Q: 1) Does this mean that when using the 'Double Entry Verification' option (immediate comparison), this will not work if you have added any new variables into the .rec, or changed the order of the variables from the existing .rec? Q 2) With "compare two files" is it possible to compare the old and new .rec files, even if a new variable has been added, or the order of the variables has been changed?
Since I am not sure of the answer the best way to get rid of such a worry is to make a small test.
1 Just create a rec file of say 5 fields and enter 5 records - let us name it A. Add checks and a unique entry field. 2 Then copy structure (tools menu) of the file to a new file B 3 Use with file b the "rec to qes" file option on file B and create b.qes 4 Open b.qes and change the order of some variables (let the ID variable be at the top) and add a few more. 5. Open file b for entry and the entry module will ask "update structure". Say yes and you now have a new field sequence and number. 6. enter a few records more in file b and see what happens with the "validate dublicate files". You know there is a changed structure and more fields in file b, but also that the contents of the first five records is the same as file a (for fields in a and b).
7. Do simililarly as indicated above, that is "prepare double entry " for the "immediate option" to say a_db. 8. Create from a_dbl the file a_dbl.qes (as point 3 above). 9. change in the qes file the order of the fields (except id). 10. enter data in file a_dbl and see if it works.
Finally: Let us know on the list how your test went.
Morale: never trust any software unless you have tried and challenged the software yourself. (I do that for all types of software - regardless of status: commercial, shareware, freeware ....)
regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association With the t
But in any case my worry would mean
- If you use the other method of data verification (entering data into
two seperate files and then validating duplicate files afterwards), is it possible to compare the old and new .rec files, even if a new variable has been added, or the order of the variables has been changed?
Will using the 'validate duplicate files' option work if the new .rec file has the variables in a different order?
Thanks so much for all your help,
Nicki Bailey
One aspect of this about unique identifiers is when users want to do double entry.
The only double entry option in this situation is to enter the data twice and then compare afterwards, since the "immediate comparison" double entry mode is not available for combined field unique entries unless the records are entered in EXACTLY the same sequence as the first time. The problem for the user is, that the system is NOT giving correct warnings in the immediate double entry if the unique index is created in contrast to entered directly.
I would like the identifier to be automatically created in the .rec file after entering 4 variables and as an aggregation of these 4 variables. For instance my identifier is ID=region number+village number+household number+member in the household number
regards Jens Lauritsen EpiData Association
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