# Instance() as calculate on a text field is fetching the data but field is not editable **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Created:** [October 16, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/instance-as-calculate-on-a-text-field-is-fetching-the-data-but-field-is-not-editable/58689 "2026-10-16T16:06:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jurrefws](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/db5fbb/32.png) [@jurrefws](https://forum.getodk.org/u/jurrefws)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/instance-as-calculate-on-a-text-field-is-fetching-the-data-but-field-is-not-editable/58689/1 "2026-10-16T16:06:31Z")
**1. What is the issue? Please be detailed.** I am using an instance() formula on a text field which will fetch data from the data base of the same form , the form is self linked. The formula is working fine. But after that, i want that the text field should be editable, so that instead of fetching the field from database , new data can be entred . But this is not working. **2. What steps can we take to reproduce this issue?** xls file is attached below. **3. What have you tried to fix the issue?** I had tried another method which is also shown in above attached xls file , in this method the instance is fetching the field from database and the field is also editable so that enumerator can edit or new text but the new added text is not submitting to the server when the enumerator submit the form. I also had tried to use trigger on the calculation , but when i use trigger the field becomes editable but than the instance formula does not work and returns nothing. The issue is same in both enketo and collect.\*\* **4. Upload any forms or screenshots you can share publicly below.** [ODK collect (3).xlsx](https://forum.getodk.org/uploads/short-url/2NH3bOVNHDUBqwF5rTY09B4US0H.xlsx) (8.5 KB)