Rule and event FAQs

What is a rule?

A rule is a script that a study designer creates in Central Designer that specifies how data in InForm is calculated or validated.

Calculation: Used to determine the value of a data item based on the value of another data item.
Form rule: Edit check on a form data item.
Conversion: Rule that converts data from the units in which it is entered to normalized units that other rules can reference.
Randomization: Rule that randomizes subjects in order to assign drug kits to them.
Workflow: Rules that control how and when dynamic visits and forms appear in InForm.
Global condition: Conditions that control how and when dynamic visits and forms appear in InForm.
Subject Rule: Rules used for assigning certain types of subjects to the SV eligible and/or excluded pools based on subject data.

For information about rules and rule design, development, and testing, see the Central Designer User Guide and the Central Designer Rules Reference Guide.

What is an event?

An event specifies what happens in InForm based on the outcome of a rule. For example:

The event can generate a new query or close an answered query.
The event can run one or more execution plans that:
- Send e-mail.
- Send an entry to the Windows log file.

Events (known as Rule Actions in Central Designer) are defined as part of the study design.

I didn't modify the details for a rule in InForm. Why did they change?

When a new package is deployed from Central Designer, any rule details you modified in InForm are overwritten by the rule details specified in Central Designer. To permanently modify rule details, use Central Designer.

Why do I see errors when I view the status of batch run rules?

You might see errors if:

You ran the rule on a case report book that is frozen or locked.
You ran a calculation rule on a case report book with individually frozen or locked forms.

Make sure that on the System Configuration page, you set Allow sponsor users to edit frozen forms to Yes.