ODK Collect v2026.4 Beta: new map engine, reworked form download

Releases Pre-releases
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This release will add map-based previews for traces and shapes, change the mapping library for non-Google Maps basemaps, and do some setup work for media attachments to Entities. Check back for updated betas as we get closer to release. We are expecting the release will come out at the end of October.

Why we do betas

ODK Collect betas are an opportunity to get community feedback on upcoming releases. If you have an ongoing data collection campaign, we recommend quickly verifying your form on a test device. We will keep sharing new betas as we respond to your feedback and will let you know when the beta is a release candidate.

Joining the beta program

To join the beta program, find ODK Collect in the Play Store on your device (not in the web browser) and scroll all the way down. Please don't join the beta with a device or account actively used for data collection! In particular, note that joining the beta is account-based. If you use the same Google account across multiple devices, do not join the beta with that account.

Leaving the beta program

You can leave the beta program from the bottom of the Play Store listing at any time. Once you leave, you will get the next production update when it is released. If you need to go back to the previous production release, uninstall and reinstall the app. Please make sure to back up or submit any important data.

What to check in this release

  • :alarm_clock: Improvements to date/time handling. We've made some fixes, especially around daylight savings time handling. Time is now always stored as HH:MM:SS and never includes milliseconds or timezone offsets.

  • :map_of_japan: Inline and summary preview for geotrace and geoshape. When a geotrace or geoshape question has a value, a static preview of the trace is now displayed. Learn more.

  • :round_pushpin: Degree decimal values for geopoint display. Geopoint values have been displayed in degrees/minutes/seconds. Now they are displayed in decimal degrees. Learn more.

  • :world_map: Basemap options other than Google Maps use MapLibre. If you configure basemaps from osm, mapbox, or other non-Google Maps sources, they are now being displayed with MapLibre in our effort to modernize the code base and make it easier to build. Learn more.

  • :robot: Entity processing now separate from form download. As part of preparing for media attached to Entities, we're modernizing and optimizing the form download implementation. If you have forms that attach Entities or media, we recommend verifying form downloads and updates on this beta.

Additional testing
You can find a full list of changes in the release notes:

Thanks to all testers for your help!

5 Likes
Collect: Display media in the summary view
Show geopoint summary in decimal degree format rather than in degrees/minutes/seconds
Ignore timezone for time widget
Issues with time and datetime as default or user selected across Enketo/WF/Collect
Issues with time and datetime as default or user selected across Enketo/WF/Collect
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We have just published an additional beta that adds map previews for geoshape and some updates to date/datetime/time handling, especially to better deal with daylight savings time.

The biggest change we have pending is to support Google Maps basemaps for geotrace and geoshape summaries. We're currently planning to release within the next 10 days unless other issues are reported.

Thanks for beta testing! :raising_hands:

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When I use google as the basemap, I am still seeing a preview, but with OSM in the bottom right, so is it using OSM for the preview currently?

Is the preview is a fixed height, with max device width? When I create a trace on a 12" tablet in landscape, I get an ultrawide preview (great if my trace runs E-W!), then rotating to portrait it then renders a new slightly less wide preview. Rotating again, the preview already exists, so it seems like both are cached. No issues with this, the fixed height keeps the screen use constant, just funny to see such a wide preview.

Tried a shape in beta2 and it looks just as good as the trace.

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Yes, that's right. When Google is selected as the basemap, the preview currently falls back to OpenStreetMap.

That's true. The preview always takes the full width of the screen, so on a wide tablet in landscape you get a very wide strip. I've been thinking about capping the width in cases like this but haven't done it yet, because I wanted to hear how it works for people in practice first.

Yes, that's expected. The preview is rendered at the exact size it's displayed at, so each orientation gets its own image. We keep the last few previews in memory, which is why rotating back is instant.
Currently, because of the architecture, the form view and the summary view each keep their own previews, so switching between them also re-renders.

1 Like