# Bulk Update Epicollect5 Data

**URL:** <https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [July 22, 2025, 8:41am UTC](https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100 "2025-07-22T08:41:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Addis\_Ababa\_Regional](https://community.epicollect.net/user_avatar/community.epicollect.net/addis_ababa_regional/32/1700_2.png) [@Addis\_Ababa\_Regional](https://community.epicollect.net/u/Addis_Ababa_Regional)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 8:41am UTC](https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100/1 "2025-07-22T08:41:49Z")

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### Project Name (if applicable, otherwise just type n/a)

AAPHREM Weekly Diseases Reporting Form

### Question

Sometimes, many entries in Epicollect5 contain incorrect values in a specific variable. As the project creator, I prefer to download the dataset, correct the values in bulk, and re-upload the data. However, doing so causes the original “Created At” timestamp to be overwritten with the current upload date, and the data collectors lose access to their original entries—the system treats them as new entries, even when I include the original EC5\_UUID during upload.(to avoid duplication)

While server-side editing preserves timestamps and user access, it’s not practical due to the large volume of records. Is there any other option for bulk-correcting data without losing the original metadata or data collector ownership?

Thank you!

### I confirm I have read the User Guide at [docs.epicollect.net](http://docs.epicollect.net)

on

### I confirm I have searched for an answer in this community.

on

### I confirm I have tried asking the same question to Perplexity AI with the tag #epicollect5, but it did not help.

on

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**Author:** ![Epicollect5](https://community.epicollect.net/user_avatar/community.epicollect.net/epicollect5/32/2653_2.png) [@Epicollect5](https://community.epicollect.net/u/Epicollect5)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 10:47am UTC](https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100/2 "2025-07-22T10:47:04Z")

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**Thank you for reporting the `created_at` issue**  
We can confirm it is a bug, and it will be addressed in an upcoming update.

Can you elaborate on the

> and the data collectors lose access to their original entries

The bulk upload process does not affect entry ownership. Moreover, entries are never duplicated if the `entry_uuid` is provided.

Thank you

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**Author:** ![Addis\_Ababa\_Regional](https://community.epicollect.net/user_avatar/community.epicollect.net/addis_ababa_regional/32/1700_2.png) [@Addis\_Ababa\_Regional](https://community.epicollect.net/u/Addis_Ababa_Regional)\
**Post date:** [July 22, 2025, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100/3 "2025-07-22T19:13:29Z")

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As the project creator, I downloaded the entries and re-uploaded them without modifying the “ec5\_uuid, created\_at, uploaded\_at, created\_by and title” values to preserve collector access. However, the original collectors are still unable to view the entries on the server. It was happening after the recent update of epicollect5. Even the created\_at and uploaded\_at become the same (today).

 ![Screenshot 2025-07-22 222722](https://discourse-space.fra1.digitaloceanspaces.com/original/2X/1/1fd0b0d97aadd37bc2a66581ba0c1d50d115c8e5.png)

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**Author:** ![Epicollect5](https://community.epicollect.net/user_avatar/community.epicollect.net/epicollect5/32/2653_2.png) [@Epicollect5](https://community.epicollect.net/u/Epicollect5)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2025, 9:25am UTC](https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100/4 "2025-07-23T09:25:26Z")

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Thank you for your post and for providing the necessary context.

We have looked into the issue regarding the **AAPHREM Weekly Diseases Reporting Form** project, which was created by the user with the email `a ******* c@gmail.com`.

Based on the entries shown in your screenshot, we can confirm that the data is still owned by the original collectors. For example:

- `97c16b91-a5d8-4f09-8c75-e3d6ad6a07a9` is owned by `a ********* 27@gmail.com`
- `4f6524f8-ccd2-479e-81a4-492636b7031a` is owned by `b ********* a@gmail.com`
- and so on.

This confirms that editing or re-uploading entries does **not** alter their original ownership. Ownership is preserved by design and is tied to the account that originally submitted the entry.  
It can easily be observed by looking at the downloaded `csv`; a private project will have a `created_by` column to identify the owner of each entry.

* * *

> **Regarding your concern that original collectors are unable to view their entries on the server:**

Please ensure that they are logging in with the exact same email address they used when submitting the entries. If they are using a different account (even slightly different, e.g. due to typos or account changes), they will not be able to access entries tied to their original email.

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**Author:** ![Epicollect5](https://community.epicollect.net/user_avatar/community.epicollect.net/epicollect5/32/2653_2.png) [@Epicollect5](https://community.epicollect.net/u/Epicollect5)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2025, 8:09am UTC](https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100/5 "2025-08-19T08:09:46Z")

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It appears that no additional details have been provided regarding the current thread.

In the absence of further information, we are unable to proceed with the discussion.

If you have any additional details to share or questions to ask, please feel free to start a new thread.

Thank you for your understanding.

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**Author:** ![Epicollect5](https://community.epicollect.net/user_avatar/community.epicollect.net/epicollect5/32/2653_2.png) [@Epicollect5](https://community.epicollect.net/u/Epicollect5)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2025, 8:09am UTC](https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100/6 "2025-08-19T08:09:54Z")

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**Author:** ![system](https://discourse-space.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/original/1X/6dd4ced29679150fc5afd91ffb046c6737b4f9ee.png) [@system](https://community.epicollect.net/u/system)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 2:52pm UTC](https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100/7 "2026-04-14T14:52:37Z")

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**Author:** ![system](https://discourse-space.fra1.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/original/1X/6dd4ced29679150fc5afd91ffb046c6737b4f9ee.png) [@system](https://community.epicollect.net/u/system)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2026, 9:11am UTC](https://community.epicollect.net/t/bulk-update-epicollect5-data/1100/8 "2026-04-15T09:11:32Z")

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