# Export / Publish submissions with multiple begin repeats

**URL:** <https://forum.getodk.org/t/export-publish-submissions-with-multiple-begin-repeats/1802>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [November 30, 2012, 8:50am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/export-publish-submissions-with-multiple-begin-repeats/1802 "2012-11-30T08:50:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![Mitch\_S](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Mitch\_S](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Mitch_S)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/export-publish-submissions-with-multiple-begin-repeats/1802/2 "2012-11-30T18:15:45Z")

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The link in Aggregate is only to the top-level form, but all the repeat  
data are being exported to fusion tables (or Google Spreadsheet). Go to  
your Google Drive ([https://drive.google.com](https://drive.google.com)). You will see all your  
published fusion tables and spreadsheets -- one for each top-level form  
publisher, and one for each repeat group within the form. The names of the  
fusion table exports correspond to the names of the repeat group elements  
in your form. The top-level form's name will be the name of the xml root  
element of your form.

Unfortunately, the naming of these files is less than ideal for grouping  
them up if you end up publishing multiple times. I generally rename them  
immediately after creating them so that I can keep which is which straight  
when setting up multiple publishers (e.g., with different filters).

Once you understand the collection of fusion tables that correspond to your  
one survey, you can use Fusion Table to merge them together.

To do that, open each repeat group in its own fusion tables tab. Starting  
with the most-nested:  
choose "Merge" and confirm that _parent\_uid_ is chosen.  
Paste the URL of the enclosing group into the 'Merge with" box. Click 'Get'  
confirm that the _meta-instance-id_ is selected.  
Give the combined table a name  
Click "Merge tables"

You now have a flattened view of your data.

ODK Aggregate's "Export to CSV" only outputs the top-level form. To get the  
repeat group data, you need to use ODK Briefcase to download a full copy of  
the data to your computer, then use ODK Briefcase's "Export" capability to  
export that data to CSV. Briefcase will create multiple CSV files, one for  
the top-level form data, and one for each repeat group within the form. It  
is then up to you to import these into Excel and join them together as you  
see fit. Unfortunately, this process does not support the filtering  
available in Aggregate.

Mitch

> **···**
>
> On Fri, Nov 30, 2012 at 12:50 AM, Wesley Roberts wrote:
> 
> > Dear group,
> > 
> > I am having some trouble understanding how to export a survey I have  
> > created. Perhaps someone on the group has some suggestions.
> > 
> > Briefly, I have designed a survey to be used for forest biomass sampling.  
> > The form employs a number of begin repeats that are used based on  
> > responses. So for example, I use begin repeat for individual trees within a  
> > sampling plot. Within the begin repeat another begin repeat is used to  
> > accommodate trees with multiple stems. So depending on the nature of the  
> > sampling plot I can have multiple nested begin repeats.
> > 
> > The survey works very well and data can be collected no problem. Form  
> > submission also works without any problems. I can view the data on  
> > aggregate and notice that the begin repeats (when used) return a table  
> > within a table! Here is where I begin having problems. I am able to publish  
> > my survey to fusion tables (managed by google drive), however, when I view  
> > the data in Fusion tables I see that only the top level of responses have  
> > been exported, none of the begin repeats data is available.
> > 
> > Secondly, when I try and export the data to CSV I am unable to perform the  
> > export as the horizontal window bar does not move at all, i.e. I cant  
> > scroll left to right to find the export button.
> > 
> > It would be great if an experienced user or developer could clarify the  
> > following
> > 
> > 1. How data collected using begin repeats can be exported to fusion tables  
> > / csv / JSON (most of the data of interest is stored within the begin  
> > repeat tables)?
> > 2. If aggregate is unable to export the data using the standard export  
> > features can I employ a scripting language such as python or javascript to  
> > access our data and store it in a suitable offline / online database?
> > 
> > Many thanks and looking forward to your inputs / discussion
> > 
> > Wesley
> > 
> > --  
> > Dr Wesley Roberts  
> > [jwesroberts@gmail.com](mailto:jwesroberts@gmail.com)  
> > Cell: 083 5355 646  
> > skype: roberts-w
> > 
> > --  
> > 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)
> 
> --  
> Mitch Sundt  
> Software Engineer  
> University of Washington  
> [mitchellsundt@gmail.com](mailto:mitchellsundt@gmail.com)

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