# Specify Other when Other is selected with other choices in a select multiple form

**URL:** <https://forum.getodk.org/t/specify-other-when-other-is-selected-with-other-choices-in-a-select-multiple-form/9062>\
**Category:** Support\
**Tags:** form-design, odk-xlsform\
**Created:** [July 17, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/specify-other-when-other-is-selected-with-other-choices-in-a-select-multiple-form/9062 "2017-07-17T14:29:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 20

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**Author:** ![Xiphware](https://getodk.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.getodk.org/xiphware/32/2587_2.png) [@Xiphware](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Xiphware)\
**Post date:** [November 29, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/specify-other-when-other-is-selected-with-other-choices-in-a-select-multiple-form/9062/20 "2018-11-29T22:47:16Z")

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> [@techGus](#):
>
> Is there a way to store the "other" value in the same column as the original question?

As @dicksonsamwel indicates, no there is no way to get the 'other' value added into the original select\_multi result. But what you could do is add a calculation that appends the 'other' question's (string) value to the select\_multi's (string) value, and use that result everywhere instead of the select\_multi. eg

`if(${other}='', ${select}, concat(${select},' ',${other}))`

note, the `' '` (space) delimiter is critical.

FYI: the proper (and only) way to do what you want is to have Collect (& Enketa, et al) support open selections, discussed [here](https://forum.getodk.org/t/addition-of-new-choices-items-to-a-list-in-select-widget-during-data-collection/16443/2).

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