July 2013 - EpiData-list - University of Manitoba Mailing Lists

PS to: Experimental Manager and Entry Client version with before/after entry scripts available
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 10 Jul '13

10 Jul '13

Excuses, I managed to send the former mail too early: The EntryClient should be version: Program Version: 1.5.0.10 r292 But there are as well versions for Linux, Mac and Windows. Please experiment with these new principles and report. The release of the experimental script version and the former announced public version release: 1.4.2 also indicates a break in development from now until beginning of September 2013. But please keep discussing and asking questions on this list as they will be collected and handled - if serious also fixed before September. The script language is explained here: Wiki: http://epidata.info/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=techdocs:scripting:start A few aspects are still not on the wiki, but will come within some days, e.g. the function now() returns the time at the point of invoking the function. Could be used e.g. to record the starting time of entering data into a new record. Other functions are also on the way such as IsNewRecord() - which will test if the current record has been saved. But please note that this in the experimental section, such that for specific names of functions always look in the wiki if a given function does not work or is not found. Regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association

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SV: Re: [EpiData-list] PS to: Experimental Manager and Entry Client version with before/after entry scripts available
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 06 Jul '13

06 Jul '13

Dear Jean-Marie. We have deliberately chosen to make the programs behave the way it does, concerning the mouse. The reason behind this, is that in most scenarios a user creates a database, based on a questionnaire. This questionnaire has a well defined flow (usually top-left to bottom-right), perhaps with some diversion, eg. skipping some fields if it makes no sense to enter based on previous values. This flow is the same we wish to keep in Manager and EntryClient. And if a user the have to use the mouse, this is typically because an error has been made. Hence the use needs to exit the current field, without any validation is done and script is run. This was actually a flaw in the old EpiData Entry program, where the flow was not well defined. That is, if a user clicked with the mouse the behaviour could lead to an error or even worse some undefined state. Kind regards, Torsten Bonde Christiansen. EpiData Association. Sendt fra min Xperia™-tablet-pc epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca skrev: >Hello, > >THANKS, This new functionnality is really very exciting! >I made some tests and it's very easy to use. > >A great improvment would be the activation of "before entry" and "after >entry" action when the next field is directly selected using the mouse. > >In modern UI, users tend to navigate from field to field using the mouse >instead using the keyboard. Thus scripts are not fired if users use the >mouse and it breaks the logic behind the scripts. > >Best regards > >Jean-Marie Chrétien >CHU d'Angers - DRCI >Cellule Méthodo/Biostat/Data >Maison de la Recherche >4 rue Larrey >49933 ANGERS Cedex 9 > > > >2013/7/5 <epidata-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> > >> Excuses, I managed to send the former mail too early: >> >> The EntryClient should be version: Program Version: 1.5.0.10 r292 >> But there are as well versions for Linux, Mac and Windows. >> >> Please experiment with these new principles and report. >> >> The release of the experimental script version and the former announced >> public version release: 1.4.2 also indicates a break in development from >> now until beginning of September 2013. >> >> But please keep discussing and asking questions on this list as they will >> be collected and handled - if serious also fixed before September. >> >> The script language is explained here: >> >> Wiki: >> http://epidata.info/dokuwiki/**doku.php?id=techdocs:**scripting:start<http://epidata.info/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=techdocs:scripting:start> >> >> A few aspects are still not on the wiki, but will come within some days, >> e.g. the function now() returns the time at the point of invoking the >> function. Could be used e.g. to record the starting time of entering data >> into a new record. Other functions are also on the way such as >> IsNewRecord() - which will test if the current record has been saved. But >> please note that this in the experimental section, such that for specific >> names of functions always look in the wiki if a given function does not >> work or is not found. >> >> Regards >> >> Jens Lauritsen >> EpiData Association >> >> >> ______________________________**_________________ >> EpiData-list mailing list >> EpiData-list(a)lists.umanitoba.**ca <EpiData-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca> >> http://lists.umanitoba.ca/**mailman/listinfo/epidata-list<http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/epidata-list> >> >_______________________________________________ >EpiData-list mailing list >EpiData-list(a)lists.umanitoba.ca >http://lists.umanitoba.ca/mailman/listinfo/epidata-list

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Epidata Analysis
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 06 Jul '13

06 Jul '13

Hello, For the last version of EPIDATA ANALYSIS (24 May 2013) : - the first veiwer screen is black (it changes after le first commands..) : why ? - in Help, I don't find for the tables command : /t, /c, /o, /r.. Why ? Ok I seen "set statistics="OR CHI...", but I have a message error. - Idem for epitables or etab command, I have a message error. Thank you for your help. Bernard BRANGER, Nantes, France PS : the new link for "Course Materials in Franch" is : http://www.reseau-naissance.fr/module-pagesetter-viewpub-tid-2-pid-28.html Thank you

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Experimental Manager and Entry Client version with before/after entry scripts available
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 05 Jul '13

05 Jul '13

Whereas the former mail concerned the public production version, this mail is an exciting additional feature to be tested by users. Assume you have a special situation where you need to do a particular calculation to show the entry person, e.g. calculation of BMI or the summation of 10 items for an index. With the experimental version now available from: http://www.epidata.dk/testing.php You can create such scripts. Attached is an example file using integers. Example script is: if V1 = 4 then goto V3 missing else if V1 = 3 then goto V3 clear; Another example: V4 := V1 + V2 + V3 ; V5 := V1*V2*V3; Notice that the way the syntax is written resembles pascal, which is a deliberate choice. We have tried a few other variants, including R, but too many problems were created at the implementation. The syntax is intended to be implemented in exactly the same way later in Analysis, once this software has also been rewritten. Quite many functions are already implemented. These are explained on the wiki page: Users are encouraged to work over the next months challenging the scripting engine. And discuss on this list if the new scripting engine is too experimental or of actual use. To write a script: 1 add a field in Manager version : Program Version: 1.5.0.10 r684 2 hightligh that field and hit Enter button 3 on the tab pages of the properties of the field you will see a tab page next to "notes" saying script. this is where you write your scripts. 4 then save the file and open in EntryClient which MUST be the experimental version as well: EpiData Entry Client Program Version: 1.5.0.10 r292 Core version: 1.5 r767 FPC Version: 2.6.2 Platform: x86_64-Linux

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EpiData Manager and EntryClient updated to v1.4.2
by epidata-list＠lists.umanitoba.ca 05 Jul '13

05 Jul '13

The following has been updated: New functionality in Manager: Expand current Dataform, - shown on the toolbar with two triangles pointing downwards. This will add blank space at the bottom of the dataform- A tecx indicator is shown. When you save the file the indicator is NOT saved. EntryClient and Manager: * Added commandline options -i, -r, -h and -v * Added commandline options -i, -r, -h and -v Which allows to specify inifile, recentfile, help and version. One use of this would be to use separate recentfiles for experimental and runtime latest public version. A bug in Manager in relation to copy structure for double entry and another in relation to copy/paste has been fixed. Users should be aware that on export to SPSS, SAS etc there can be difficulties in creating systemfiles in these softwares, since EpiData Manager and EntryClient now base all text on the UTF-8 principles. Later some recipies will be added on "how-to" manage this. The version mentioned above is available from the general "production" page: Http://www.epidata.dk/download.php A separate mail will follow regarding a new experimental version - which can run scripts before and or after entry. regards Jens Lauritsen Torsten Christiansen EpiData Association

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