Open Data Kit (ODK) Primer

2/18/2015

Rollins mHealth Collaboration

Relevant Vocabulary
ODK Survey: A drag and drop application in ODK (a bit similar to CommCare) with limited functionality
for large or complicated surveys
ODK Validate: A program which validates the X Form that you create
ODK Collect: The mobile application which allows you to load up an X Form and collect data into that
form (survey)
ODK Briefcase: A central program (on the computer) which uses the created X Form as a referent
structure and aggregates data from various completed forms into one data file
ODK Aggregate: A cloud-based aggregate which automatically syncs data from mobile devices and
creates an up-to-date data file
XML (Extensible Markup Language): as a language XML doesnt do anything, however it defines data and
documents; useful for defining structure of surveys for data collection
Open-Source: Software for which the original code is freely available to share and modify
X Forms: A file form that can be easily read by ODK Collect and easily programmed through an Excel
interface
Referent Structure: The XML code, created through the Excel framework, which defines the data that
comes in from the completed forms and stores them in a predetermined database structure
Hard-Collection: Aggregating completed forms by physically connecting the collection device (i.e. Tablet)
and a collection point (i.e. Laptop) and copying the forms over
Cloud-Collection: Aggregating completed forms by remotely and automatically syncing with a server,
creating a central database for data analysis
What is ODK?
Open Data Kit (ODK) is a series of open-source tools which are used to design and implement mobile
data collection (MDC) systems. Tools of interest for this session include ODK Validate, ODK Collect, ODK
Aggregate (Cloud collection) and ODK Briefcase (Hard collection). It is based on an XML data structure
and is a lingua franca of MDC. The system only works on Android platforms.
Why use ODK?
While there are a multitude of mobile data collection tools out there, ODK is a standard that is used as a
structural base for many systems. Users can design, implement and collect surveys completely offline
and basic programming occurs through an Excel spreadsheet which is ubiquitous. Anybody can
program surveys in XML with this interface without deep knowledge of the language.

RmC: N Kishore - 2015

Open Data Kit (ODK) Primer

2/18/2015

Rollins mHealth Collaboration

Ex: ODK converts the spreadsheet on the left to the XML code on the right

Furthermore, being open-source, there are always new packages and applications being created which
work on the ODK format fostering an ever-improving product.
Drawbacks to using ODK
Generally speaking, ODK is not a supported system. That means that if things break or go wrong there
isnt any tech support to call. There is a vibrant network of users who support each other with questions
/ answers; however baseline knowledge of ODK is expected. The system also assumes some knowledge
of XML and comfort with technology. ODK is a very DIY system.
Design to Implementation

Creation of
Survey
Created with
Excel
Template
provided

A
B

Creation of
X Forms File
Created using
online
XLSForms
convertorA

http://opendatakit.org/xiframe/
https://opendatakit.org/use/validate/

RmC: N Kishore - 2015

Validation of XLS
form
Use ODK
Validate to
ensure that
you coded
things
correctlyB

Implement
Survey
Copy X form
into the
"forms" folder
under ODK on
your device.
Implement
your survey!

Open Data Kit (ODK) Primer

2/18/2015

Rollins mHealth Collaboration

The Basic ODK Excel Template

For programming purposes, a basic Excel spreadsheet that will be turned into a mobile survey needs
to have two sheets named survey and choices. At the bare minimum the survey sheet should contain
three columns labeled type, name and label. The choices sheet should contain list_name name and
label. We will discuss what can fill these tables in class and you can find reference tables in the ODK
reference spreadsheet
Ex: Survey
type

Ex: Choices
name

label

list_name

name

label

An example of this can be found in the ODK Reference Spreadsheet in the sheets highlighted in red.

Additional References:
1) www.xlsform.org
2) www.opendatakit.org
*Sample spreadsheets from ODK, all other input reference appropriately
Remember:
1) Please bring your laptops!
2) For those with android devices:
a. Download ODK Collect:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.odk.collect.android&hl=en
b. Bring a cable to connect your laptop to the device

RmC: N Kishore - 2015