- EpiData-list - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

multiple response (& server is up again)
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 07 Oct '08

07 Oct '08

The server is now up and running again. (All scripts have been checked - there were no problems, but only assumed problems). Off list the following question was asked regarding EpiData Analysis > Hi There, > I have a question that i am trying to evaluate with a multi response answer. > I have set out the question as follow with a text variable for each answer: > > Q1: What fruit do you like _ _ _ _ _ > a - Apples b - Orange c - Banana d - Pear e - Grapes > Now when i go to analyse this, is there a way i can graph the response > for this answer on a bar graph? I cannot seem to be able to add > multiple series into the graph to compare all answers for this question? Currently bar graphs can only take one variable at a time. Except for box and scatter/line plots for several variables. Box plots for several variables has just been introduced with the pre v2.1 - v2.0.5.148 version. For all graphs a /by variable has been introduced, but this does not change the basic limitation of one variable per plot. What you could do to analyse the data is to use stattables and count binary indicators calculated like this: gen i apple = (pos(q1, "a" ) > 0) gen i orange = (pos(q1, "b" ) > 0) etc for the other fruits. stattable apple orange ......../stat="sum" /N /close * then in the new file with counts of the fruits and the total some percentages could be worked out. A graph showing the combinations of the variables in the form of a VENN diagram could be a solution, but currently this cannot be done with EpiData Analysis. I wrote a command for Stata for this: See: http://www.stata.com/products/stb/journals/stb47.pdf . The initial version has been extended with four factor ellipses. We could consider including Venn diagrams in a later version (but at the earliest second quarter 2009) and also a multiple response tables command. regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association

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website epidata.dk is down due to attempts of "phishing"
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 06 Oct '08

06 Oct '08

The webserver company claims someone tried to use the epidata.dk site for spamming. I will notify when the server is up again. regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association

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Final test version of rel 5 v2.0.5.148 placed on testing.php page
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 01 Oct '08

01 Oct '08

The final build for testing of release candidate of v2.1 EpiData Analysis has been placed on the page: http://www.epidata.dk/testing.php After testing of build 148 by users this will be released as v2.1 replacing current general download version, which has a number of known problems/bugs. Please report any problem with b148 to the list or discuss principles here. There will be NO further implementation of function before release of v2.1 - only fixing any bugs reported. Many issues have been solved - among these unification of commands, new lifetable and stattable command and fixing titles for graphs. Among many other extensions the possibility of making box plots for several variables in the same graphs and further user "set" specifications of headers in table and output can be mentioned. The principle of /by variable has been implemented where relevant, and a new reporting oriented command stattable has been introduced, where summary measures can be used. Unification means that all tables or graphs working with an outcome variable will have this variable first, examples: epicurve outcome timevar lifetable outcome timevar tables outcome exposure ciplot outcome variables The lifetable takes on two forms with explicit time variable and the possibility of giving as well "date of entry" and "date of exit", plus an option /MT "missing time" to indicate how to handle missing data on the "exit" variable, e.g. when follow-up is still ongoing. Lifetable implements the principles of confidence intervals published by Altman et al in "statistics with confidence" e.g. estimates at specified levels of survival (median and quartiles) or survival with confidence intervals at specified times. The plan is to implement other "Statistics with confidence - CI principles" in the coming year. All commands are documented in the commands.htm file, which will be shown when hitting the F1 button with an empty command prompt. (But I am quite sure, there could be some deficiencies in the documentation, so please report these). I wish to give credit for the current extension and intensified development, which is only possible by funding of full time academic programmer for the project by various projects credited on the www.epidata.dk/funding.htm page and the willingness of people to take on tasks. More about the funding sources and staff listing will be revealed when v2.1 is released. Work now continues with implementation of further SPC (statistical process control) graphs, these will be included for general use accompanied by full implementation of translation in v2.5. regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association

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Alyshia Landry is out of the office.
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 30 Sep '08

30 Sep '08

I will be out of the office starting 09/27/2008 and will not return until 10/06/2008. If you require immediate assistance, please contact Celina Sousa at extension 5300. Thank-you, Alyshia

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numerical to date chk?
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 30 Sep '08

30 Sep '08

Dear Epidata list, I am looking for a way to generate a date-variable from a numerical-variable. i.e. I will type in the Danish central person registration number (10 digits where the 6 first digits are the birthday ddmmyy) I would like to automatically create a date variable from this - to calculate ages at later dates. I have looked for a chk that would do it, but couldn't find any. Does anybody have a solution? (and sorry if this has been discussed before, I searched and couldn't find any relevant discussion threads) thanks in advance, Drude Molbo, data admin dept. of social medicine, KU DK

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Opening html files in excel and using not equal to blank with date fields
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

One comment and one query Use of brackets in AR% column I just wondered if it was necessary to use brackets in the AR% tables in attack rate tables. The reason I ask is that when I open an Epidata output (html file) using Excel the AR% columns show as negative numbers - I suppose because Excel thinks the brackets indicate a negative number. Not equal to blank in date fields I am having trouble wtih an if then statement where I want to do something if a date field is not blank. I know that Epidata will accept (.) for blank dates as it accepts If vomdate =(.) and diadate = (.) then onsetdate = (.) But it does not accept If vomdate =(.) and diadate <> (.) then onsetdate = diadate Could someone please suggest a better code for "not blank" with a date field? thanks Christine Christine Roseveare Analyst Regional Public Health 570 9194 027 495 9671 -- The information contained in this email and any attachments is confidential and may be legally privileged. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and remove all copies of the message, including any attachments. Any views or opinions expressed in this email (unless otherwise stated) may not represent those of Hutt Valley DHB. Thank you. ** Disclaimer added by HVDHB **

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Another question about SPC
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

I am trying to use EpiData to display information about Healthcare Associated Infections, such as MRSA and C difficile. I was wondering if SPC charts can be used to show actual and cases against targets. Please see an example attached of what I am trying to achieve. This has been done in excel (I think!) Thanks, Shakeel ----------------------------------------- ************************************************************************** The information contained in the EMail and any attachments is confidential and intended solely and for the attention and use of the named addressee(s). It may not be disclosed to any other person without the express authority of the HPA, or the intended recipient, or both. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose, copy, distribute or retain this message or any part of it. This footnote also confirms that this EMail has been swept for computer viruses, but please re-sweep any attachments before opening or saving. HTTP://www.HPA.org.uk **************************************************************************

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EPIC bug report - fails on Stata7 option.
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

EPIC.exe has a bug. It failes with a pointer error Access Violation when trying to use the export to "Stata7" option. It does leave a small Stata .dta file which has a size of 717 bytes. Stata hangs on trying to open this small file. Specifying the Stata, Stata5 and Stata6 options works fine. I've tried the command in various formats (lower/uppercase etc), on local hard drive, network drive etc. Windows XP. Any chances of a quick fix? This is a problem for me because Stata6 only has 8-character variable names, whereas Stata7 doesn't have this limitation. With EpiC, my Stata data cleaning process could work automatically from the most recent data entry version. Would a 200 Euro donation to the Epidata association help fix this problem at some point in time? HERE IS AN ERROR LOG: ==================== C:\tmp>EpiC.exe export stata7 file1.rec file1.dta EpiC - the EpiData command application version 3.1 10. Jan. 2006 (C) Copyright 2002-2006 - EpiData Association, http://www.epidata.dk Programmed by M.Bruus. Design: JM.Lauritsen & M.Bruus 0 % doneException EAccessViolation in module EpiC.exe at 00001C3C. Access violation at address 00401C3C in module 'EpiC.exe'. Write of address 0000 0004. ==================== Yours, Jan Brogger

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SPC Charts
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 10 Sep '08

10 Sep '08

Hello, Is it possible to create SPC Charts in Epidata Analysis- if so, what is the procedure? Thanks Shakeel ----------------------------------------- ************************************************************************** The information contained in the EMail and any attachments is confidential and intended solely and for the attention and use of the named addressee(s). It may not be disclosed to any other person without the express authority of the HPA, or the intended recipient, or both. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose, copy, distribute or retain this message or any part of it. This footnote also confirms that this EMail has been swept for computer viruses, but please re-sweep any attachments before opening or saving. HTTP://www.HPA.org.uk **************************************************************************

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Two questions
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 09 Sep '08

09 Sep '08

Hello, 1- In Analysis, the width of variable codes is 20 characters with "freq" or "tables". Is it possible to increase this width ? I have variable codes> 20 characters. 2- In related file ("daughter file"), I need, for a calculation, of a variable in "father file". How to proceed ? Thank you. Bernard BRANGER, Nantes, France

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