The problem as I see it still in the current version is that it is actually possible to do exactly this. If you use curl, you can upload a value which is not part of the option set. If the option set has a numeric value type, you can upload any option, not just those which are part of the option set. I thought this had actually been fixed, but it seems not to be the case. So, I suppose using a custom form, you could create a control to allow people to enter data from a list, or to specify it.
Thus, I suppose you could utilize this “feature” to upload what you please, as long as the option set is set to be “text”. I would regard this as a bug or un-implemented feature, but it might be useful in your case.
···
On Mon, Sep 26, 2016 at 11:16 AM, Calle Hedberg calle.hedberg@gmail.com wrote:
Jason/Olav,
I understand that rationale - even if I’m commonly arguing that the “other” option should not be there at all (in the majority of cases I’ve come across the last 30 years, those “others” cannot be classified in any meaningful way). I just wanted to know if it was possible since there are some cases - generally the options/text are more of the “rich picture” type unlikely to be used for any type of analysis - where it would simplify things.
With both of you sort of agreeing that it is not there, and I have not found it in the manuals, I presume it actually IS not an option.
Thanks for the rapid and thorough responses!
Regards
Calle
–
On 26 September 2016 at 11:01, Jason Pickering jason.p.pickering@gmail.com wrote:
Hi ,
I hope that this was removed, as it has proven to be a source of problems when using option sets. The reason is that if you allow people to put whatever into that box, they will do exactly that, rendering results in analytics basically useless. So, the correct way would be to have an option set like
- Foo
- Bar
- Baz
- Other
with a textual data element like “Specify”. That way, you can get useful analytics results out of the majority of responses, and then have to deal with a means of classifying those which fall into other.
Othrewise, you may as well just allow people to enter free-text, rendering any analysis much more difficult if not impossible due to the amount of garbage which will result during data entry.
That’s my take on it.
Regards,
Jason
–
Calle Hedberg
46D Alma Road, 7700 Rosebank, SOUTH AFRICA
Tel/fax (home): +27-21-685-6472
Cell: +27-82-853-5352
Iridium SatPhone: +8816-315-19119
Email: calle.hedberg@gmail.com
Skype: calle_hedberg
On Mon, Sep 26, 2016 at 10:51 AM, Calle Hedberg calle.hedberg@gmail.com wrote:
Olav,
Yes, either that or using the comment field for the “other” text. Having a text element with a drop-down but not limited to the drop-down values is a very basic feature, though…
Let’s hear if anybody else has a different take on it…
Regards
Calle
Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
Post to : dhis2-devs@lists.launchpad.net
Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
–
Jason P. Pickering
email: jason.p.pickering@gmail.com
tel:+46764147049
On 26 September 2016 at 09:23, Olav Poppe olav.poppe@me.com wrote:
Hi Calle,
pretty sure that this is not possible (though I would be happy to be proven wrong!), and that the closest you can get today is having an “other” option in the option set and using program rules to show another data element for the free text when “other” is selected.
Olav
- sep. 2016 kl. 22.56 skrev Calle Hedberg calle.hedberg@gmail.com:
Hi,
This might be one of those “answer is under your nose” aka RTFM questions, but here goes (version 2.24):
How can I specify an option set (drop-down, text options) for a data element while also enabling users to type in any other free text value?
(or in other words, “Limit element to options in option set = FALSE”)
Best regards
Calle
Calle Hedberg
46D Alma Road, 7700 Rosebank, SOUTH AFRICA
Tel/fax (home): +27-21-685-6472
Cell: +27-82-853-5352
Iridium SatPhone: +8816-315-19119
Email: calle.hedberg@gmail.com
Skype: calle_hedberg
Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
Post to : dhis2-devs@lists.launchpad.net
Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
–
Calle Hedberg
46D Alma Road, 7700 Rosebank, SOUTH AFRICA
Tel/fax (home): +27-21-685-6472
Cell: +27-82-853-5352
Iridium SatPhone: +8816-315-19119
Email: calle.hedberg@gmail.com
Skype: calle_hedberg
Jason P. Pickering
email: jason.p.pickering@gmail.com
tel:+46764147049
) may have a better solution for one scenario I had in mind: