About copying and moving data-entry rules

You can copy and paste a data-entry rule or move a data-entry rule.

• Copy and paste a data-entry rule.

  When you copy and paste a data-entry rule, a new instance of the data-entry rule is created. The copy of the data-entry rule has:

  • A RefName in the following format:
    • [Original rule RefName]_[Number to uniquely identify the copied rule]

      For example, if you copy a data-entry rule with the RefName chkDOV, the RefName for the copied rule is chkDOV_1. The appended number is incremented with each subsequent copy of the rule so that each rule has a unique RefName.

      Note: For library rules, a data-entry rule RefName must only be unique among sibling rules with the same parent object.

  • New instances of rule test cases associated with the original rule.

  On a copied or moved data-entry rule, the Central Designer app deletes the test cases and does not modify the rule expression or action parameters. When you copy or move a rule, you must edit the rule as necessary and create new test cases.

• Move a data-entry rule to another study object, using the cut and paste functionality.

  When you move a data-entry rule to another study object using the cut and paste functionality, a new instance of the data-entry rule is not created. The following occurs:

  • In the Rules tab, the data-entry rule is grayed out.
  • When you paste the data-entry rule to a new study object, the data-entry rule is moved from the original study object to the target study object. The Central Designer application does not create a new instance of the rule. The RefName and ID for the rule remain unchanged.

    Note: The cut and paste functionality for moving a data-entry rule from the Rules tab is different behavior than using the cut and paste functionality for study objects in the Project Explorer.

Notes:

• You cannot copy or move rule templates, workflow rules, or global conditions. You can only copy or move intrinsic rules to study objects for which the rule template (on which the intrinsic rule is based) is defined. However, a rule that is based on a function might not work as expected if you move or copy and paste the rule onto a study object with a rule that is based on a function with the same name and parameters but with a different expression.
• If you copy or cut a data-entry rule with rule test cases, the test cases are not copied with the rule.
• If you move a data-entry rule, rename any type of rule, or rewrite a rule so that its dependencies change, and then install a deployment package over an existing study, you must manually remove old rule attachments from the InForm application. If you do not change the name of the rule and the study contains old attachments, the StudyInstaller.log file lists warnings about them.