# ODK Briefcase not recognizing form **URL:** \ **Category:** Support\ **Tags:** odk-briefcase\ **Created:** [June 17, 2014, 10:40am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-briefcase-not-recognizing-form/3323 "2014-06-17T10:40:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sara\_Lowes](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/sara_lowes/32/16268_2.png) [@Sara\_Lowes](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Sara_Lowes)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 10:40am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-briefcase-not-recognizing-form/3323/1 "2014-06-17T10:40:55Z")
Hello, I am using XLS form to make survey forms, ODK Collect v 1.4.3 to collect data and now am trying to use ODK briefcase v1.4.3 to pull the data from a custom path on my desktop. I am using ODK briefcase because am in DRC and need to aggregate the data offline. I don't pull directly from the android devices because there are many devices and it is easier to first collect them all on my computer. The folder I select for the custom path includes folders for the form and the instances, but when I choose the folder as my ODK directory, no forms show up for me to select. Even older forms that worked for me last year do not show up using the most recent version of ODK Briefcase, but I can see the older forms if I use ODK briefcase 1.3.2. I have tried using the briefcase on both Mac and Windows with no success. Any advice would be much appreciated. Best, Sara Lowes ---
**Author:** ![Sara\_Lowes](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/sara_lowes/32/16268_2.png) [@Sara\_Lowes](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Sara_Lowes)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-briefcase-not-recognizing-form/3323/2 "2014-06-17T13:25:29Z")
For anyone that has the problem in the future, here is how it was resolved: I had been using a feature in XLS Form that allows you to add a version column to the settings tab. Once I removed this from the form (and from the hundreds of instances already collected...) ODK briefcase recognized the form. > **···** > > On Tuesday, June 17, 2014 12:40:55 PM UTC+2, Sara Lowes wrote: \> \> Hello, \> \> I am using XLS form to make survey forms, ODK Collect v 1.4.3 to collect \> data and now am trying to use ODK briefcase v1.4.3 to pull the data from a \> custom path on my desktop. I am using ODK briefcase because am in DRC and \> need to aggregate the data offline. I don't pull directly from the android \> devices because there are many devices and it is easier to first collect \> them all on my computer. \> \> The folder I select for the custom path includes folders for the form and \> the instances, but when I choose the folder as my ODK directory, no forms \> show up for me to select. Even older forms that worked for me last year do \> not show up using the most recent version of ODK Briefcase, but I can see \> the older forms if I use ODK briefcase 1.3.2. I have tried using the \> briefcase on both Mac and Windows with no success. \> \> Any advice would be much appreciated. \> \> Best, \> Sara Lowes \> \> ---
**Author:** ![yanokwa](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/yanokwa/32/1695_2.png) [@yanokwa](https://forum.getodk.org/u/yanokwa)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-briefcase-not-recognizing-form/3323/3 "2014-06-17T13:34:40Z")
Hi Sara, Glad you were able to find a workaround. To help the core team fix this issue, can you please attach an XLS form and XML form with and without the version information to [https://code.google.com/p/opendatakit/issues/list](https://code.google.com/p/opendatakit/issues/list)? Thanks, Yaw > **···** > > -- Need ODK services? http://nafundi.com provides form design, server setup, professional support, and software development for ODK. > > On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 6:25 AM, Sara Lowes [sara.lowes@gmail.com](mailto:sara.lowes@gmail.com) wrote: > > > For anyone that has the problem in the future, here is how it was resolved: > > I had been using a feature in XLS Form that allows you to add a version > > column to the settings tab. Once I removed this from the form (and from the > > hundreds of instances already collected...) ODK briefcase recognized the > > form. > > > > On Tuesday, June 17, 2014 12:40:55 PM UTC+2, Sara Lowes wrote: > > > > > Hello, > > > > > > I am using XLS form to make survey forms, ODK Collect v 1.4.3 to collect > > > data and now am trying to use ODK briefcase v1.4.3 to pull the data from a > > > custom path on my desktop. I am using ODK briefcase because am in DRC and > > > need to aggregate the data offline. I don't pull directly from the android > > > devices because there are many devices and it is easier to first collect > > > them all on my computer. > > > > > > The folder I select for the custom path includes folders for the form and > > > the instances, but when I choose the folder as my ODK directory, no forms > > > show up for me to select. Even older forms that worked for me last year do > > > not show up using the most recent version of ODK Briefcase, but I can see > > > the older forms if I use ODK briefcase 1.3.2. I have tried using the > > > briefcase on both Mac and Windows with no success. > > > > > > Any advice would be much appreciated. > > > > > > Best, > > > Sara Lowes > > > > ## -- > > > > 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/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). ---
**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:** [June 17, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-briefcase-not-recognizing-form/3323/4 "2014-06-17T15:31:35Z")
Also -- was your version a numeric value? ODK Briefcase and ODK Aggregate only accept numeric version strings. The recommended form is yyyymmddnn e.g., 2014061701 (1st revision of the form on 2014-06-17) > **···** > > On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 6:34 AM, Yaw Anokwa wrote: > > > Hi Sara, > > > > Glad you were able to find a workaround. > > > > To help the core team fix this issue, can you please attach an XLS > > form and XML form with and without the version information to > > [https://code.google.com/p/opendatakit/issues/list](https://code.google.com/p/opendatakit/issues/list)? > > > > Thanks, > > > > ## Yaw > > > > Need ODK services? [http://nafundi.com](http://nafundi.com) provides form design, server > > setup, professional support, and software development for ODK. > > > > On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 6:25 AM, Sara Lowes [sara.lowes@gmail.com](mailto:sara.lowes@gmail.com) wrote: > > > > > For anyone that has the problem in the future, here is how it was > > > resolved: > > > I had been using a feature in XLS Form that allows you to add a version > > > column to the settings tab. Once I removed this from the form (and from > > > the > > > hundreds of instances already collected...) ODK briefcase recognized the > > > form. > > > > > > On Tuesday, June 17, 2014 12:40:55 PM UTC+2, Sara Lowes wrote: > > > > > > > Hello, > > > > > > > > I am using XLS form to make survey forms, ODK Collect v 1.4.3 to collect > > > > data and now am trying to use ODK briefcase v1.4.3 to pull the data > > > > from a > > > > custom path on my desktop. I am using ODK briefcase because am in DRC > > > > and > > > > need to aggregate the data offline. I don't pull directly from the > > > > android > > > > devices because there are many devices and it is easier to first collect > > > > them all on my computer. > > > > > > > > The folder I select for the custom path includes folders for the form > > > > and > > > > the instances, but when I choose the folder as my ODK directory, no > > > > forms > > > > show up for me to select. Even older forms that worked for me last year > > > > do > > > > not show up using the most recent version of ODK Briefcase, but I can > > > > see > > > > the older forms if I use ODK briefcase 1.3.2. I have tried using the > > > > briefcase on both Mac and Windows with no success. > > > > > > > > Any advice would be much appreciated. > > > > > > > > Best, > > > > Sara Lowes > > > > > > ## -- > > > > > > 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/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). > > > > ## -- > > > > 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/d/optout](https://groups.google.com/d/optout). > > -- > Mitch Sundt > Software Engineer > University of Washington > [mitchellsundt@gmail.com](mailto:mitchellsundt@gmail.com) ---
**Author:** ![Fanilo\_Andrianisaina](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/fanilo_andrianisaina/32/20516_2.png) [@Fanilo\_Andrianisaina](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Fanilo_Andrianisaina)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 8:12am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-briefcase-not-recognizing-form/3323/5 "2023-04-28T08:12:44Z")
Dear Sara Lowes, Could you explain more about how did you remove the feature of the version column on the form and the instances, as it is already a finalized submission and submitted form? Thank you, Fanilo ---
**Author:** ![LN](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/ln/32/1605_2.png) [@LN](https://forum.getodk.org/u/LN)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2023, 6:35pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-briefcase-not-recognizing-form/3323/6 "2023-04-28T18:35:10Z")
@Fanilo_Andrianisaina can you please share what you're trying to do and what kind of error you're getting that leads you to this thread? [This thread](https://forum.getodk.org/t/collect-error-when-trying-to-submit-failed-to-upload-please-make-sure-the-form-is-configured-to-accept-submissions-on-the-server/40807) makes me think you are likely trying to upload to Ona. If so, are you able to export a CSV from Briefcase? You may be able to upload that to Ona. ---
**Author:** ![Fanilo\_Andrianisaina](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/fanilo_andrianisaina/32/20516_2.png) [@Fanilo\_Andrianisaina](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Fanilo_Andrianisaina)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 12:17pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-briefcase-not-recognizing-form/3323/7 "2023-05-09T12:17:12Z")
Hi @LN, The finalized form can't be sent to the server (ona). Other forms can, but only some have this problem (with \> 100 roosters). We extracted the ODK directory to pull the form with Briefcase, but the form doesn't appear. Actually, among the more than 10 forms in the folder, only this one is appearing in Briefcase. Any idea on how to make the other forms appear, and be "pullable"? Thank you very much. ![image](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/3X/7/d/7d0c83083bf4537ed857609fcec7b9bbaa953dec.png) ---
**Author:** ![LN](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/ln/32/1605_2.png) [@LN](https://forum.getodk.org/u/LN)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 10:51pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-briefcase-not-recognizing-form/3323/8 "2023-05-09T22:51:08Z")
> [@Fanilo\_Andrianisaina](#): > > We extracted the ODK directory to pull the form with Briefcase, but the form doesn't appear. Actually, among the more than 10 forms in the folder, only this one is appearing in Briefcase. Is the form that is showing in the same Collect project as the others or not? I can't see the full path you're pointing Briefcase to, can you try to point it directly to the project folder inside of the directory that came from the device? That folder would have a name that looks like `92a289db-193f-44b5-85b4-25242545f2ca`. > [@Fanilo\_Andrianisaina](#): > > The finalized form can't be sent to the server (ona). Other forms can, but only some have this problem (with \> 100 roosters). Given that there's some kind of issue on Ona's end preventing submissions, they may be willing to take your raw submissions and help you submit them via their API. I think it's worth asking at least.