---
title: "Data transfer from Collect Mobile to the server"
url: "https://openforis.support/questions/58/data-transfer-from-collect-mobile-to-the-server"
tags: ["collectmobile"]
status: "answered"
score: 0
answer_count: 2
asked: "2014-10-15T16:39:42"
last_activity: "2015-07-06T10:48:57"
source: "Open Foris Support - Q&A Forum"
license: "Copyright Open Foris, 2026. Some rights reserved under creative commons license."
---

# Data transfer from Collect Mobile to the server

Asked by QsFromIUFRO on 2014-10-15

How is the data collected from Collect Mobile being transferred to the server?


## Answer (score 0, by wiell on 2014-10-17)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/58/data-transfer-from-collect-mobile-to-the-server/62

The process is at the moment, unfortunately more cumbersome then we’d like. This is, obviously, a very important step, which we’d like to streamline further.

•	In Collect Mobile, you select export in the action menu. This will create a “survey_export.zip” file in your device’s working directory, containing the data you collected. You can go to “Settings” to find out where your working directory is located.

•	Select your survey in the “Data management” section of Collect Server. Note that you can only manage data when your survey has been published.

•	Below the table of records, next to the “Add”, “Edit”, and “Delete” buttons, you have “Advanced functions” (with a gear as icon). Click that button and select “Import data”.

•	Select “From XML (Backup)” as the import type, then click “Select file to import”.

•	Locate and select your “survey_export.zip” file, then finally click “Start to import”. Now the records you collected using Collect Mobile should show up.


## Answer (score 0, by julianmurillo on 2015-07-06)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/58/data-transfer-from-collect-mobile-to-the-server/302

I received the following message during the import of data: "Error during the data import: Source must not be null"... What does it mean? And what are the possible solutions?