Datatype text readonly

Development
1

Dear all,

Now, i found that if i use datatype as text and put readonly (yes), It look
same as note. But i'm not sure, will it create a field in table of database?
Can i set the value to this field automatically? Because I have a value
that don't change and i want to store at the same as survey data.

Could you help me on this?

2

Bunhann,

If you want to set a value at survey-time and have it appear in the data as
a normal field, use a calculate field. Easy! (And if you want to show it in
a note, have a label that shows the calculated field...)

As we've discussed previously, I believe that only SurveyCTO currently
allows setting calculated default values for UI fields (i.e., for field
types other than "calculate").

Best,

Chris

··· On Wed, Aug 6, 2014 at 8:10 AM, Bunhann Thou wrote:

Dear all,

Now, i found that if i use datatype as text and put readonly (yes), It
look same as note. But i'm not sure, will it create a field in table of
database?
Can i set the value to this field automatically? Because I have a value
that don't change and i want to store at the same as survey data.

Could you help me on this?

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3

Does this mean having text field as read only and using calculate to calculate the field saves the data in the database as was being asked in the question @crobert ?

4

SurveyCTO has a range of options for dynamic defaults, calculations that happen only once a certain point in a survey is reached (and then not thereafter), and more -- but at this point I'm less sure of core ODK's capabilities along these lines. Certainly you can have a "calculate" field -- but if you want something dynamic in a "text" field, I'm not sure... So I'll let somebody more knowledgeable reply...

Chris

1 Like
5

Not really sure what your question is, @aonomike, but here's the behavior I'd expect from the current ODK tools.

  • A calculate field will save data in the database.
  • A read-only field with a default value will save that default value in the database.
  • A read-only field with no default value will not save data in the database
  • Calculates are not visible to the user. Read-only fields are.
  • Calculates can be dynamic, but defaults are static.
  • Calculates and read-only fields can be shown back to users in labels and hints using the ${} syntax.

Try this with a small form to confirm!

1 Like
6

Just to be clear (ie pedantic), any field can be shown back to users in labels and hints (including calculated fields, read-only fields with defaults, you-name-it...). :wink:

1 Like