Introduction
Your questionnaire is the foundation of your data, so how you build it in KoboToolbox matters. KoboToolbox gives you four ways to create a form: building from scratch, using a template, uploading an XLSForm, or importing an XLSForm from a URL. This tutorial focuses on building a form from scratch, which is the most flexible option for beginners. You will learn how to set up a new project, enter its details, and start adding questions. If you haven’t created an account yet, start with Tutorial #1 first.
Four options of form development in KoboToolbox
There are four options of form development in Kobo Toolbox:
- Building from scratch
- Using a template
- Uploading an XLSForm
- Importing an XLSForm via URL
Form development from scratch
To create a new form from scratch in KoboToolbox, go to Projects, then click new.
From the “Create a project: choose a source” dialogue box, click on “Build from scratch”.
A new dialogue box will open titled “Create project: project details.”
Fill in the form with the project name, description, sector and country and click “Create project.”
This will take you to a new page with a blank form to fill:
To start creating the form, click on the + icon. This will take you to a new page with a blank space for typing in the question.
Each question will have its own blank space with a prompt “Add question” on the right side as shown in the image below.
Before creating a form in KoboToolbox, it is important to understand the questions options that are available.
Understanding the types of questions available in KoboToolbox
KoboToolbox has many types of questions available that can be used in form development as shown in the image below:
The types of questions include: select one, select many, text, number, decimal, date, time, date and time, point, rating, ranking, question matrix, to mention but a few.
Conclusion
You have now set up a new KoboToolbox project and added your first questions with the form builder. Building from scratch helps you understand how forms are structured, which makes templates and XLSForms easier to use later. As you add questions, keep your research objectives in view so that every item earns its place. Choosing the right question type is just as important as writing a good question. In the next tutorial, we will go through each KoboToolbox question type with practical examples.
Other tutorials in the series
KoboToolbox Question Types Explained: 23 Types + Examples (KoboToolbox Tutorial #3)
How to Build a KoboToolbox Form: Video Tutorial (KoboToolbox Tutorial #4)
KoboToolbox Settings: Form Style, Metadata and Sharing (KoboToolbox tutorial #5)