Automatically generate multiple dummy submissions

Ideas
1

Hi ODK team and community,

I’d like to suggest a potential feature for future versions of ODK Collect: the ability to automatically generate multiple dummy submissions for a completed form with just a few clicks.

The idea is that after scanning or loading a form, a user could specify the number of test entries they want (e.g., 50), and ODK Collect would generate submissions that follow the form structure, constraints, and logic. This would be extremely helpful for:

  • Testing skip patterns and constraints

  • Identifying gaps or issues in form design

  • Stress-testing data collection workflows before real deployment

Currently, testing requires manually filling out each form or using external scripts(which may have its own isues), which can be time-consuming. Integrating this directly into ODK Collect could save time and make testing more accessible for all users.

I think this feature could benefit both new and experienced users and improve the overall QA process for form deployment.

1 Like
2

Hi @Mwaka,
We manage a large number of data collection forms and therefore face a significant testing workload before deploying them for field use. For forms with relatively simple structures, we have implemented automated bulk dummy data entry to test the ODK web forms (Enketo) using the Playwright library with Python. This approach helps streamline the testing process and allows us to validate form behavior more efficiently prior to field rollout.

1 Like
3

thanks…let me look into it