Read-only items

Study designers can now create forms that include read-only items. These items show up as fields that are automatically populated without site users editing them.

What are the benefits?

Read-only items optimize the data collection process because they work like a security mechanism protecting sensitive data against any errors and inaccuracies. For instance, lab data or information gathered from an integrated third-party app is automatically entered in a read-only field. Also, values such as age can be calculated automatically using a subject's date of birth entered by the site user.

Details for study designers

You can now mark a form item as read-only if the value for that item can be automatically generated by the system.

What do I need to do?

When you add a question in a form, click the new Read Only toggle button on the right, on the Details pane.

Note:

You can only mark a form item as read-only while the study is in the Draft container.

What form items can I mark as read-only?

You can mark any item as read-only. Just make sure the value for that item is automatically generated by the system, since site users can't manually enter data in a read-only field.

Figure 19-1 A read-only item and a read-only toggle button for study designers

Details for site users

Values in read-only fields are populated based on other information you add to the form. For example, Body Mass Index (BMI) can be calculated based on a subject's height and weight.

How do I recognize a read-only item?

In a form, read-only values are grayed out and can't be edited.

What do I need to do?

Read-only fields are updated automatically. You must enter data for any other fields used to calculate the read-only item.

Figure 19-2 A read-only item in a form for site users