Pedro:

Am I incorrect in opinionating that actually KEY UNIQUE gives you all answers as well, that an identifier value is already in existence and in which record it is and allowing you to go to precisely that previous record.

Hans

epidata-list@lists.umanitoba.ca wrote:

Gilles,

All the anterior answers are correct. Hoewever I have a preference for another command:

idnumber autosearch list end

This command does not exactly the same thing as key unique. I have this preference because key unique does not allow U to enter a previous entered number and does not warn you which record this number is. Autoserach warns that this number is already in the dataset and gives you the option to edit this one or to generate a new one. This is handy when the mistake is in the first one. For example... suppose you are entering data of questionnaire number 12, but by mistake you enter 22 at the ID number. When you get on 22, key unique only tells you U cant enter 22, becasue it is already in the databank. Autosearch list will show you the record with ID 22 for you to compare and see if this is the same you entering and allow you to go to this 22 and change it to 12 if necessary.

Also, you may use them both at the same check if u like ...

id key unique autosearch list end

Best regards, Pedro Emmanuel