The older version of the KoboCollect App refers to v1.30.1 and below.
**KoboCollect** is an open-source Android app for collecting survey data. It’s one of two ways that you can collect data through KoboToolbox (the other way is through [web forms - Enketo](data_through_webforms.md)). It’s free and users with Android versions below 5 can install an older version of the app through the [KoboToolbox GitHub Repository](https://github.com/kobotoolbox/collect/releases). If you have Android versions 5 and above, you can download the latest version of the **KoboCollect** App on the [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.koboc.collect.android) and refer to our support articles for the latest version of the app: [Data Collection on KoboCollect App (Latest Version)](kobocollect_on_android_latest.md). We recommend using the latest version of the app, if possible, as it includes features and bug fixes that may not be available in older versions. ## Setting Up the Server Connection The first step after installing **KoboCollect** on your device is to set up the server **URL**, **Username**, and **Password**, which connects your **KoboCollect** app to the **KoboToolbox** server. This allows you to download deployed forms from **KoboToolbox** to your mobile device and also send data collected through the app back to the server. The server in **KoboCollect** can be configured in two different ways: _manually_ or through a _QR code_. ### Setting up server connection _manually_: - Open **KoboCollect**. - Select **Main Settings** (three vertical dots) > **General Settings** (this may be at the top right, bottom right, or at the bottom in the center of your screen depending on your Android version) > **Server**.  - You will now be asked to input the **URL**, **Username**, and **Password**, and then select **Add**. For the URL, you must select from the two **KoboToolbox** servers. If you created your user account on the Global Server, the URL is `https://kc.kobotoolbox.org`. If your user account is on the European Union Server, the URL is `https://kc-eu.kobotoolbox.org`. Despite setting up the server settings correctly, users may have trouble connecting KoboCollect to the server. This could be an issue with the device’s incorrect date and time settings. To learn more about troubleshooting KoboCollect, please read our support article Troubleshooting KoboCollect Android Application.
- After setting up the server, you should now see the following home screen.  You can use **KoboCollect** to _get blank forms to your device_, _collect data (fill blank forms)_, _store it in your device_, _edit the filled in forms (edit saved forms)_, _submit saved forms_, and _delete filled in forms/blank forms_. ### Setting up server connection with a _QR code_ Oftentimes, users in large projects will need to set up a large number of devices under the same server settings (**URL**, **Username**, and **Password**, etc.). Setting up all the devices manually would be time-consuming and prone to error. To save time, you can configure just one device manually and then copy the settings through a QR code generated from the first device.To set up a device with a QR Code, you will require at least one app that has been set up manually.
- Open **KoboCollect** to the server that has been configured. - Select **Main Settings** (three vertical dots at the top right). - Select **Configure via QR code**.  - Select the **QR CODE** tab.  - Now open **KoboCollect** in another device that you want to configure and navigate to **Main Settings** > **Configure via QR code** > **SCAN**. - Scan the QR code. If successful, you should hear a beep sound and the app will be automatically configured.You can also copy the QR code and share it by email, Whatsapp, etc., to set up other devices but be aware that the QR code contains the password to your account, allowing others to sign into your account. It is not recommended to share the QR code through electronic means if the same account has permissions to view, edit, or delete data.
## Setting Up Blank Forms in KoboCollect Once you have configured the **URL**, **Username**, and **Password** in the app correctly, you can send blank forms to your device from the **KoboToolbox** server. - Open **KoboCollect**. - Make sure that you have at least one project set up in your **KoboToolbox** user account and that your device is connected to the internet. - Select **Get Blank Form** from the home menu.  - A list of all your deployed survey forms should appear. Press **Select All** to have all the survey forms sent to the app or select the ones you wish to have by selecting them manually. Then click **Get Selected**. Users will need an internet connection while sending blank forms to KoboCollect.
## Collecting Data in KoboCollect Once you have blank form(s) in the app, you no longer require an internet connection to collect data. The blank forms and the filled in forms will stay on the device until you delete them from the app or submit them to the server. - Open **KoboCollect**. - Select **Fill Blank Form** from the home menu. - Select the survey form that you want to use to start collecting data. - Go through all the questions _by swiping your finger from right to left or by selecting the **NEXT** key after answering the questions._ - At the end of the survey, select **Save Form and Exit**. Make sure the form is marked as "finalized".
If this is unchecked but you still select Save Form and Exit,
the filled in form goes to Edit Saved Form instead of going to
Send Finalized Form. If this happens, go back to Edit
Saved Form, open the form, and without needing to make any edits, you
can select Go To End. Make sure the form is marked as
"finalized" and then select Save Form and
Exit.
If an interviewer believes that a form has not been
completed, for example, if the head of the household wasn’t there or children
weren’t there but are needed for the data collection, they can rename the form
in order to come back to it more easily. You can change the name of a saved
form to something easy to keep track of, such as "Incomplete" or "Incomplete:
(name of respondent)" under Name this form.
Users do not need an internet connection while editing a saved form in KoboCollect.
## Uploading Finalized Data to the Server Once you have collected your data, and made any necessary edits, you can upload the forms to the **KoboToolbox** server. - Open **KoboCollect**. - Make sure the device is securely connected to the internet. - Select **Send Finalized Form** from the home screen. - A list of all the collected forms should appear. - Press **Select All** (or select the ones you wish to upload) and then press **Send Selected**. - To ensure the forms were uploaded successfully, select **View Sent Form**. You should now be able to view all the submitted forms.Users will need an internet connection while submitting data from KoboCollect to the server.
## Deleting Saved Forms in KoboCollect Once you have completed data collection for your survey project and all the filled in forms have been uploaded to the server, it is recommended to delete the forms from the **KoboCollect** app. Keeping them in the app can confuse interviewers while collecting data for a different project. Follow the steps outlined below to delete **Saved Forms** and **Blank Forms** from your app. - Open **KoboCollect**. - Select **Delete Saved Form** from the home screen. - Users should now see two tabs. The default is **Saved Forms**. These are the forms filled in during data collection. Press **Select All** to delete all the **Saved Forms** from the app and then **Delete Selected**.  - The next tab is the **Blank Forms**. Press **Select All** to delete all the **Blank Forms** from the app and then **Delete Selected**.Users should not require an internet connection to delete saved forms in KoboCollect.
## Resetting View Sent Form in KoboCollect When you submit all the filled forms to the server by pressing **Send Finalized Form**, the successfully submitted forms can be seen in the **View Sent Form** section. Data managers generally advise to keep this information until the end of the project as it always provides a reference for the total number of collections and submissions. Once the current project’s data collection is over or if you are planning to start a new project, it is advised to reset the counter in **View Sent Form**. This will help to keep track of the data collection for the new project. - Open **KoboCollect** - Select **Main Settings** (three vertical dots). - Select **Admin Settings** (this may be at the top right, bottom right, or at the bottom in the center of your screen depending on your android version). - Select **Reset application**.  - Check on **Saved forms (instances folder, instances database)** and then select **RESET**. You should see a small dialogue box with a pop up a message "_**Reset results Saved forms: Success**_". - Select **OK**.Users do not need an internet connection to reset View Sent Form in KoboCollect.
## Hiding buttons in KoboCollect In some cases, it is recommended to hide certain buttons in the app from interviewers to prevent them from editing or changing collected data, decreasing the risk of data loss. - Open **KoboCollect**. - Select **Main Settings** (three vertical dots). - Select **Admin Settings**.  - At the bottom, you should see the **User Access Control**, which includes **Main Menu Settings**, **User Settings**, and **Form Entry Settings**. - Select **Main Menu Settings** to hide the buttons from the main menu.  - Do the same for **User Settings** and **Form Entry Settings** to hide buttons from those menus as well.Users do not need an internet connection to hide buttons in KoboCollect.
## Locking KoboCollect with an Admin Password If needed, you can set up an admin password in the **KoboCollect** app, limiting access to the app’s admin settings to only team members with the admin password. - Open **KoboCollect**. - Select **Main Settings** (three vertical dots). - Select **Admin Settings**. - Select **Admin Password**.  - You will be requested to **Enter New Password**. After entering a new password, select **OK**.Users do not need an internet connection to lock KoboCollect with an admin password. To remove the admin password, leave it blank instead of providing a new password.
## Form management settings in KoboCollect There are other form management settings available within **KoboCollect** which could assist in managing your data collection project: **Form update** provides an option to update the survey form manually or automatically. If set to automatic, the forms that are redeployed on the **KoboToolbox** server are automatically updated in the app. Note that keeping this feature active will likely drain your device’s battery more quickly. **Form submission** provides an option to send submissions to the server manually or automatically, with the options of _Wifi only_, _cellular only_, and _wifi or cellular_. This setting also gives the option to delete finalized forms and media after being successfully sent to the server. **Form filling** provides several options for forms and data collection: - Option to mark the form as finalized by default. - Option to configure the constraint processing (_validate upon forward swipe or defer validation until finalized_). - Enable or disable high-resolution video recordings or change the allowed image size when taking videos and images through the app. - _Show guidance for questions_ under the form filling to show or hide guidance for questions - _Use of an external app for audio recording_ could help to set up an external app for audio recording while collecting data. Follow the steps outlined below to access the form management settings: - Open **KoboCollect**. - Select **Main Settings** (three vertical dots). - Select **General Settings**. - Select **Form management** and select the options relevant for your project. Users do not need an internet connection to access or change the form management settings in KoboCollect.
## Setting Up Metadata in KoboCollect Users can set up the collection of metadata like _username_, _phone number_ and _email address_ in **KoboCollect**, providing additional details on who submitted the records to the server. These details can be helpful to validate the quality of the data collected by the team.In order to collect metadata, it must be configured in both the KoboCollect app and on the KoboToolbox platform for the same project. Please refer to our support article Form Settings and Meta Questions for instructions on how to configure set up in KoboToolbox.
- Open **KoboCollect**. - Select **Main Settings** (three vertical dots). - Select **General Settings**. - Select **User and device identity**. - Under the **User and device identity**, select **Form metadata**.  - Enter all the metadata like _username_, _phone number_, and _email address_ that you want to collect.Users do not need an internet connection to access the metadata setting in KoboCollect.
## Differences Between KoboCollect & ODK Collect **KoboCollect** is a [fork](https://github.com/getodk/collect/network/members) of **ODK Collect**. As of today, there are no substantive differences between the two apps. Users are free to use either one for data collection. KoboToolbox is fully compatible with both apps. Please note that it is not recommended to have both apps installed simultaneously as this could lead to some confusion depending on the Android settings. Historically, there were several significant differences between the two. Back in 2009, **KoboToolbox** made several changes to **ODK Collect**, creating **KoboCollect**, such as _cascading questions_, hiding _delete_, and _edit_ buttons for field data collection. The **XLSForm** was not yet an option in **ODK Collect** and **KoboToolbox** had built a formbuilder for all question types and advanced settings, including cascading questions, which were saved directly as an XML file for the mobile app. These changes were eventually incorporated into **ODK Collect**, along with many other great features. In 2014, **KoboToolbox** decided to fork **ODK Collect** to create the [new KoboCollect](https://github.com/kobotoolbox/collect), with minimal changes, including the **KoboToolbox** server in the configuration dropdown, a reference back to **ODK Collect**, and the **KoboToolbox** logo and name.