# \#odk-central **URL:** https://forum.getodk.org/tag/odk-central/51.md [Latest](https://forum.getodk.org/latest.md) · [Categories](https://forum.getodk.org/categories.md) · [Tags](https://forum.getodk.org/tags.md) --- ## [Form submitted correctly but not appearing in preview](https://forum.getodk.org/t/form-submitted-correctly-but-not-appearing-in-preview/58692)
**Author:** [@alfonso](https://forum.getodk.org/u/alfonso)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [October 19, 2026, 9:21pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/form-submitted-correctly-but-not-appearing-in-preview/58692 "2026-10-19T21:21:55Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. We have an ODK instance still with a very old version (1.2.2) which has so far worked fine. Today, for the first time, uploading a form does not allow to preview the webform, n… --- ## [Read-only view for submissions in ODK Central](https://forum.getodk.org/t/read-only-view-for-submissions-in-odk-central/45637)
**Author:** [@Collin\_Schwantes](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Collin_Schwantes)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2026, 5:58am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/read-only-view-for-submissions-in-odk-central/45637 "2026-10-17T05:58:42Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. Would like to view form submissions in a read-only view. A project at my organization is using a log based data validation system that handles multiple data types well. The log… --- ## [ODK Central Unexpectedly Goes Offline / Inaccessible](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-central-unexpectedly-goes-offline-inaccessible/58639)
**Author:** [@Tyler\_Depke](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Tyler_Depke)\ **Replies:** 7\ **Last updated:** [October 13, 2026, 11:30am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-central-unexpectedly-goes-offline-inaccessible/58639 "2026-10-13T11:30:02Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. I'm self hosting ODK Central on a DigitalOcean Droplet and in the last week or so, ODK Central has gone offline twice. When I say "has gone offline" I mean I cannot access ODK C… --- ## [Reference geometry unusable if choice/entity list contains any capitalised character](https://forum.getodk.org/t/reference-geometry-unusable-if-choice-entity-list-contains-any-capitalised-character/58592)
**Author:** [@ahblake](https://forum.getodk.org/u/ahblake)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 8, 2026, 11:54pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/reference-geometry-unusable-if-choice-entity-list-contains-any-capitalised-character/58592 "2026-10-08T23:54:55Z")
▶ tl;dr 1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. A reference geometry layer cannot contain any upper case characters or it will not validate on upload. This prevents me from using reference geometries as all my entity l… --- ## [Background audio enable/disable leaves the previous question with no end time in the audit log](https://forum.getodk.org/t/background-audio-enable-disable-leaves-the-previous-question-with-no-end-time-in-the-audit-log/58624)
**Author:** [@johnmill99](https://forum.getodk.org/u/johnmill99)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2026, 1:24pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/background-audio-enable-disable-leaves-the-previous-question-with-no-end-time-in-the-audit-log/58624 "2026-10-01T13:24:51Z")
Hello everyone, so I selected the Support option above but maybe i should have selected anotehr one regarding what I am about ro report. I noticed something when I was looking at audit log files. When background audio i… --- ## [Default to new Web Forms experience for new forms](https://forum.getodk.org/t/default-to-new-web-forms-experience-for-new-forms/58162)
**Author:** [@norlowski](https://forum.getodk.org/u/norlowski)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/default-to-new-web-forms-experience-for-new-forms/58162 "2026-09-30T19:20:36Z")
A reorganized form experience Forms will now be organized into three clearer sections: Published: the currently published version of the form Draft: unpublished changes you are actively working on History: previous … --- ## [Central upgrade failing due to cache\_all\_submission\_geo migration](https://forum.getodk.org/t/central-upgrade-failing-due-to-cache-all-submission-geo-migration/58575)
**Author:** [@alexcorran](https://forum.getodk.org/u/alexcorran)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/central-upgrade-failing-due-to-cache-all-submission-geo-migration/58575 "2026-09-28T18:03:24Z")
Hi All I'm trying to update ODK central to the latest version but i'm getting a 502 error when trying to sign in once the container is brought up again. The servers starting at version v2024.3.1, and the problem seems … --- ## [ODK Central v2026.3: Smoother Entity uploads from CSV, show one question per page in Web Forms, and so much more](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-central-v2026-3-smoother-entity-uploads-from-csv-show-one-question-per-page-in-web-forms-and-so-much-more/58502)
**Author:** [@norlowski](https://forum.getodk.org/u/norlowski)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 28, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-central-v2026-3-smoother-entity-uploads-from-csv-show-one-question-per-page-in-web-forms-and-so-much-more/58502 "2026-09-28T17:56:42Z")
:arrow\_up: Smoother Entity upload from CSVs Uploading Entities from a CSV is now easier to understand and recover from when something goes wrong. Central now separates errors and warnings, making it easier to identify… --- ## [ruODK v1.6.0: full API coverage, better devex](https://forum.getodk.org/t/ruodk-v1-6-0-full-api-coverage-better-devex/58600)
**Author:** [@Florian\_May](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Florian_May)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 2:27am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/ruodk-v1-6-0-full-api-coverage-better-devex/58600 "2026-09-25T02:27:21Z")
Hi all, The latest ruODK release v1.6.0 now completely covers the latest ODK Central API. Please feel free to give it a spin and let us know if you run into any troubles or have any questions or ideas (ideally via GH … --- ## [Bulk delete (and restore) submissions on ODK Central using pyODK](https://forum.getodk.org/t/bulk-delete-and-restore-submissions-on-odk-central-using-pyodk/51308)
**Author:** [@seewhy](https://forum.getodk.org/u/seewhy)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 22, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/bulk-delete-and-restore-submissions-on-odk-central-using-pyodk/51308 "2026-09-22T13:36:22Z")
I am sharing this in case it is useful to anyone who wants to bulk delete submissions from ODK Central leveraging the API and pyODK with the appropriate permissions to access your ODK Central instance. I'm not pretending… --- ## [Small UI Improvement to Public Access Links on ODK Central](https://forum.getodk.org/t/small-ui-improvement-to-public-access-links-on-odk-central/58479)
**Author:** [@Tyler\_Depke](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Tyler_Depke)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/small-ui-improvement-to-public-access-links-on-odk-central/58479 "2026-09-21T19:20:08Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? Just a quick UI fix that would make things easier for users and would take minimal effort. I'm not sure why the access link needs to be in a scrollable text box, but the… --- ## [Error accesing a form in odk collect: "This form cannot be opened right now because forms are being updated"](https://forum.getodk.org/t/error-accesing-a-form-in-odk-collect-this-form-cannot-be-opened-right-now-because-forms-are-being-updated/58574)
**Author:** [@johnmill99](https://forum.getodk.org/u/johnmill99)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 4:54pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/error-accesing-a-form-in-odk-collect-this-form-cannot-be-opened-right-now-because-forms-are-being-updated/58574 "2026-09-21T16:54:23Z")
1. What is the problem? Some of our enumerators are not able to access a form when trying to open a form in ODK Collect. They see the following pop-up message: Form can't be used This form cannot be opened right n… --- ## [Pulldata() stopped working on ODK Collect Apps after CSV update (still works on Enketo)](https://forum.getodk.org/t/pulldata-stopped-working-on-odk-collect-apps-after-csv-update-still-works-on-enketo/56959)
**Author:** [@Glen.Poresh](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Glen.Poresh)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/pulldata-stopped-working-on-odk-collect-apps-after-csv-update-still-works-on-enketo/56959 "2026-09-21T16:52:09Z")
I have an XLSForm (Nutrition Entrepreneurs – Sales Data Collection Tool – Year 2 – TLTN.xlsx) that uses pulldata() to auto-populate fields from a lookup CSV (nsa\_list.csv). It used to work perfectly on both ODK Collect … --- ## [Use AI to do (species) recognition on photos](https://forum.getodk.org/t/use-ai-to-do-species-recognition-on-photos/58540)
**Author:** [@Edmonds](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Edmonds)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 9:17am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/use-ai-to-do-species-recognition-on-photos/58540 "2026-09-21T09:17:29Z")
Could we use AI to recognize for example species on photos? ObsIdentify is a great example. It however works online only (and is only for the Benelux countries). Especially for the landuse sector running AI on a photo da… --- ## [Maps not showing on central submission](https://forum.getodk.org/t/maps-not-showing-on-central-submission/58569)
**Author:** [@Plecotus](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Plecotus)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 17, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/maps-not-showing-on-central-submission/58569 "2026-09-17T17:27:16Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. The map is not showing on submissions when viewed in Central 2. What steps can we take to reproduce this issue? don't know 3. What have you tried to fix the issue? Nothing y… --- ## [1-in-3 sampling with repeat contact attempts](https://forum.getodk.org/t/1-in-3-sampling-with-repeat-contact-attempts/58549)
**Author:** [@johnmill99](https://forum.getodk.org/u/johnmill99)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2026, 9:12am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/1-in-3-sampling-with-repeat-contact-attempts/58549 "2026-09-15T09:12:13Z")
I could really use advice on this one. We have a design that works on paper and I am trying to move it into ODK without losing anything, but the state tracking is beyond what I have built before. What the fieldwork look… --- ## [Can the background audio volume indicator be hidden on screen in ODK Collect?](https://forum.getodk.org/t/can-the-background-audio-volume-indicator-be-hidden-on-screen-in-odk-collect/58538)
**Author:** [@johnmill99](https://forum.getodk.org/u/johnmill99)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2026, 11:53am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/can-the-background-audio-volume-indicator-be-hidden-on-screen-in-odk-collect/58538 "2026-09-04T11:53:53Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. When running a form with background audio recording enabled, the volume indicator/waveform status bar is displayed on the screen. Is there an existing configuration setting or X… --- ## [Making reference to variable names in ODK Web Forms not rendering](https://forum.getodk.org/t/making-reference-to-variable-names-in-odk-web-forms-not-rendering/58497)
**Author:** [@David\_Otoosakyi](https://forum.getodk.org/u/David_Otoosakyi)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 26, 2026, 9:35am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/making-reference-to-variable-names-in-odk-web-forms-not-rendering/58497 "2026-08-26T09:35:52Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. The upgrade to ODK Web Form (ODK Central v2026) has affected most of the functionality in the existing forms. Referencing a variable name in subsequent questions is not renderin… --- ## [ODK Central v2026.2: Entities filtering and Web Forms as default](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-central-v2026-2-entities-filtering-and-web-forms-as-default/58254)
**Author:** [@norlowski](https://forum.getodk.org/u/norlowski)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [August 21, 2026, 4:09am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-central-v2026-2-entities-filtering-and-web-forms-as-default/58254 "2026-08-21T04:09:21Z")
This release introduces Entity filtering, allowing you to control which Entities are downloaded by users. It also marks an important milestone for Web Forms, which is now the default web form experience for new forms. … --- ## [System wide "staging"/"quality assurance" app users](https://forum.getodk.org/t/system-wide-staging-quality-assurance-app-users/58486)
**Author:** [@didotb](https://forum.getodk.org/u/didotb)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2026, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/system-wide-staging-quality-assurance-app-users/58486 "2026-08-18T16:30:59Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? There are orgs which has a dedicated form QA which tests forms before those are published to interviewers. Not only is it such a hassle having them constantly switch acco… --- ## [How can we extend Enketo timeout](https://forum.getodk.org/t/how-can-we-extend-enketo-timeout/58478)
**Author:** [@daniterv25](https://forum.getodk.org/u/daniterv25)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 13, 2026, 5:26am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/how-can-we-extend-enketo-timeout/58478 "2026-08-13T05:26:49Z")
We would like to extend the timeout when sending a form response. Our users are uploading quite a lot of files in the form’s attachments, and the organization’s WAF performs integrity and security checks on all of them. … --- ## [ODATA : what is the data type of the \_\_id colmun in repeat tables](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odata-what-is-the-data-type-of-the-id-colmun-in-repeat-tables/58476)
**Author:** [@mathieubossaert](https://forum.getodk.org/u/mathieubossaert)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [August 12, 2026, 9:04am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odata-what-is-the-data-type-of-the-id-colmun-in-repeat-tables/58476 "2026-08-12T09:04:35Z")
Hi everybody, I'm looking for the data type of the \_\_id column in the repeat tables. It seems to be a random string made of 40 hexadecimal values. Can someone confirm ? The \_\_id value of the submission table is a uuid. … --- ## [Fastest way to download many submissions (background-audio + audit + repeats) for a 1,000+ interview survey?](https://forum.getodk.org/t/fastest-way-to-download-many-submissions-background-audio-audit-repeats-for-a-1-000-interview-survey/58468)
**Author:** [@Ricard\_Hoxha](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Ricard_Hoxha)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2026, 10:40am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/fastest-way-to-download-many-submissions-background-audio-audit-repeats-for-a-1-000-interview-survey/58468 "2026-08-10T10:40:09Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. I am preparing a face-to-face survey with 1,000 completed interviews, average length 20 minutes, using background-audio at quality=voice-only. We will also submit partial interv… --- ## [Submitting partial data after a break-off, without making questions optional — is conditional required the recommended approach?](https://forum.getodk.org/t/submitting-partial-data-after-a-break-off-without-making-questions-optional-is-conditional-required-the-recommended-approach/58451)
**Author:** [@Ricard\_Hoxha](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Ricard_Hoxha)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 10, 2026, 6:42am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/submitting-partial-data-after-a-break-off-without-making-questions-optional-is-conditional-required-the-recommended-approach/58451 "2026-08-10T06:42:23Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. In face-to-face interviewing a respondent sometimes stops part-way through. When that happens I still need to submit whatever was answered up to that point, because partial and … --- ## [Deleted submission not available on Edge](https://forum.getodk.org/t/deleted-submission-not-available-on-edge/58244)
**Author:** [@aurdipas](https://forum.getodk.org/u/aurdipas)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/deleted-submission-not-available-on-edge/58244 "2026-08-06T22:50:46Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. If I login on Microsoft Edge I don't see the deleted submissions, while I can see them (and then restore) on Chrome. Microsoft Edge is up to date. Version 149.0.4022.52 (Offic… --- ## [ODK Central v2026.2.0 direct backup restore fails with "cannot drop objects owned by role odk because they are required by the database system"](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-central-v2026-2-0-direct-backup-restore-fails-with-cannot-drop-objects-owned-by-role-odk-because-they-are-required-by-the-database-system/58398)
**Author:** [@andhulthen](https://forum.getodk.org/u/andhulthen)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [August 6, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/odk-central-v2026-2-0-direct-backup-restore-fails-with-cannot-drop-objects-owned-by-role-odk-because-they-are-required-by-the-database-system/58398 "2026-08-06T14:18:42Z")
1. What is the issue? Please be detailed. I'm testing the new v2026.2 direct backup/restore workflow and am unable to restore a direct backup to a fresh Central instance of the same version. The restore fails during the… --- ## [Introducing central-sync](https://forum.getodk.org/t/introducing-central-sync/58313)
**Author:** [@tgachet](https://forum.getodk.org/u/tgachet)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 30, 2026, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/introducing-central-sync/58313 "2026-07-30T18:33:53Z")
Hi everyone, I’d like to share a small project I’ve been working on : central-sync. It is a Go tool that synchronizes ODK Central data into PostgreSQL through the ODK Central API and its OData endpoints. The goal is t… --- ## [Provide S3 object keys as part of existing data export (csv download or API sync)](https://forum.getodk.org/t/provide-s3-object-keys-as-part-of-existing-data-export-csv-download-or-api-sync/58410)
**Author:** [@dawansv](https://forum.getodk.org/u/dawansv)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 27, 2026, 12:27am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/provide-s3-object-keys-as-part-of-existing-data-export-csv-download-or-api-sync/58410 "2026-07-27T00:27:26Z")
What high-level problem are you trying to solve? When using S3 compatible storage to save attachments, it might be useful at times to directly serve files from the s3 bucket, for instance when publishing results on a th… --- ## [Enketo preview not working - customssl + NAT port 445→443, no reverse proxy](https://forum.getodk.org/t/enketo-preview-not-working-customssl-nat-port-445-443-no-reverse-proxy/58278)
**Author:** [@Nico](https://forum.getodk.org/u/Nico)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2026, 10:13am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/enketo-preview-not-working-customssl-nat-port-445-443-no-reverse-proxy/58278 "2026-07-21T10:13:40Z")
Hi. I am trying to do working the Enketo interface (access to it). I am using Central since a year so now i want to 'see' Enketo. 2 days of searching and trying things. Thanks you. 1. What is the issue? I self-host ODK… --- ## [Details about entity filtering behavior (Central 2026.2)](https://forum.getodk.org/t/details-about-entity-filtering-behavior-central-2026-2/58341)
**Author:** [@ahblake](https://forum.getodk.org/u/ahblake)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [July 21, 2026, 3:26am UTC](https://forum.getodk.org/t/details-about-entity-filtering-behavior-central-2026-2/58341 "2026-07-21T03:26:58Z")
Continuing the discussion from ODK Central v2026.2: Entities filtering and Web Forms as default: This is a very exciting feature addition and I'm looking forward to trying it out! I have some initial questions Can m… [Next page](https://forum.getodk.org/tag/odk-central/51.md?match_all_tags=true&page=1&tags%5B%5D=odk-central)