Dear Epidata Team,
First we have to thank you very much for the quality of your software.
We intend to use EpiData for a double entry verification. Unfortunately, we have found a problem when entering numerical fields. If the keyboarder types 001 in a 3 digit numerical field, Epidata stores 1 (whitch is quite normal). But during the verification step, if they enter 001 again ... there is a message to remind them that there is a difference. Of course, the difference is between the stored value 1 et the first typed digit 0.
This is a problem for us. In the framework of Clinical Trials, the operators have to enter exactly what is written on the CRF. A solution could be to define the field as a text one. But of course this allows to enter letters instead of digits, and that is not enough secure.
We also tried to associate a numerical range (000-999) to the text 3 characters field (in a .CHK file). With this kind of control, typing a11 is denied, but typing 1a1 is allowed...
Do you have an other solution or idea to solve this problem?
In your forum, you answered to somebody that this problem will be solved in the next version of EpiData. Have you already an idea of the availability date of this version?
Thank you very much in advance,
Valérie Conte