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Information On Epidata 2.1: How To Get Started With Epidata

This document provides information on using EpiData 2.1 for data entry and management. It discusses getting started tutorials, extended help files available online, compatibility with Epi Info, and that EpiData is released by the non-profit EpiData Association which relies on donations for further development. The history section describes how EpiData was initially developed as an alternative to Epi Info that uses a graphical interface and simple text file format.

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28 views

Information On Epidata 2.1: How To Get Started With Epidata

This document provides information on using EpiData 2.1 for data entry and management. It discusses getting started tutorials, extended help files available online, compatibility with Epi Info, and that EpiData is released by the non-profit EpiData Association which relies on donations for further development. The history section describes how EpiData was initially developed as an alternative to Epi Info that uses a graphical interface and simple text file format.

Uploaded by

Adi Syah
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Information on EpiData 2.

1
We thank all who spent time on testing and for funding.

How to get started with EpiData 1. Read this readme.rtf file and go through the "Epitour - guided tour of EpiData" found in the help menu of EpiData. 2. An extended help file for easy printing is available from www.epidata.dk as well as extended examples and language
packs for non english language (Danish, Norwegian, French, Spanish, Slovenian, Dutch and others )

3. A tutorial manual on using EpiData for data-entry, data-checking, and data-management for surveys and trials is
available, with sample data, from http://www.myatt.demon.co.uk.

4. Warning: Please use your mouse with caution. EpiData applies controls during dataentry. If you use the keyboard
ENTER key, DownArrow or TAB key all checks are applied at all times. By using the mouse you might bypass fields in which the controls were defined! The Mouse can be used to browse data.

The EpiData Association - contributions and donations


EpiData is - from version 2.0 - released by the non-profit organisation The EpiData Association Odense, Denmark (In danish: EpiData Foreningen). EpiData has been made on a very small budget and is supplied as free-ware to the international community. Only parts of the development has been paid for after version 1.5. Further financial support is needed (e.g. refining of programming, enhancing speed, translation principles, basic analysis of data, maintenance of website, to pay for absence from paid work to do EpiData or other developmental and promotional efforts for EpiData). If you like EpiData then please consider sending a contribution for further development. You can do this in two ways:

a. By direct bank-to-bank transfer (not cheque) b. Credit Card payment at Http://www.epidata.dk


Contact us at [email protected] if you need further information or proof of payment. The Danish Society of Public Health (Research and general public health association for public health interested professionals in Denmark) monitors use of the contributions and has full insight into the spending of donations.

History of EpiData:
The initiative to make EpiData was taken by Jens M.Lauritsen. MD. Ph.d. from Denmark. Initially as part of the Initiative for Accident Prevention at Funen County - but why develop a new data entry programme ? EpiInfo version 6 has all that we need in terms of control of data entry and simplicity. But the graphical interface of Windows programs is now a must for most users. Who find it hard to cope with the "DOS" mode of working in EpiInfo developed during 1990-1995. Commercially available programs are not focused on documentation, simplicity of use and validation of double entered data. On the EpiInfo discussion list there were some discussions on strategies around 1997-1998, when the EpiInfo team at CDC in USA decided to make an updated EpiInfo version 2000. The updated EpiInfo applies a different strategy in using a completely new way of working and the Access database format instead of simple text files (ascii). Since Mark Myatt had similar viewpoints on development strategies he was contacted by Jens M.Lauritsen towards the end of 1999 and agreed to join the EpiData development team which at that point also included a skilled Delphi programmer Michael Bruus, who is doing the actual programming. The ambition of EpiData is to create a simple to use independent application, which will not interfere with or require any

special database system drivers (DLL based routines) shared with or interfering with other applications. The ambition is also to finance development by contributions from institutions, individuals and other contributors such that the program can be delivered as freeware.

For Epi Info Users


If you have worked with Epi Info 6 from WHO/CDC you will note that EpiData is working along the same principles as Epi Info. You can use use your old data directly including all QES-, CHK- and REC-files provided you take the following notes into consideration: But as always it is wise to have backup copies of your data and checkfiles in case something goes wrong. Phone number fields are not supported in EpiData, see the help file for details. EpiData creates data files of the same format as Epi Info 6.04, Be careful if you work with data files in Epi Info as well as EpiData. There might be some inconsistencies we have not found yet. E.g. if you update rec files in Analysis.exe. Check files: Some commands are not included in EpiData. When EpiData reads a check file it will tell you which commands are not implemented and for some of them tell which EpiData commands have replaced the epiinfo ones. E.g. use "comment legal" together with "type comment" instead of codes and codefield. Please notice that the syntax in calculations and expressions is somewhat different in some points from Epi Info. Please refer to "Compatibily with Epi Info" section of the help file.

Funding
A complete list of institutions which gave contributions is maintained at Http://www.epidata.dk/funding.htm. Please acknowledge these.

Please note that we do not have resources for support in general. You will therefore not receive a personal answer on all bug reports or suggestions.
---===o=o=o===--Suggested citation: Lauritsen JM, Bruus M., Myatt MA, EpiData, version 1.0-1.5. A tool for validated entry and documentation of data. County of Funen Denmark and Brixton Health UK. 2001. Lauritsen JM, Bruus M., Myatt MA, EpiData, version 2.1. An extended tool for validated entry and documentation of data. The EpiData Association, Odense Denmark. 2001. For more information on EpiData please refer to About EpiData which is found in the help-menu. We hope you will enjoy and produce reliable data with EpiData. Jens M.Lauritsen, Michael Bruus & Mark Myatt.

[email protected]

Disclaimer:
We made every possible effort in producing a fail-safe program, but we cannot in any circumstance be held responsible for error, loss of data, work time or other losses incurred by or in relation to the program.

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