In this video, we’ll cover all the basics of EpiData, download and install, basic settings, form development and data entry and data export, needful for any beginner. The video is in Nepali language but you can go through steps below in English as well.

EpiData Download and Install

Step 1: Visit EpiData download page

Step 2: Navigate to EpiData Entry Section and Click on Complete setup to download latest version

Note: There are other advanced application on which EpiData team is continuously working. Other applications from the EpiData software supports data analysis and visual form builder as well. But here we will be going with EpiData Entry only.

Step 3: Installation – Just open downloaded file and run as other application [at 2 min 10 sec in video]

Overview of Epidata

Please download EpiData Manager official documentation for details of all functions available in the EPiData Entry. You will also find sample files for practice and more learning at their official documentation page. Further, you can also explore Epi Tour.

EpiData top bar

EpiData was specially created to assist researchers to carry out epidemiological investigations. It has functions which carry the following tasks:

  • Text Editor functions that are used to create questionnaires, edit files that contain data-checking and data-coding rules, and write and edit text.
  • Data Entry functions that allow you to make data files from questionnaire files, enter, edit, and query data.
  • Data Checking functions that allow you to add range checking, skip patterns, legal values, and complex coding rules to data as it is entered. [interactive checking, batch checking and validation]
  • Coding and Calculation functions that allow you to create new variables or manipulate existing variables (e.g. calculation of latency periods, grouping ages etc.).
  • Import function that allows you to import data from text, dBase, and STATA files
  • Export function that allows you to export data to text, dBase, STATA, Excel, SAS, and SPSS format files for subsequent analysis.
  • Data Management functions to append (i.e. join end-to-end), merge (i.e. join side-to-side), or restructure data files.
  • Documentation functions that list data, describe file structures and data checking rules applied to files, produce frequency tables and descriptive statistics for variables in a file, and count records in one or more files using values entered into particular variables.
  • Utility functions that allow you to pack (i.e. remove deleted records) data files, compress data files, make backup copies of data files and associated questionnaires and data checking rules, copy file structures, create questionnaires from existing data files, and rename fields in a file.

EpiData does not contain any complex data analysis functions but data may be exported to a variety of common formats.

Basic Settings of EpiData

Navigate to file in menu bar and click on options. Here you can set display options like fonts and colors along with variable field name setting and file extension options. EpiData setting options

Creating entry forms

Step 1: File > New (Ctrl + N) and save it. It creates .QES file.

Step 2: Now you need to set questionnaire in the format – [ at 7:40 in video ]

|VariableName| |Description or question or statement| |EntryField|
|VariableName| By default first word is considered as variable name. Please do not give space or underscore in the variable name. You can also set to use first 10 characters as variable name by default in option (setting). Alternatively, you can just type your question and put main word in the sentence inside curly bracket {}.
Example:
Name Enter your name <Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa>
Name Enter your name __________________________________________
Enter your {name} _________________________________________
Entry field for numeric variable (age, weight, household numbers, etc.): #####    It can be used with floating integer: ###.##
Entry field for String: _____ (underscore) or or or . Length of character determines length or capacity of entry field.
Entry field for Date: <dd/mm/yyyy>
Note: You can use for auto number. Similarly, you can use for yes no type question.
Important: It is suggested to use numeric variable type with # entry field in categorical type questions. Also, you have to make separate statement for multiple choice questions.
Repeat the process for all questions.
Step 3: Save it and Click on Make Data File in Progress bar. This will create record file (.REC)
Step 4: This step is very important as we add some validation measures here. This includes labeling of options/ choices, allowable values, jumps/ skips and other auto calculations equation. [Check steps in video at 35 min 35 sec] This will create check file (.CHK)
Step 5: Enter Data in the form designed by you just now.
Note: Please ensure that all files i.e. .QES, .REC and .CHK should be in the same folder and with same filename, only extension different.
Visit our website or youtube channel for detailed tutorials of each steps.

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