Hi I would like to share my experience on the following suggestion by Jamie

< A great addon or standalone module will be a simple XML editor for recxml files, to be used at our own risk. I don't know if such things exist in other areas, but there must be.> I have only recently started using epidata (Epidata Entry, the stable release) and must say the simple check file format was a great relief. The one thing lacking in the check file editor was lack of tools that can assist while writing the Check file codes (syntax highlighting). What i did was to start using a third party text editor (notepad++) and created a custom scheme that included coloured codes for if-then loops, various commands, comments shading etc. Immediately I was able to collapse the if-then loops, check if my commands were complete etc. I found it quite helpful in writing the CHK code. I can see if there is a way that it can be shared with the group.

From here on, I am afraid a wishlist starts :-)

Having a XML editor within Epidata Manager I believe is a great idea. As a personal choice, for an XML editor for Epidata, I would like to have the following features w.r.t. check code: 1. Assistance that creates a termination code as soon as a command is inserted. Will help in creating compete codes 2. Syntax highlighting: Will decrease spelling mistakes and omission of closing sections (use of multiple brackets, END, ENDIF etc ), 3. Variable list: Will decrease spelling mistakes ! 4. Command list and assistance: type initial letters and the possible commands come as a dropdown !

An XML template can also probably be developed that has sections on: 1. Legal values and codes 2. Missing values 3. Before file commands 4. Before Record commands 5. Variable specific Commands: Calculations, If-then loops, Hide, Unhide, Key Unique 6. After Record commands 7. After File Commands But I agree that this would be probably a very low priority task. Wishlist ends !

Regards Vivek