Kobo-SDK

A TypeScript SDK for interacting with the KoboToolbox API. This library simplifies authentication, data retrieval, and form management, making it easier to work with KoboToolbox in Node.js and browser environments. Optimized for TypeScript, with full type definitions.

Table of Contents

• Installation
• Usage
  • Initialization
  • Constructor parameters
  • Kobo servers index
  • Insert new submission
  • Update submissions
  • Fetch submissions
• Under-the-Hood Features Summary
  • Submission
  • Update
  • Fetching
• TypeScript support
• Contributing

Installation

npm install kobo-sdk

Usage

Initialization

import {KoboClient} from 'kobo-sdk'

const sdk = new KoboClient({
  urlv1: 'https://kc.kobotoolbox.org',
  urlv2: 'https://kf.kobotoolbox.org',
  token: '<YOUR PRIVATE TOKEN>',
})

Constructor Parameters

Parameter	Required	Description
urlv1	✅	Alias kc_url. KoboToolbox provides two API versions; this one is specifically used for submitting data to a form, as there is no equivalent endpoint in v2.
urlv2	✅	Alias kf_url.
token	✅	Private API token, available in your KoboToolbox account settings.
ApiClientClass	❌	Uses Axios by default. This parameter allows for a custom HTTP client.
log	❌	Logs output to the console by default.

Kobo Servers Index

Server	V1 (kc)	V2 (kf)
EU	https://kc-eu.kobotoolbox.org	https://eu.kobotoolbox.org
Global	https://kc.kobotoolbox.org	https://kf.kobotoolbox.org
DRC	https://kc-kobo.drc.ngo	https://kobo.drc.ngo/

Insert New Submission

Only the question name (without the begin_group path) is used as a key when submitting data.
The Kobo API expects grouped questions in a nested structure, but **this function automatically handles the formatting **.
If submission fails, it retries up to 5 times by default, which can be adjusted using the retries parameter.

await sdk.v1.submission.submitXml({
  formId: 'aM29e4jscqujByADmvDLrr',
  attachments: [{
    name: 'filename as indicated in the answers',
    url: 'URL to the file. You can also use `path` instead of `url` to select local file.',
  }],
  data: {
    question_name_type_text: 'answer',
    question_name_type_integer_variant1: 1,
    question_name_type_integer_variant2: '1',
    question_name_type_select_multiple: 'option1 option2',
    question_name_type_select_one: 'option1',
    question_name_begin_repeat: [
      {question_name: 'answer1'},
      {
        question_name: 'answer2',
        question_name_nested_repeat: [{question_name: 'answer'}],
      },
    ],
  },
})

Update Submissions

Only the question name (without the begin_group path) is used as a key when submitting data. The Kobo API expects $xpath as a key, including begin_groups but this function automatically handles the formatting.

Note:

• The Kobo API fails if it receives too many updates in a short time BUT This function automatically splits requests into smaller chunks and queues calls, ensuring updates are throttled at a pace the Kobo API can handle.

• If submission fails, it retries up to 8 times by default, which can be adjusted using the retries parameter.

await sdk.v2.submission.update({
  formId: 'aM29e4jscqujByADmvDLrr',
  submissionIds: ['1', '2'],
  data: {
    question_name_type_text: 'New answer',
    question_name_type_select_multiple: 'option1 option2 option3',
  },
})

Fetch Submissions

Supports filtering _submission_time by range, limit, and offset.
The Kobo API limits responses to 30,000 submissions per request to prevent timeouts, but this function automatically splits API calls into chunks and merges results, allowing retrieval of any number of submissions seamlessly.

sdk.v2.submission.get({
  formId: 'aM29e4jscqujByADmvDLrr',
  filters: {
    start: new Date(2024, 0, 1),
    end: new Date(2024, 0, 1),
    offset: 10,
    limit: 5e4,
  }
})

The function removes paths from keys and extracts answers from metadata. To retrieve the raw API response, use sdk.v2.submission.getRaw instead.

Under-the-Hood Features Summary

Submission

• Implemented the /v1/submission.xml endpoint, as JSON submissions cause bugs.
• Automatically retrieves formhub/uuid.
• Generates instanceID.
• Formats the request body to match Kobo's complex nested structure.
• Supports automatic retries.

Update

• Controls update pacing to prevent server rejection.
• Formats the request body using $xpath as keys.

Fetching

• Manages data reconciliation when fetching over 30,000 submissions.
• Provides a simple API for start and end query parameters.

TypeScript Support

We highly recommend using this SDK with TypeScript instead of JavaScript for full type support and to save yourself from unnecessary frustration. If you're not a developer or unfamiliar with TypeScript, don’t worry, the type system will guide you along the way.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to submit a PR or open an issue.