[EpiData-list] Opening html files in excel and using not equal to blank with date fields

One comment and one query

Use of brackets in AR% column I just wondered if it was necessary to use brackets in the AR% tables in attack rate tables. The reason I ask is that when I open an Epidata output (html file) using Excel the AR% columns show as negative numbers - I suppose because Excel thinks the brackets indicate a negative number.

Not equal to blank in date fields

I am having trouble wtih an if then statement where I want to do something if a date field is not blank.

I know that Epidata will accept (.) for blank dates as it accepts

If vomdate =(.) and diadate = (.) then onsetdate = (.)

But it does not accept

If vomdate =(.) and diadate <> (.) then onsetdate = diadate

Could someone please suggest a better code for "not blank" with a date field?

thanks

Christine

Christine Roseveare Analyst Regional Public Health 570 9194 027 495 9671