September 2006 - EpiData-list - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Re: EpiData-list Digest, Vol 35, Issue 12
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 30 Sep '06

30 Sep '06

Dear friends: I was working with Epidata Analysis module. I guess I did solve the problems. The first was with dates - the year format was abreviated in the original data. I used these data in training students and it was common to use them with Epi Info for DOS analysis where it worked fine. The problem was solved when I did correct the date to yyyy format. The second problem I do not understand. I was working with fields named weight and height and trying to calculate IMC. The return I did obtain was that the data did not match or that weight was inadequate. I transformed both fieds to portuguese using the following sintaxe: Define peso ##.## Peso = weight Define altura ###.## altura = height Then IMC formula worked properly. I am including the files as attatchment to this e-mail including the pgm file. The problem ocurred in my notebook, my desktop and in the desktops of the students at the laboratory (with windows XP and windows 98, respectivelly). I tried again just before sending this e-mail with the old file againl and it worked propperly. Sorry for the inconvenience. Sincerelly Gerson Zanetta de Lima ----- Original Message ----- From: <epidata-list-request(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> To: <epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> Sent: Saturday, September 30, 2006 2:00 PM Subject: EpiData-list Digest, Vol 35, Issue 12 > Send EpiData-list mailing list submissions to > epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/epidata-list > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > epidata-list-request(a)lists.umanitoba.ca > > You can reach the person managing the list at > epidata-list-owner(a)lists.umanitoba.ca > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of EpiData-list digest..." > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > EpiData-list mailing list > ___________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Today's Topics: > > 1. Issues of recent days (epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > ________________________________________ > EpiData-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca > http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/epidata-list > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.10/459 - Release Date: 9/29/aaaa

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Issues of recent days
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 29 Sep '06

29 Sep '06

Regarding questions the latest days. It is advisable when people ask questions that some information is ALWAYS included: a. Is this epidata entry or epidata analysis b. Which version of the software are you using (number and country versions) c. What is the operating system you are using A few suggestions for the specific problems: 1. Sara gets : >"access violation at address 048AC23 in module “epideata.exe”. Read of address 000000000" > So this is a "fortunate" situation since it is reproducible. I suggest you put your chk and rec file into a zip archive (tools menu) and send to info @ epidata.dk We will run your file in a controlled environment, since your combinations of questions etc. points to an error or bug in the epidata entry programme. ................ Gerson Zanetta de Lima have problems of a different nature. The problem is to get the software to "understand" that a simple calculation: >I can make operations like defining a new floating variable and using the command >newvariable = height/2 or newvariable = height*height > > But then trying to do the same with "define imc ##" does not work. This is due to the problem that EpiData Entry and Analysis are more strict in controlling variable conversions than e.g. Epi6. The problem is that: >weight/(height^2) or weight/(height*height) > > results in a float resultat - meaning the content cannot end in an integer. What should the software do with the calculations ending in e.g. 32.14 or 31.89. So in this situation if you only want the integer part of the result (here 32 and 31 or rounded 32 in both cases) make an explicit conversion: From help file of entry you find the function Integer(x), which converts x to an integer value. define imc ## imc = integer(weight/(height^2)) The same in analysis: example variable "Timer" which is float: TIMER Float X Integer 2 0 x = int(timer) Data type mismatch x = integer(timer) Since the function int(timer) returns a float value, but integer(timer) returns an integer value. Another example of this more careful value handling is when EpiData Analysis reads date variables. An illegal date will be rejected, e.g. "01/01/1", which would be accepted by Epi6. ....................................................... Regarding Henriettes installation problem: There is no need to try different language versions. The exe file is always the same. I would do exactly this: 1. Install analysis on a different machine 2. Create a folder where you want analysis, e.g. c:\program files\epidata 3. Copy the epidatastat.exe to the "troublesome" machine in that folder. 4. Run the exe file (which will tell you that help files are missing). After that you can copy the documentation from the subfolders on machine 1 to the folders on the troublesome machine. regards Jens Lauritsen

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RE: problem with installing EpiData Analysis
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 28 Sep '06

28 Sep '06

"Regarding the problem " .... "I recently tried to install EpiData Analysis on my laptop but upon running the setupepidatastat.exe file I get the following msg: >Runtime Error (at 5:598): >Internal Error: Failed to expand shell folder constant "userdocs". > > To understand the message you should know that EpiData Analysis tries to do the following during installation: 1. unzip the installation setup file to a number of files. 2. place these files in a structured number of folders 3. adds a line to the "...ini" files with the name of the working folder. This is done via an internal constant called "userdocs". Often when I am teaching EpIData the course has as part of it to install the files. And usually the situation in computer lab rooms is such that users (including teachers) have no rights to the machine at all. - except all rights in the subfolder: "c:\documents and settings\username\my documents" In that case I install to a sub folder, e.g.: "c:\documents and settings\username\my documents\epidatapgm" and chooses: "c:\documents and settings\username\my documents\epidata" as the working folder. It is the latter which has the internal name "userdocs" And it always worked except for one time where I then installed onto a USB stick (to e:\epidata) and afterwards copied that folder onto the pc with all subfolders. So in your case I would: 1. Get a copy of epidatastat.exe on a usb stick and copy that exe file alone to the c drive (or d ...) 2. execute the exe file which will then create a miminal subfolder structure and if this also fails it means that you cannot create subfolder's on your pc and something is really ackward. Reinstall windows or other similar. 3. if the minimal folder works then I would copy a complete installation onto a usb stick and from there onto the pc. Hope this helps - in all cases the installation does nothing but copying files and creating subfolders. So all in all the Internal Error: Failed to expand shell folder constant "userdocs". implies that your specification of the "userdocs" is not appropriate. Could it be that the operating system is not XP, but e.g. windows 95 or 98 ? Jens lauritsen EpiData Association

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RE: [EpiData-list] problem with installing EpiData Analysis
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 28 Sep '06

28 Sep '06

Thanks for the suggestion. Sorry for continuing this saga. I again downloaded the complete setup (both the exe and the zip) and placed copies on desktop, C: drive and D: drive and tried to run each of them. I also tried to run the exe file directly from the epidata download page. Finally I did the same with the Spanish version. All with the same result: I am getting the error message mentioned below immediately as the first thing when I try to run the file (in the blue window "Setup - EpiData Analysis Public Release"), thus even before I am given the option to determine where to install it. Our organization's IT people generally do not give support to software that they don't know and since I do not have this problem with other software (I installed for example last week EpiData Entry and SPSS without any problems) they referred to the developers/providers of the software. But from your reaction it does not seem to be a common problem among other users, so I probably should try to get back to our IT people.... Thanks again, Henriette -----Original Message----- From: epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca [mailto:epidata-list@lists.umanitoba.ca] Sent: 28 September 2006 09:48 To: epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca Subject: RE: [EpiData-list] problem with installing EpiData Analysis If your computer has more than 1 HDD (or more than 1 partition), try to install EpiDataAnalysis on another drive (D:) Gilles -----Message d'origine----- De : epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca [mailto:epidata-list@lists.umanitoba.ca] Envoyé : mercredi 27 septembre 2006 13:50 À : epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca Objet : RE: [EpiData-list] problem with installing EpiData Analysis Dear all, Regarding the problem below, it is still not solved. To be clear, I am myself the administrator of my laptop so the problem is not caused by not being allowed to install. I am really stuck and very sorry to not be able to use EpiData Analysis in the field (at least not on my own computer). Are there any suggestions on what I can try? Thanks again. Henriette -----Original Message----- From: epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca [mailto:epidata-list@lists.umanitoba.ca] Sent: 21 September 2006 16:58 To: epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca Subject: [EpiData-list] problem with installing EpiData Analysis I recently tried to install EpiData Analysis on my laptop but upon running the setupepidatastat.exe file I get the following msg: Runtime Error (at 5:598): Internal Error: Failed to expand shell folder constant "userdocs". I have tried repeated downloading from the epidata website but with the same result. The same file installed the program without problems on my desktop computer. Operating system is Windows XP Professional (both desktop and laptop). Thanks for any suggestions. Henriette Dr Henrica A.F.M. (Henriette) Jansen Epidemiologist, WHO Multi-country Study Violence against Women Department of Gender, Women and Health Tel direct: +41 22 791 3106 Fax direct: +41 22 791 1585 Mobile: +41 78 730 3035 E-mail: jansenh(a)who.int Website: http://www.who.int/gender/violence/multicountry/en/

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access violation at address 048AC23 in module epideata.exe. Read of address 000000000
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 28 Sep '06

28 Sep '06

Dear Epidata, I wonder if you can help me, or point me in the right direction for some EpiData help. I'm trying to put in the checks to my questionnaire, and a couple of times now, i have had the following warning pop up when i try to enter a revision into the check file: "access violation at address 048AC23 in module epideata.exe. Read of address 000000000" then when I re-open the rec or chk file, all my edits to the check file have been cleared and the check file has been either emptied of all checks or deleted all together. I've tried to find help on the web site, through your tr manual and the epidata manual, but nothing relates to this error message. I just can't figure out what's going wrong. Do you have any ideas?? Thanks for taking the time to read this. Sara

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RE: [EpiData-list] problem with installing EpiData Analysis
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 28 Sep '06

28 Sep '06

Dear all, Regarding the problem below, it is still not solved. To be clear, I am myself the administrator of my laptop so the problem is not caused by not being allowed to install. I am really stuck and very sorry to not be able to use EpiData Analysis in the field (at least not on my own computer). Are there any suggestions on what I can try? Thanks again. Henriette -----Original Message----- From: epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca [mailto:epidata-list@lists.umanitoba.ca] Sent: 21 September 2006 16:58 To: epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca Subject: [EpiData-list] problem with installing EpiData Analysis I recently tried to install EpiData Analysis on my laptop but upon running the setupepidatastat.exe file I get the following msg: Runtime Error (at 5:598): Internal Error: Failed to expand shell folder constant "userdocs". I have tried repeated downloading from the epidata website but with the same result. The same file installed the program without problems on my desktop computer. Operating system is Windows XP Professional (both desktop and laptop). Thanks for any suggestions. Henriette Dr Henrica A.F.M. (Henriette) Jansen Epidemiologist, WHO Multi-country Study Violence against Women Department of Gender, Women and Health Tel direct: +41 22 791 3106 Fax direct: +41 22 791 1585 Mobile: +41 78 730 3035 E-mail: jansenh(a)who.int Website: http://www.who.int/gender/violence/multicountry/en/

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How to calculate in epidataanalysis
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 27 Sep '06

27 Sep '06

To the list: I do have a database with the fields weight (floating number) and height (floating number). I can make operations like defining a new floating variable and using the command newvariable = height/2 or newvariable = height*height but when I tri to define IMC ## and then IMC=weight/(height^2) or IMC=weight/(height*height) I do receive a "data tipe mismatch" as an answer. I cant have an answer when I try to get age as agemonths=(visitdate-birthdate)/30 The same calculations work with epiinfo for dos with the same datafile. Gerson Zanetta de Lima Brazil

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EPIDATA really appropriate??
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 25 Sep '06

25 Sep '06

QUESTION: I may be addressing a biased audiance, but Id like some reassurance that EpiData is the best way to go for capturing questionnaire data, which will then be transferred to STATA. I had started an EpiInfo database but then realized that it does not support double data entry...or at least not very easily. Thanks!! Todd Technical Public Health Advisor, Epidemiologist Technical Support Unit (STAO) Médecins du Monde 62 rue Marcadet Paris-75018 Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 92 14 79 Fax: +33 (0)1 44 92 99 92 E-mail: todd.swarthout(a)medecinsdumonde.net

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Query regarding grids??
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 24 Sep '06

24 Sep '06

Question: EpiData does not seem to have the 'Grid' option (To Deal With Repeating Data Within A Questionnaire such as age of household members). Is this true?? Cheers Todd

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Re: [EpiData-list] EPIDATA really appropriate??
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 24 Sep '06

24 Sep '06

I really like epidata for data entry. In our public health service we use epidata for data entry and epi info for analysis. We mainly use epidata/epi info for investigating outbreaks. As outbreaks don't come along all the time the computer support software has to be simple so staff can quickly remember how to use it. I teach courses on using epidata and epi info to staff and they find epidata in particular, very easy to learn. The two other things I like about epidata that have stopped me making the switch to doing everything in epi info are 1. How easy it is to have a 'master' qes form in Epiidata. You can open it up - add or delete a few extra questions - save it as a new name and then have a new rec file 2. The way it is easy to add new questions once you have started data entry With outbreaks we usually want to create questionnaires very fast - so being able to quickly adapt existing forms and adapt them once you've started is great. I don't find that Epi info has that flexibility for data entry but I do like it for analysis. I expect Stata can do more things but Epi Info seems to do all we need and of course is free! Christine Christine Roseveare Analyst Regional Public Health 570 9194 027 495 9671 >>> <epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> 24/09/2006 1:37 a.m. >>> QUESTION: I may be addressing a biased audiance, but Id like some reassurance that EpiData is the best way to go for capturing questionnaire data, which will then be transferred to STATA. I had started an EpiInfo database but then realized that it does not support double data entry...or at least not very easily. Thanks!! Todd Technical Public Health Advisor, Epidemiologist Technical Support Unit (STAO) Médecins du Monde 62 rue Marcadet Paris-75018 Tel.: +33 (0)1 44 92 14 79 Fax: +33 (0)1 44 92 99 92 E-mail: todd.swarthout(a)medecinsdumonde.net -- 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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