PROBLEM
Using an external choice list is an ideal option when the choice list is managed outside of ArcGIS Survery123, or if the choice list is large. In some instances, while the external choice list is accessible in ArcGIS Survey123 Connect and the ArcGIS Survey123 field app, the list is unavailable when viewing the survey in the ArcGIS Survey123 web app. Depending on the cause, one of the following error messages is returned:
Error: Initializing form… TypeError: Cannot read property 'textContent' of null
Error: Initializing form… CSV column heading "field_name" cannot be turned into a valid XML element
Error: Initializing form… Failed to load data from <data_source>
The following are known causes of the issue:
Depending on the cause, use one of the options below to resolve the issue.
Ensure the field names do not include special characters, uppercase characters, or spaces
Ensure the choice list name in the question type matches the CSV file name
In the XLSForm in ArcGIS Survey123 Connect, ensure the external choice list name in the select_one_from_file or select_multiple_from_file question matches the referenced CSV file. CSV file names are case-sensitive and do not allow spaces.
The image below shows the external choice list available in the ArcGIS Survey123 web app.
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