- EpiData-list - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

How to: checking for duplicate records
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 19 Jan '06

19 Jan '06

Yes - I got this error too. The LIST statement should read: list if (k = k[_n-1]) or (k = k[_n+1]) * if you only want the first of two records to appear: list if k = k[_n+1] *** Of course you have to insert some duplicate records into a copy of bromar.rec first *** |Indeed some of the line breaks threw it a bit. I reformatted below - but |still get that strange TRUNC error like: |. list if k = (( k[_n-1]) or (k[_n+1])) |Operator TRUNC is incompatible with String |Operation aborted

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How to: checking for duplicate records
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 18 Jan '06

18 Jan '06

Some of the line breaks in the example did not come through properly. This is how I ran it: *********** Read "C:\Program Files\EpiData\validate\estimates\bromar.rec" gen s(25) k = "s:" + trim(string(sex) ) k = trim(k) + "a:" + trim(string(age) ) k = trim(k) + "d:" + trim(string(dectime) ) sort k gen x=1 aggregate k /sum=x /close /notable freq n *********** It works fine. I think you were not executing the 'aggregate' statement. With /close, the 'aggregate' command closes your working file and creates a new one with the following fields: k, n, nx, sumx For this example, n, nx and sumx are the same values. Jamie Hockin Public Health Agency of Canada

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checking for duplicate records
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 17 Jan '06

17 Jan '06

Is there an easy way to check for duplicate records during data cleaning after data entry? Currently we export EpiData sets to MS Excel and run a little routine - but maybe someone has some within EpiData solution. Tx Max

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Converting string to number
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 17 Jan '06

17 Jan '06

I tried the solutions given but it didn't work - purhaps I have made some errors. Here is the printout: . read Loading data C:\Data\Test.rec, please wait.. File name : C:\Data\Test.rec Fields: 1 Total records: 3 Valid records: 3 ******************************************************************************************* NOTE: Test.rec contains the variable var1 (string) and the following cases: 10/01 11/02 11/03 ******************************************************************************************* . Run "C:\DOCUME~1\STIG~1.UHL\LOKALA~1\Temp\TMP67F.Tmp" . define var2 ## Var Name VAR2 of type Integer Var length: 2 decimals 0 . var2 = string(copy(var1,1,2)) Data type mismatch . close File closed . read Loading data C:\Data\Test.rec, please wait.. File name : C:\Data\Test.rec Fields: 1 Total records: 3 Valid records: 3 . Run "C:\DOCUME~1\STIG~1.UHL\LOKALA~1\Temp\TMP680.Tmp" . gen i var2 = string(copy(var1,1,2)) Data type mismatch ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stig Uhlin tel 090-786 60 71 Stig.Uhlin(a)umdac.umu.se UMDAC 070-591 03 04 901 87 Umeå fax 090-786 67 62 ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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How to: checking for duplicate records
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 16 Jan '06

16 Jan '06

The decision should be to define the time for this: a. At entry of data b. As part of the analysis or quality control during entry For A: ....................................................................................................................................... Two commands are important here: Key unique Autosearch list The "Key Unique" will prevent more than one instance of a value in a given field to be entered. "Autosearch list" will show you any other record with the same value as the current field already entered in the file. A "key unique" status can also be used when creating combined fields. E.g. if you wish to combine id + area + date of visit then at the combination of these the status of key will be investigated. qes id person id #### area township # visit date of visit # chk file: id and area are defined mustenter and date of visit. * control assumed a string variable visit mustenter after entry control = "id" + string(id) + " area:" + string(area) + "visit:" + visit end end control * notice as well "key unique" as "noenter" key unique noenter end ....................................................................................................................................... Analysis or quality control. To test this I added in the bromar.rec file five double records by copy and paste, but with the same id numbers. I also added 5 records but changed the id to a new value. First the easy one. Let us find the five where id number is the same: * Assume you wish to see variables with same value of id sex age and dectime * I prefer the "gen" to the "define k _____ " but this is not important. gen s(80) k = "id: " + string(id) k = trim(k) + "s:" + trim(string(sex) ) // the first "trim(k) is important !!! k = trim(k) + "a:" + trim(string(age) ) k = trim(k) + "d:" + trim(string(dectime) ) sort k * list now any two records where two consecutive records have the same value * notice [ _n-1] indicates previous record [ _n+1] next record * notice also the many parenthesis. They could be removed but makes sure of what is what. list if k = ( ( k[_n-1] ) or ( k[_n-1]) ) * An alternative would be to create a frequency table, but with many records (here 4000) * this is not going to work. So we use instead: define x # x = 1 * now count how many times a given value in k was there * do not show the table (takes too long) therefore /notable aggregate k /sum=x /close /notable . list n k if n > 1 N K 2 id30 s:2a:55d:4.4833 3 id5 s:2a:51d:3.8667 2 id75 s:2a:52d:4.9167 So we know that records are the same for id 30, 5 and 75. The same principle can be used for any number of variables which will fit within 80 characters. The problem is how many records should be controlled for possible double entry: For my example the number of records to control in roughly 4100 records is: Combine id and 3 variables: 5 (correct) Three variables only (sex age dectime) : 741 combinations with more than one record Four variables only (sex age dectime km) : 154 combinations with more than one record So the question "Is there an easy way" - is answered. It is easy if you have an id or a number of variables to compare by. Most likely more than 4-5 variables. Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association

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Converting string to number
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 13 Jan '06

13 Jan '06

In Epi6 I often used the following define var1 ## let var1=stringvar[startposition,number ] to convert a part of a stringvariabel to an integer variable. Whar is the equivalance in EpiStat? The way to find this information in EpiData Analysis is the following: 1. press F1 (latest version 1.1) 2. This will either show the complete "commands and functions" reference, where a section shows functions or a specific command, if a word in the beginning of the command prompt is found as a key word in the commands ref. The answer to your question can then be found by: writing in the command prompt: functions // and then press F1 or by just pressing F1 and look for the functions near the bottom of the file. ANswer: define var1 ## var1 = string(var2) *or if you wish only a part of var2: var1 = string(copy(var2,1,1)) or simpler with command "gen" gen i var1 = string(var2) *or if you wish only a part of var2: gen i var1 = string(copy(var2,1,1)) "i" stands for integer variable regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association, Denmark functions

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New website design and double entry problem
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 13 Jan '06

13 Jan '06

A "cure" for the double entry problem with special calculations has been found for EpiData Entry. A new build will be put out within the next few days. On the www.epidata.dk website a new front page has been created. I expect to adapt the menu on the left side within a week. Users having problems of seing parts of the page, please send a message to the list or to "info at epidata.dk" regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association

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value labels list in Add/Revise checks
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 13 Jan '06

13 Jan '06

The add/revise system is one of the parts of the EpiData Entry system which was created in the very early stages of development. Therefore it is not optimal for neither the experienced or the beginner. The idea of the add/revise system is to create a visual interface to the CHK files ,which contain the actual commands and rules. E.g. If the user has 20 fields with the same definition of labels (1=yes 2=no 8=irrelevant 9=missing) then defining that in one field and then by Ctrl+C in that field you copy the definition very fast by moving with the arrow to the next 19 fields and pressing Ctrl+V. What should be developed is a more intuitive interface where as well: a. Field specific definitions are created (as now) b. File specific definitions, e.g. backup after closing, colour setting of background etc. are visually defined. Now for the question of labels in Susan Donath's question. The list box which you can scroll has the contents of two parts: 1. Labels (comment legal) defined in the common file epidata.lbl which resides with the exe file when you install EpIData Entry. The idea of the epidata.lbl file is that an institution or user can create a set of commonly used label (comment legal) definitions and then distribute them for all projects. 2. Any labels already defined in the current file If for a given variable no relevant definition of label has been created by either #1 or #2 then the user must define a new one. This is done by pressing the + key or the small + next to the scroll box with defined labels. By entering the new definition a new label is defined, which can then be used in other fields in the same file. Kind regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association

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Converting string to number
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 13 Jan '06

13 Jan '06

In Epi6 I often used the following define var1 ## let var1=stringvar[startposition,number ] to convert a part of a stringvariabel to an integer variable. Whar is the equivalance in EpiStat? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stig Uhlin tel 090-786 60 71 Stig.Uhlin(a)umdac.umu.se UMDAC 070-591 03 04 901 87 Umeå fax 090-786 67 62 Jag jobbar numera 1/2 tid enl följande: jämna veckor onsdag-fredag udda veckor måndag-tisdag ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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EpiData Analysis v1.1 (problems with prevention of several instances in Win98)
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 12 Jan '06

12 Jan '06

The principle of prevention of several instances have been reversed now. On all WinXP variants a small file "preventdouble.ea" will be installed where the exe file of analysis resides. If users try to start EpiData Analysis twice a warning will be issued telling that analysis is already running. The reason for this is that during teaching I have often experienced beginners not being able to find their work since they started maybe three or four simultaneous copies of analysis by double clicking on the start icon and not noticing the other running copies. Experienced users can block this mechanism by simply deleting the file. On Win9x (95 98, me etc) the file is NOT installed since on some PC's they were blocked when the control mechanism was started. Users can experiment with manual creation of an empty file with the same name. Only one other difference in behaviour is known : To run a command prompt from within analysis two commands exist: dos // which works on all pc's ! // which only works on XP+ variants of windows. regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association

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