Dear all
Since release of last trial version of the new EpiData Manager in January around 1000 copies have been downloaded from the testing.php website at epidata.dk.
Since then we (Torsten Christiansen and I) have worked on ways of implementing the more subtle parts of the old rec file system in the new format, which is described at http://www.epidata.org/dokuwiki/doku.php/documentation:datafileformat:xml_v0
The description is not completely up to date, but will be updated soon.
The challenge was to also include relate, encryption and principles for translation of data forms in a structured way. This has now been completed and I expect a new release for testing within some weeks.
In the final file format all contents will be contained in one physical file formulated in XML and in compliance with the w3c.org validator for an xml file. The basic blocks implemented will be: - user access control block - a list of control structures, e.g. specification of relationship btw. files - a list of tables contained (each like an old rec file) - in each table a number of sections - in each section a number of fields. - each field having a number of attributes, such as type (integer, string etc), controls etc.
The file will contain the combination of all current rec and chk files for a given project. User control will be at the section level.
Many users will now think "Oh-no" they changed the simplicity principle of REC-CHK-QES and created a monster system with many problems. This is however NOT the case. For a simple project the file content structure is of no interest to the user and will appear simple. But by containing all in one physcal file it should become much easier to keep track of the data for a given project. Basicly with the new structure files can also be edited in a standard editor.
The complete rewriting is expected to be completed in about one year from now, and funding is still welcomed for the process.
regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association