# Expression in condition column not successfully evaluated

**URL:** <https://forum.odk-x.org/t/expression-in-condition-column-not-successfully-evaluated/382>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [October 17, 2018, 6:08am UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/expression-in-condition-column-not-successfully-evaluated/382 "2018-10-17T06:08:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Satish\_Ravishankar](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@Satish\_Ravishankar](https://forum.odk-x.org/u/Satish_Ravishankar)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2018, 6:08am UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/expression-in-condition-column-not-successfully-evaluated/382/1 "2018-10-17T06:08:14Z")

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The form preview in the Application Designer tool throws up an error stating the variable, in this case, “mobileNumber” is not defined. The image below shows this error.

![image](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/1X/bcb4ccb3cbf2f7e28a6ae77938700b921d3ca050.png)

I have in fact set “mobileNumber” as the name of the column to be written in the table through the name column in the survey section sheet. I can share the screenshot on request (I’m limited to one image per post for now.)

I’ve been stuck on this for a few days. I must add I’m very new to ODK 2.0. Any help is appreciated!

Thank you!

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**Author:** ![clarice\_larson](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.odk-x.org/clarice_larson/32/293_2.png) [@clarice\_larson](https://forum.odk-x.org/u/clarice_larson)\
**Post date:** [October 18, 2018, 1:26am UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/expression-in-condition-column-not-successfully-evaluated/382/2 "2018-10-18T01:26:51Z")

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Hi there,

It seems that you are missing quotes. Try the following in your expression.

data(‘mobileNumber’)

Let me know if this is not the issue or another arises.

Clarice

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**Author:** ![Satish\_Ravishankar](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@Satish\_Ravishankar](https://forum.odk-x.org/u/Satish_Ravishankar)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 4:02am UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/expression-in-condition-column-not-successfully-evaluated/382/3 "2018-10-19T04:02:22Z")

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Hi Clarice,

Thank you for your response.

When I tried this, XLSX Converter generates the following error -  
_Error: Error: Invalid or unexpected token interpreting formula: data(‘mobileNumber’)\<9 on sheet: calculates row: 2 column: calculation_

The screenshot -

 ![Screenshot%20from%202018-10-17%2014-26-06](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/1X/c4db806c0299f31da1299bf19385acfb0f248235.png)

I did notice that the syntax with the single quotes works in other example forms included with Application Designer. Still looking for a solution.

Thanks,  
Satish

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Satish\_Ravishankar](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@Satish\_Ravishankar](https://forum.odk-x.org/u/Satish_Ravishankar)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2018, 10:29am UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/expression-in-condition-column-not-successfully-evaluated/382/4 "2018-10-19T10:29:19Z")

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A workaround has been found, thanks to an earlier post from Karim (Karim\_Bernardet1) about the very same error. I believe it has something to do with the type of single quote being keyed in.

A link to that thread for reference - [[ODK2] Calculation - #5 by Satish\_Ravishankar](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/odk2-calculation/363/5)

It would be useful to understand how to type in the correct single quote using the keyboard.  
In the interest of figuring out a solution rather than workaround, I will leave this topic as unsolved.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Satish\_Ravishankar](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@Satish\_Ravishankar](https://forum.odk-x.org/u/Satish_Ravishankar)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://forum.odk-x.org/t/expression-in-condition-column-not-successfully-evaluated/382/5 "2018-10-20T04:11:52Z")

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A solution has been suggested by linl33. Worked like a charm.  
Lin suggested that Autocorrect options can be changed to allow keying in of the correct single quote.

For the sake of completeness, I’m including a screenshot and the solution here -  
In LibreOffice Calc, go to Tools \> AutoCorrect Options… \> Localized Options. In that tab, make the changes as shown in the screenshot below.

 ![image](https://odkx.b-cdn.net/uploads/default/original/1X/0204f40be9254cb4d6cabb048483857cf31ad721.png)

That did the trick for me.  
Thanks everyone.

Cheers!