting Entity access for App Users and Public Links](https://forum.getodk.org/t/limiting-entity-access-for-app-users-and-public-links/54386)
**Author:** [@norlowski](https://forum.getodk.org/u/norlowski)\ **Replies:** 29\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 7:08pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/limiting-entity-access-for-app-users-and-public-links/54386 "2026-09-30T19:08:25Z")
Currently, when a form has an Entity List attached, all Entities are always sent to all users that request the Entity List. For some projects, this is a significant barrier to adoption of Entities either because of priva… --- ## [Autosaving Web Forms](https://forum.getodk.org/t/autosaving-web-forms/58217)
**Author:** [@norlowski](https://forum.getodk.org/u/norlowski)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2026, 7:03pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/autosaving-web-forms/58217 "2026-09-28T19:03:33Z")
Hi everyone! We’re currently exploring autosaving and recovery behavior for Web Forms and would love feedback from the community before we finalize anything. The concept we're currently considering is to save a draft lo… --- ## [Display existing geometry when capturing new point/trace/shape on map](https://forum.getodk.org/t/display-existing-geometry-when-capturing-new-point-trace-shape-on-map/57427)
**Author:** [@Edmonds](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Edmonds)\ **Replies:** 54\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/display-existing-geometry-when-capturing-new-point-trace-shape-on-map/57427 "2026-09-24T16:38:55Z")
Hi all, I have a form in ODK collect where I use a ‘geoshape’ question to collect polygons. The polygons are then stored in an entity list. During a monitoring, we want to be able to modify the polygon (in ODK Collect) … --- ## [Small UI Improvement to Public Access Links on ODK Central](https://forum.getodk.org/t/small-ui-improvement-to-public-access-links-on-odk-central/58479)
**Author:** [@Tyler\_Depke](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Tyler_Depke)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/small-ui-improvement-to-public-access-links-on-odk-central/58479 "2026-09-21T19:20:08Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? Just a quick UI fix that would make things easier for users and would take minimal effort. I'm not sure why the access link needs to be in a scrollable text box, but the… --- ## [Use AI to do (species) recognition on photos](https://forum.getodk.org/t/use-ai-to-do-species-recognition-on-photos/58540)
**Author:** [@Edmonds](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Edmonds)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 9:17am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/use-ai-to-do-species-recognition-on-photos/58540 "2026-09-21T09:17:29Z")
Could we use AI to recognize for example species on photos? ObsIdentify is a great example. It however works online only (and is only for the Benelux countries). Especially for the landuse sector running AI on a photo da… --- ## [Help us rethink the Form Access page](https://forum.getodk.org/t/help-us-rethink-the-form-access-page/58560)
**Author:** [@norlowski](https://forum.getodk.org/u/norlowski)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/help-us-rethink-the-form-access-page/58560 "2026-09-15T19:14:06Z")
We’re exploring a redesign of the Form Access page in ODK Central and would love to get feedback from the ODK community! Today, Form Access uses a grid where app users are columns and forms are rows, with each cell cont… --- ## [Set color to polygons/geoshapes - select\_one from map choice](https://forum.getodk.org/t/set-color-to-polygons-geoshapes-select-one-from-map-choice/41580)
**Author:** [@Prashant\_K](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Prashant_K)\ **Replies:** 12\ **Last updated:** [August 20, 2026, 1:30pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/set-color-to-polygons-geoshapes-select-one-from-map-choice/41580 "2026-08-20T13:30:22Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. https://docs.getodk.org/form-question-types/#select-one-from-map-widget This feature works very well to display points and geoshapes. Color coding and symbols are possible for… --- ## [System wide "staging"/"quality assurance" app users](https://forum.getodk.org/t/system-wide-staging-quality-assurance-app-users/58486)
**Author:** [@didotb](https://forum.getodk.org/u/didotb)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/system-wide-staging-quality-assurance-app-users/58486 "2026-08-18T16:30:59Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? There are orgs which has a dedicated form QA which tests forms before those are published to interviewers. Not only is it such a hassle having them constantly switch acco… --- ## [Form design: grid of text or numeric input](https://forum.getodk.org/t/form-design-grid-of-text-or-numeric-input/13398)
**Author:** [@LN](https://forum.getodk.org/u/LN)\ **Replies:** 43\ **Last updated:** [August 7, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/form-design-grid-of-text-or-numeric-input/13398 "2026-08-07T16:09:00Z")
As a form designer, I want to be able to group several related text or numeric inputs into a grid so that they can be input quickly by enumerators. There are many kinds of forms that involve collecting several values of… --- ## [Provide S3 object keys as part of existing data export (csv download or API sync)](https://forum.getodk.org/t/provide-s3-object-keys-as-part-of-existing-data-export-csv-download-or-api-sync/58410)
**Author:** [@dawansv](https://forum.getodk.org/u/dawansv)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/provide-s3-object-keys-as-part-of-existing-data-export-csv-download-or-api-sync/58410 "2026-07-27T00:27:26Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? When using S3 compatible storage to save attachments, it might be useful at times to directly serve files from the s3 bucket, for instance when publishing results on a th… --- ## [Authenticated Web User Property Filtering for Field-to-Office Case Management](https://forum.getodk.org/t/authenticated-web-user-property-filtering-for-field-to-office-case-management/58406)
**Author:** [@Stephen\_K\_ojwang](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Stephen_K_ojwang)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 24, 2026, 6:49am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/authenticated-web-user-property-filtering-for-field-to-office-case-management/58406 "2026-07-24T06:49:00Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? In development and humanitarian fields, case management most times starts in the field and continues to back office. ODK cannot currently run secure, filtered web workflo… --- ## [Upload several photos at once from the gallery](https://forum.getodk.org/t/upload-several-photos-at-once-from-the-gallery/46892)
**Author:** [@Julian\_gp](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Julian_gp)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/upload-several-photos-at-once-from-the-gallery/46892 "2026-07-17T16:04:40Z")
Good morning, I have a form in which many images are collected, each one with a question. This becomes tedious because in each question you have to open the gallery and select the photo. Can't you select multiple imag… --- ## [Form-access page - difficult to manage app users](https://forum.getodk.org/t/form-access-page-difficult-to-manage-app-users/58378)
**Author:** [@chun\_hing\_yap](https://forum.getodk.org/u/chun_hing_yap)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2026, 12:59am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/form-access-page-difficult-to-manage-app-users/58378 "2026-07-15T00:59:01Z")
At form-access page, when hover on the form name, suggest to 1)increase the width of the box, allow version text reveals at full-length, may be limit to version text with 20 characters. 2)include form id At the checkb… --- ## [Encrypt and password-protect the blank form definition on the device](https://forum.getodk.org/t/encrypt-and-password-protect-the-blank-form-definition-on-the-device/58330)
**Author:** [@Rusti](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Rusti)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 9, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/encrypt-and-password-protect-the-blank-form-definition-on-the-device/58330 "2026-07-09T19:50:51Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? When a form is downloaded from the server (ODK Central or KoboToolbox) to a tablet running Collect, the blank form is stored on the device as plain XML. Anyone with physi… --- ## [Helm chart for running Central in Kubernetes](https://forum.getodk.org/t/helm-chart-for-running-central-in-kubernetes/54234)
**Author:** [@yanokwa](https://forum.getodk.org/u/yanokwa)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 8, 2026, 12:41pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/helm-chart-for-running-central-in-kubernetes/54234 "2026-07-08T12:41:54Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? Some users (@TobiasMcNulty, @Tino, @Florian\_May, @spwoodcock) have publicly expressed a desire to run ODK in Kubernetes and would like an official Helm chart. Upload any… --- ## [Entity List and Property deletion in Central](https://forum.getodk.org/t/entity-list-and-property-deletion-in-central/56893)
**Author:** [@norlowski](https://forum.getodk.org/u/norlowski)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 2, 2026, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/entity-list-and-property-deletion-in-central/56893 "2026-07-02T19:04:50Z")
We’re working on two new features in Central to make it easier to safely clean up Entity Lists and Properties. The first is Entity List deletion: You’ll be able to delete an Entity List, but only if it’s not referenced… --- ## [Direct Navigation to question-groups](https://forum.getodk.org/t/direct-navigation-to-question-groups/58304)
**Author:** [@Maggi](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Maggi)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2026, 12:13pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/direct-navigation-to-question-groups/58304 "2026-06-25T12:13:10Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? Navigation to custom Question/Group Any ideas on how ODK could help you solve it? Integrate navigaton bar with custom Question buttons Upload any helpful links, sketch… [Next page](https://forum.getodk.org/c/ideas/9.md?page=1)