# ODK Meta - Labelling issuing errors

**URL:** <https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-meta-labelling-issuing-errors/20203>\
**Category:** Support\
**Tags:** odk-meta\
**Created:** [June 2, 2019, 1:39pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-meta-labelling-issuing-errors/20203 "2019-06-02T13:39:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 2

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**Author:** ![Matthew\_White](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/matthew_white/32/1654_2.png) [@Matthew\_White](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Matthew_White)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-meta-labelling-issuing-errors/20203/2 "2019-06-03T16:59:04Z")

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Hi @Francisco_Carballo!

> [@Francisco\_Carballo](#):
>
> The SubmissionDate error "datetime variable SubmissionDate could not be converted using the mask MDYhms"

Have you tried specifying different values for the local macros at the top of the do-file? The help file describes those macros as follows:

> The do-file starts with the definitions of several local macros; these are constants that the do-file uses. For instance, local macro ` `datemask'` is the mask of date values in the .csv files. The local macros are automatically set to default values, but they may need to be changed depending on the data.

You may also find parts of [this](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odkmeta-input-csv-format/10618/5) Forum discussion helpful.

> [@Francisco\_Carballo](#):
>
> Next error is: "Unexpected values encountered: Elbo Sebuer r(459)". Since this error appears within one of the long foreachs, I do not know exactly where it is originated. Likely, it is a value label that have a space and it is not handling it properly, because it shows several locality names, all of them with two-words names separated by spaces.

This looks like an error message from `encode`, which the `odkmeta` do-file uses for any `select` field whose list contains a non-integer name. The `odkmeta` do-file specifies option `noextend` to `encode`; `noextend` checks that the variable contains only values that are present in the associated value label.

Is `Elbo Sebuer` one of the choices in the `choices` sheet of your XLSForm? Is it defined in the value label? `odkmeta` defines value labels toward the top of the do-file. It knows to use quotes for labels with spaces, so that shouldn't be the issue.

I also wanted to draw your attention to the Stata command [`set trace on`](https://www.stata.com/help.cgi?trace), which you can use to determine which command actually resulted in the error message. It can be especially useful for a do-file with a loop. In this case, it should allow you to determine which command resulted in the error message for which dataset and variable. (You should probably also `set tracedepth 1`, at least to start.)

> [@Francisco\_Carballo](#):
>
> I am aware that ODKMeta will rarely create a smooth do-file to clean your data. I am used to slightly modify the created do-file according to the characteristics of my data.

I know we've discussed the filenames that the `odkmeta` do-file uses, something we're still working to fix. Are there other issues that you frequently encounter?

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_[View the full topic](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-meta-labelling-issuing-errors/20203)._