[EpiData-list] Definition of values (comment legal, missingvalue, range ....)

[epidata-list at lists.umanitoba.ca]

Often when users of EpIData send in files to epidata.dk for help it turns 
out that chk
files are created more complex than actually needed. One example of this:

 From a chk file (opened in the editor, not in "Add/revise") example:
labelblock
   LABEL label_q01
     8  dog
     14 Horse
     21 "lazy tiger"
    end
end

v1
   missingvalue 99
   comment legal use label_q01
end

In this situation only the values 8 14 21 and 99 plus "blank=missing" can 
be entered.
If the v1 block is changed to:

v1
   mustenter
   missingvalue 99
   comment legal use label_q01
end

Only the values 8 14 21 and 99 can be entered.

So there would be no reason to test in a "after entry .... end"  block like 
this:

v1
   mustenter
   missingvalue 99
   comment legal use label_q01
    after entry
        if  (v1 <> 8) and (v1 <> 14) and (v1 <> 21) and (v1 <> 99) then
             help "Wrong value entered"
             goto v1
        endif
    end
end

One other aspect of this is that sometimes people define the same values in a
RANGE and LEGAL and  COMMENT LEGAL and MISSINGVALUE
Any value should only be in one of these definitions.

regards Jens Lauritsen