Articles

How to Connect ODK Central to Power BI & Tableau: A Step-by-Step Guide for Data Analysts

October 31, 2024 Business Intelligence, Data Analysis, ODK Central, Power BI, Tableau, Visualization by Brian Achaye

As a data analyst working with field surveys, I struggled for weeks to get ODK Central data into Power BI and Tableau—until I cracked the code. ODK Central (Open Data Kit) is a powerful tool for mobile data collection, but analyzing that data requires connecting it to BI tools.

In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to pull ODK Central data into Power BI and Tableau, including troubleshooting tips and real-world examples.

Part 1: Connecting ODK Central to Power BI

Option 1: Using the ODK Central REST API (Recommended for Automation)

Best for: Dynamic, auto-refreshing reports.

Step 1: Get Your ODK Central API Credentials

Log in to your ODK Central server.
Go to “Users” → “Your Profile” → “App Tokens”.
Generate a new token (save it securely—it won’t be shown again!).

Step 2: Connect via Power BI (Web API Method)

Open Power BI → Get Data → Web.
Enter the API endpoint (example format): Copyhttps://[your-odk-server]/v1/projects/[project-id]/forms/[form-id].svc/[form-name]
- Replace placeholders with your server, project ID, form ID, and form name.
Select “Basic” authentication and enter:
- Username: your-odk-email
- Password: your-app-token

Step 3: Transform & Load Data

Power BI will fetch data as JSON. Use Power Query Editor to:
- Expand nested fields.
- Fix data types (ODK dates/text need formatting).
- Remove test submissions if needed.

✅ Pro Tip: Set up scheduled refresh in Power BI Service to keep data updated.

Option 2: Export as CSV & Import to Power BI

Best for: One-time analysis or smaller datasets.

In ODK Central, go to Submissions → Export → CSV.
Download and import into Power BI (Get Data → Text/CSV).

⚠ Limitation: Manual updates required.

Part 2: Connecting ODK Central to Tableau

Option 1: Using ODK Central’s OData Feed (Best for Tableau)

ODK Central supports OData, which Tableau reads natively.

Step 1: Find Your OData Endpoint

In ODK Central, go to “Submissions” → “Export” → “OData Link”.
Copy the URL (looks like): Copyhttps://[your-odk-server]/v1/projects/[project-id]/forms/[form-id].svc/[form-name]

Step 2: Connect in Tableau

Open Tableau → Connect → To a Server → OData.
Paste the OData URL.
For authentication:
- Select “Username and Password”.
- Username: your-odk-email
- Password: your-app-token

Step 3: Clean & Visualize Data

Use Tableau Prep or Data Interpreter to:
- Flatten nested JSON structures.
- Fix geospatial data (if using GPS coordinates).

✅ Pro Tip: Use Tableau’s “Web Data Connector” for auto-refresh (requires custom setup).

Option 2: Export to CSV/Excel → Load into Tableau

Export submissions as CSV from ODK Central.
Drag the file into Tableau Desktop.

⚠ Limitation: Manual process; no auto-refresh.

Common Issues & Fixes

Problem	Solution
API/OData connection fails	Check if your server allows external API access (CORS settings).
Nested JSON not loading	Use Power Query (Power BI) or Tableau Prep to expand columns.
Authentication errors	Ensure your app token is correct (regenerate if needed).
Slow performance	Filter data at the API level (e.g., `$top=1000` in the URL).