Entity update with empty label

[WKobus]

ODK Collect version

master version 70a6e9d

Android version

16, 10

Device used

Pixel 6a, Redmi 7

Problem description

Properties are not updated offline in collect when there is empty label in entity update form, entities are updated on central and shown in collect after refreshing forms

Issue does not occur on store version 2026.1.1

Steps to reproduce the problem

1. Scan user "empty label" from https://staging.getodk.cloud/projects/184/app-users
2. Go to Color registration form, fill all questions and send it
3. Open Color update form and select previously created entity
4. Leave "New color" question empty (Label is created by this question) and fill other questions
5. Send form
6. Go to color update form, select previously updated entity and check if properties are updated

Expected behavior

Properties should be updated offline in collect when updating entities in a form with empty label

XRecorder_11032026_114747.mp4

[seadowg]

I'm not sure I understand exactly how this should behave actually. Is the expectation here that the (offline) entity label should be updated if the new_color question is not blank and won't be updated if it is?

I think if that's the case we need to be clearer about this intended behaviour at in the spec @lognaturel. As far as I can tell the entity label should never be blank, but it's not clear if the "update" with a blank label should be rejected entirely or just that the (blank) label should be rejected.

[lognaturel]

Good catch, @WKobus!

label is intended to be optional for updates -- by leaving it blank, a user can indicate that there's no change intended to the label. label is required so there's no possible ambiguity with "set label to empty string".

You're right this should be in the spec. How about changing

MAY have a direct child label representing a human-readable label

to

MAY have a direct child label representing a human-readable label. If it is absent or blank, the update has no effect on the Entity's label

[seadowg]

You're right this should be in the spec. How about changing

MAY have a direct child label representing a human-readable label

to

MAY have a direct child label representing a human-readable label. If it is absent or blank, the update has no effect on the Entity's label

Yup that's good! I can make that change.