Use same xform to create a case and to update the same case?

Users
1

Hi all,

Is it possible to have an xform that either creates a new case or can open a
previous submission if they need to update the data? If not, it is simple
enough to have two separate forms, one for creating and another for
updating. The use case here is that sometimes people submit erroneous data
and need to correct it.

Jon

2

Hi Jon,

This is a really good point. The short answer is that it is perfectly
possible and supported on the CommCare mobile client, but that CommCare HQ
does not expose a way to do it. Currently what we have people do is to have
a registration form, and then a second form that is very similar that lets
you edit all the data. This has the disadvantage of having essentially the
same form is two separate places, making it tedious to make changes.

Another solution is to have a very short registration form that is always
followed by a fuller "Basic Information" form, which updates the case and
has all the info that you'd normally have in the registration. This has the
disadvantage that on the first visit, the CHW has to remember to fill out
two separate forms in a way that can interrupt the workflow.

The third most long-term viable solution is for me to put some time into
supporting this use-case, allowing two separate menu items to point to the
same form, letting one of them create the case and the other update the
case.

Let me know what you think about these options.

Cheers,
Danny

··· 2011/10/12 Jonathan Payne

Hi all,

Is it possible to have an xform that either creates a new case or can open
a previous submission if they need to update the data? If not, it is simple
enough to have two separate forms, one for creating and another for
updating. The use case here is that sometimes people submit erroneous data
and need to correct it.

Jon

3

Hi Danny,

I definitely like the 3rd option best! But, at this point will stick with option 1 since that's a pretty easy change to make.

Thanks,
Jon

··· On Oct 12, 2011, at 5:28 PM, Daniel Roberts wrote:

Hi Jon,

This is a really good point. The short answer is that it is perfectly possible and supported on the CommCare mobile client, but that CommCare HQ does not expose a way to do it. Currently what we have people do is to have a registration form, and then a second form that is very similar that lets you edit all the data. This has the disadvantage of having essentially the same form is two separate places, making it tedious to make changes.

Another solution is to have a very short registration form that is always followed by a fuller "Basic Information" form, which updates the case and has all the info that you'd normally have in the registration. This has the disadvantage that on the first visit, the CHW has to remember to fill out two separate forms in a way that can interrupt the workflow.

The third most long-term viable solution is for me to put some time into supporting this use-case, allowing two separate menu items to point to the same form, letting one of them create the case and the other update the case.

Let me know what you think about these options.

Cheers,
Danny

2011/10/12 Jonathan Payne paynejd@gmail.com
Hi all,

Is it possible to have an xform that either creates a new case or can open a previous submission if they need to update the data? If not, it is simple enough to have two separate forms, one for creating and another for updating. The use case here is that sometimes people submit erroneous data and need to correct it.

Jon