---
title: "OF Arena: can we have a dynamic list based on unique values in attribute?"
url: "https://openforis.support/questions/3708/of-arena-can-we-have-a-dynamic-list-based-on-unique-values-in-attribute"
tags: ["arena"]
status: "answered"
score: 1
answer_count: 2
asked: "2023-07-18T15:55:42"
last_activity: "2023-07-27T08:22:30"
source: "Open Foris Support - Q&A Forum"
license: "Copyright Open Foris, 2026. Some rights reserved under creative commons license."
---

# OF Arena: can we have a dynamic list based on unique values in attribute?

Asked by bsenterre on 2023-07-18

Dear Open Foris team,
OF Arena is really helpful. Besides traditional 'lists' (with id, labels and definition), I wonder if there would be a way to add an option for an attribute to be a 'free text' but at the same time offering a list based on all unique non-null values in the entries existing in the cloud survey? User would just have to connect to the server for the survey (and these dynamic lists) to update according to the cloud survey version.
Best wishes,
Bruno


## Answer (score 2, by bsenterre on 2023-07-27)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/3708/of-arena-can-we-have-a-dynamic-list-based-on-unique-values-in-attribute/3716

Dear Open Foris team,
Thank you for your explanation! Yes it does make sense. I think I can make this work.
Thanks a lot!
Bruno


## Answer (score 1, by Stefano (OF) on 2023-07-25)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/3708/of-arena-can-we-have-a-dynamic-list-based-on-unique-values-in-attribute/3712

Dear Bruno,  
We don't support such feature at the moment in OF Arena, but what you could do is to:  

 - define a regular category, with "Other" as last item;
 - make another attribute relevant/visible when that option is selected in a code attribute;
 - as soon as the data collection process starts and some data will be uploaded from Arena Mobile to Arena, the survey administrator can check the values inserted in this "other" attribute and add new values ot the category accordingly and publish the changes to the survey;
 - then the users in the field can update their survey and get the new items in the category associated to the code attribute;

Does it make sense for you?  
Let us know, many thanks,  
Open Foris Team