# "display\_field" in framework.xlsx. How to define?

**URL:** <https://forum.odk-x.org/t/display-field-in-framework-xlsx-how-to-define/1858>\
**Category:** Support\
**Tags:** odk-x-survey\
**Created:** [August 9, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/display-field-in-framework-xlsx-how-to-define/1858 "2022-08-09T20:09:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tghoward](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@tghoward](https://forum.odk-x.org/u/tghoward)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/display-field-in-framework-xlsx-how-to-define/1858/1 "2022-08-09T20:09:07Z")

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In the default “framework\_translations” sheet in the samples provided, there is reference to the “display\_field”. This field is not referenced in the documentation, here:

[https://docs.odk-x.org/build-app/#creating-framework-xlsx](https://docs.odk-x.org/build-app/#creating-framework-xlsx)

(and this documentation states: “This worksheet is already populated, you do not need to edit this worksheet.”)

And it (display\_field) isn’t defined on any of the template “settings” sheets. I’ve tried defining display\_field on the settings sheet of my framework.xlsx and my own form. I’ve also tried changing “display\_field” to a field name from the survey.

I’m either barking up the wrong tree or have my syntax wrong. Can someone help or direct me to where correct usage of 'display\_field" is applied?

Using the framework translations as they are my form ends with 'You are at the end of instance: “” ’ and when editing a form: “You are at the start of a new instance.”

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**Author:** ![elmps2018](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.odk-x.org/elmps2018/32/105_2.png) [@elmps2018](https://forum.odk-x.org/u/elmps2018)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 8:23pm UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/display-field-in-framework-xlsx-how-to-define/1858/2 "2022-08-09T20:23:16Z")

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There is some mention of display field here [Survey formDef.json Structure — ODK-X Docs](https://docs.odk-x.org/formdef-structure/#xlsx-component)  
that may help.

But more importantly, what is it that you are trying to do with display\_field? Or with the framework? Do you want an example of framework translations?

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**Author:** ![tghoward](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@tghoward](https://forum.odk-x.org/u/tghoward)\
**Post date:** [August 9, 2022, 8:37pm UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/display-field-in-framework-xlsx-how-to-define/1858/3 "2022-08-09T20:37:02Z")

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It appears to be defined by 'instance\_name" on the settings tab on the survey form. It seems that the field I had defined for instance\_name was not being populated. When I changed it to a field that was, then code that uses “display\_field” in the framework could grab data from the field defined as instance\_name in the survey form.

@elmps2018, to answer your question, I was just using all the defaults that came with the template … and the parts of the workflow that use display\_field weren’t working so I was trying to figure out why. It seems that instance\_name is the answer to that puzzle.

Thanks for the reply.  
Tim