August 2007 - EpiData-list - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

Epidata: apply the same value labels and validity checks to many variables
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 17 Aug '07

17 Aug '07

Hi, Often, one uses questionnaires where the items and a value labels might be identical for dozens or more questions. It seems that EpiData creates a block in the .CHK file that applies to one variable only. Is there a way to apply the same checks and labels to several variables at the same time? I appreciate that one can go into a text editor and copy the block as many times as necessary and then changing the variable names. it would be great if one could use syntax similar to SPSS or Stata where information can be applied to a variable list such as VAR001-VAR010 the same way it is applied to individual variables. Thanks! John LeBlanc __________________________________________________________ John C. LeBlanc, MD, MSc, FRCPC Associate Professor Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Community Health and Epidemiology Dalhousie University IWK Health Centre Work phone: (902) 470-8930 5850 University Avenue Work fax: (902) 470-6913 Halifax, Nova Scotia Email: John.LeBlanc(a)Dal.Ca B3K 6R8 CANADA Pager: (902) 470-8888 __________________________________________________________

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Relational Files Relate Error
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 14 Aug '07

14 Aug '07

Dear All, I have a relational database comprising of 8 data entry forms. The structure is as follow; FFNO FAMIDNUM CARD Family --------------- Ecouple ----------------------- Under5 ------ Growth Monitoring form | | | | | FFNO | CSNO | | | | Agesex Form Contraception The field names in capital are unique key fields for relating the form during data entry. When I relate Growth Monitoring form Under5 form, the relating happens. When I relate Under5 Form with Ecouple the following message is displayed. Loading data D:\EpiData\Try\Gm.rec, please wait.. Excluded: 1243184 records marked for deletion File name : D:\EpiData\Try\Gm.rec Growth Monitoring Register Fields: 9 Total records: 6 Included: 6 . relate card UNDER5 Loading data D:\EpiData\Try\UNDER5.REC, please wait.. Excluded: 1243148 records marked for deletion File name : D:\EpiData\Try\UNDER5.REC . relate FAMIDNUM Ecouple Loading data D:\EpiData\Try\Ecouple.REC, please wait.. Excluded: 1243148 records marked for deletion 1 4218388 The relation happens only up to 2 forms only. What is meant by the error message 1 4218388 Is there any way out. I am doing it through EPI6 at present which does it seamlessly. Do we still have development issue regarding RELATE command in the Epidata Analysis (Ver 2 Build 112b). I am attaching this sample database in the form of CHC ZIP. Please enlighten upon this problem. Sincerely, Dr. Shavinder .

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EpiData-list Digest
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 14 Aug '07

14 Aug '07

Hello, Two questions : - in the last version (build 122), how to obtain the same result with "set table label = on/ff" than anterior versions ? - in the further versions, is it possible to obtain a box-plot with two or more co-variables ? Thank you B. Branger, Nantes, France

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Floating point error in analysis (describe)
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 06 Aug '07

06 Aug '07

re: "invalid floating pint" error with DESCRIBE in Analysis > I use the command line editor to issue DESCRIBE * command, and I get descriptive summaries of all variables, including the variable called AMOUNT. > > But when I issue the command DESCRIBE AMOUNT, I get an error message: Invalid floating point operation > > Please do the following: 1. Download the most recent testing version of EpiData Analysis: www.epidata.dk/testing.php 2. Retry the same analysis 3. Report to the list if the problem persisted. 4. If the problem persisted: a. pack your data file in a zip file (e.g. with epidata entry - tools menu). b. report the error to the epidata mantis system http://www.epidata.dk/php/mantis/login_page.php and upload the zip file as part of the error report. Kind regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association

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how to sum numeric variables even if one of the variables is empty
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 06 Aug '07

06 Aug '07

Hello I would like to make an automatic sum (see: variable "daystotadm") of a series of variables (see: variable "daysadm1-2..."), but if only one of these variable is empty, the automatic calculation using the function SUM give a null result. Do anyone know a way to solve this problem without the need to enter a value for each variable. In my file I don not necessarily enter all the five lines and the number of days is already a calculated field? I attach the qes and the check files Thank you Francesco Grandesso QES FILE --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of entry Date of exit Number of days -------------------------------------------- --------------- {dateentry1} <dd/mm/yyyy> {dateexit1} <dd/mm/yyyy> {daysadm1} ### {dateentry2} <dd/mm/yyyy> {dateexit2} <dd/mm/yyyy> {daysadm2} ### {dateentry3} <dd/mm/yyyy> {dateexit3} <dd/mm/yyyy> {daysadm3} ### {dateentry4} <dd/mm/yyyy> {dateexit4} <dd/mm/yyyy> {daysadm4} ### {dateentry5} <dd/mm/yyyy> {dateexit5} <dd/mm/yyyy> {daysadm5} ### -------------------------------------------- --------------- {daystotadm} Total days #### CHK FILE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- dateexit1 AFTER ENTRY daysadm1=(dateexit1-dateentry1) daystotadm=SUM(daysadm1,daysadm2,daysadm3,daysadm4,daysadm5) END END daysadm1 NOENTER END .................... and so on for each of the five dateexit* and daysadm* variables __________________________________________ Francesco Grandesso EPICENTRE 8, Rue Saint Sabin 75011 Paris, France tel +33 (0)1 4021 2847 fax +33 (0)1 4021 2803 email Francesco.GRANDESSO(a)epicentre.msf.org

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Chris Sellers/FHS/ADPH is out of the office.
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 04 Aug '07

04 Aug '07

I will be out of the office starting 08/03/2007 and will not return until 08/09/2007. I will check emails periodically while I am away. If an issue needs immediate attention, please, contact Fred Grady at FredGrady(a)adph.state.al.us. Otherwise, I will respond to your email when I return.

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Command Set replace logfile=on
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 04 Aug '07

04 Aug '07

Dear Epidata Team friends, I want to get the html file output form datafile by a PGM. I want to replace the previous output in the defined folder by the new output. The commands in my PGM are as follows; Set replace logfile=on Logopen The quarterly report file . 2007 /close Error message displayed is Replace Logfile not supported I change Set replace logfile=on to another command set replace datafile=on That also does not help. The help file about /close , /replace switches of Logopen command is not clear because it does not work as expected. If you close and reload Epidata Analysis, it works only once and displays error message when the PGM is run second time in the same session. What is the right command syntax? I am using trial version 2 (build 112). With regards, Shavinder Singh

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Command Set replace logfile=on
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 03 Aug '07

03 Aug '07

Dear Epidata Team friends, I want to get the html file output form datafile by a PGM. I want to replace the previous output in the defined folder by the new output. The commands in my PGM are as follows; Set replace logfile=on Logopen The quarterly report file . 2007 /close Error message displayed is Replace Logfile not supported I change Set replace logfile=on to another command set replace datafile=on That also does not help. The help file about /close , /replace switches of Logopen command is not clear because it does not work as expected. If you close and reload Epidata Analysis, it works only once and displays error message when the PGM is run second time in the same session. What is the right command syntax? I am using trial version 2 (build 112). With regards, Shavinder Singh

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Summing a number of variables
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 03 Aug '07

03 Aug '07

The easiest way of summing: > I would like to make an automatic sum (see: variable "daystotadm") of a > series of variables (see: variable "daysadm1-2..."), but if only one of > these variable is empty, the automatic calculation using the function SUM > give a null result. > What I would do is: dateexit1 AFTER ENTRY if dateexit1 = . then goto daysadm1 endif end end dateexit2 AFTER ENTRY if dateexit2 = . then goto daysadm endif end end etc for the other dateexit3 to 5. daysadm before entry * assume you have at least data in the first var: daysadm=(dateexit1-dateentry1) if dateexit2 <> . then daystotadm =(dateexit2-dataentry2) + daysadm endif if dateexit3 <> . then daystotadm =(dateexit3-dataentry3) + daysadm endif if dateexit4 <> . then daystotadm =(dateexit4-dataentry4) + daysadm endif if dateexit5 <> . then daystotadm =(dateexit5-dataentry5) + daysadm endif goto ... next variable end end In this way when the first dateexit is equal to ., the program jumps and no entry is needed in ... up to number 5 variable. (I hope the comparison of date variable with . works - did not test it). Regarding the other question from yesterday. Installation of EpiData software (entry and analysis) is always very "clean", meaning not disturbing the PC, so you can have many copies if you wish for various purposes. Just copy the exe file (plus help if needed). When testing I tend to create the default for testing as: c:\epidataanalysistest such that the test version of analysis does not interfere with the release version. regards jens lauritsen EpiData Association

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"invalid floating pint" error with DESCRIBE in Analysis
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 02 Aug '07

02 Aug '07

I have a small data file, created in EpiData 3.1 on Windows XP. It consists of 7 records and 8 variables. I load the data into Analysis version 1.1 build 68. I use the command line editor to issue DESCRIBE * command, and I get descriptive summaries of all variables, including the variable called AMOUNT. But when I issue the command DESCRIBE AMOUNT, I get an error message: Invalid floating point operation See attached html file. Any suggestions how I could solve this problem? Thanks. -- Christopher W. Ryan, MD SUNY Upstate Medical University Clinical Campus at Binghamton 40 Arch Street, Johnson City, NY 13790 cryanatbinghamtondotedu PGP public keys available at http://home.stny.rr.com/ryancw/ "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea." [Antoine de St. Exupery]

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