---
title: "Negative numbers in Collect Mobile"
url: "https://openforis.support/questions/2392/negative-numbers-in-collect-mobile"
tags: ["collectmobile"]
status: "accepted"
score: 0
answer_count: 4
asked: "2019-06-24T11:25:19"
last_activity: "2025-01-10T20:01:29"
source: "Open Foris Support - Q&A Forum"
license: "Copyright Open Foris, 2026. Some rights reserved under creative commons license."
---

# Negative numbers in Collect Mobile

Asked by Sabrina on 2019-06-24

I have a similar question like Rene (http://www.openforis.org/support/questions/2011/no-decimal-separator-on-samsung-tab-a). How is it possible to enter negative numbers in Collect Mobile? In the Samsung Tab A keyboard, the minus sign is missing. Do I also need to install a new keyboard?


## Accepted answer (score 2, by Lauri (OF) on 2019-06-24)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/2392/negative-numbers-in-collect-mobile/2393

Hi Sabrina,

yes that you need to do with Samsung tablet. Get Google keyboard from PlayStore, and activate that in Settings, General, Language and input, Default (keyboard).

regards Lauri


## Answer (score 2, by Stefano (OF) on 2024-11-29)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/2392/negative-numbers-in-collect-mobile/4137

Dear users,  
The best solution, as also Lauri was saying, is to install a different keyboard application (e.g. Google GBoard, or Microsoft SwiftKey), because in some Samsung devices the default keyboard application makes the possibility to insert minus or dot/comma symbols a bit more complex (probably you have to long press some buttons, like the "dot" symbol button, to have the possility to select other symbols), instead other apps make this simpler.  
This is something that is a bit out of control for Collect Mobile or Arena Mobile app, because from our side we can only tell the device that a field is numeric, then it's the device that decides how to display it and the type of keyboard to be shown to insert data in that field.  
Many thanks,  
Open Foris Team


## Answer (score 0, by hormozsohrabi on 2024-11-22)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/2392/negative-numbers-in-collect-mobile/4135

Hi
Is there any other solution for negative numbers? Arena has the same issue.
Bests,
Hormoz

> This is still the best solution, please install "Gboard – the Google Keyboard" from Google Play Store. This issue is related the the keyboard app which the device uses. (Lauri (OF))

## Answer (score 0, by hormozsohrabi on 2025-01-10)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/2392/negative-numbers-in-collect-mobile/4165

Hi 
Using Samsung keyboard, if you double tap the decimal sign, it will write a minus. I checked and it works as a negative value to save and in the formulas.
Cheers,
Hormoz