# Enumerator Name Field **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [May 15, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/enumerator-name-field/2201 "2013-05-15T15:30:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ed\_FitzGerald](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@Ed\_FitzGerald](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Ed_FitzGerald)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/enumerator-name-field/2201/1 "2013-05-15T15:30:59Z")
Hello, I'm using XLSform and I would like to prepopulate a field for the enumerator's name so that they don't have to type it in on every new form instance. I couldn't find a way to pull data from completed forms stored on the device so, I thought about using the username specified on the settings page in Collect. I could just add this to the form metadata but I'd rather use this to prepopulate a text field. Is there a way to print ${username} as the default value for a text field? Thanks! -Ed ---
**Author:** ![crobert](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/crobert/32/1613_2.png) [@crobert](https://forum.getodk.org/u/crobert)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2013, 3:38pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/enumerator-name-field/2201/2 "2013-05-15T15:38:05Z")
Hi Ed, I don't know about getting the username into a text field, but we've had some success using a separate "login form" that enumerators fill out whenever they arrive at a location and start doing surveys. Here's how it works... They take a GPS reading, select which enumerator they are, and enter other details about their current location. Then, they fill out a bunch of household surveys using a different form. In both the login and the HH forms, we record the deviceid and the starttime. Finally, on the back-end (in Stata), we match every HH survey to its most recent login using the deviceid and starttime, merging the login-form data with the HH data. That way, enumerators don't need to re-enter information about themselves and their location with every HH survey. This strategy has worked well for us, but of course it requires good training to ensure that enumerators don't forget to login when they arrive at a new location (or when they start using a new device). A reminder in a note field at the beginning of the HH survey can help, I suppose. Best, Chris > **···** > > On Wed, May 15, 2013 at 5:30 PM, Ed FitzGerald wrote: > > > Hello, > > I'm using XLSform and I would like to prepopulate a field for the > > enumerator's name so that they don't have to type it in on every new form > > instance. I couldn't find a way to pull data from completed forms stored on > > the device so, I thought about using the username specified on the settings > > page in Collect. I could just add this to the form metadata but I'd rather > > use this to prepopulate a text field. Is there a way to print ${username} > > as the default value for a text field? > > > > Thanks! > > -Ed > > > > ## -- > > > > Post: [opendatakit@googlegroups.com](mailto:opendatakit@googlegroups.com) > > Unsubscribe: [opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com) > > Options: [http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en](http://groups.google.com/group/opendatakit?hl=en) > > > > * * * > > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "ODK Community" group. > > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > > email to [opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com](mailto:opendatakit+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com). > > For more options, visit [https://groups.google.com/groups/opt\_out](https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out). ---
**Author:** ![Eddy\_Rellum](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Eddy\_Rellum](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Eddy_Rellum)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/enumerator-name-field/2201/3 "2015-05-07T14:05:56Z")
Dear Ed, I have the same issue. People, is there already a solution for this? For many surveys, you don't have the names predefined (enumerators or respondents). Once a name is being used (implemented as a text field), it would be interesting (efficient) if this name can be used as a selection item or preloads into a text field in subsequent questions. Don't know if this is possible...? Thanks for the feedback! Kind regards, Eddy > **···** > > On Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 5:30:59 PM UTC+2, Ed FitzGerald wrote: \> \> Hello, \> I'm using XLSform and I would like to prepopulate a field for the \> enumerator's name so that they don't have to type it in on every new form \> instance. I couldn't find a way to pull data from completed forms stored on \> the device so, I thought about using the username specified on the settings \> page in Collect. I could just add this to the form metadata but I'd rather \> use this to prepopulate a text field. Is there a way to print ${username} \> as the default value for a text field? \> \> Thanks! \> -Ed \>