Comparison Rules (V2)

Vault EDC’s Comparison Rules feature enables study designers to easily create system-managed query rules that compare dates and datetimes without using the Rule Editor. Comparison Rules greatly reduce study build times by allowing users to simply select their desired Identifiers and Operator without having to write expressions, validate, and troubleshoot User Defined Rules.

All Comparison Rules use the Query action. By default, the system constructs a standard query message based on the identifiers and operator used in the Comparison Rule, or you can provide a custom query message. See the Available Operators table for details.

Creating a Comparison Rule

To create a comparison rule:

1. Navigate to Studio > Comparison Rules for your Study.

2. Click + New Comparison Rule to open the New Comparison Rule page.

3. Select Identifier 1 and Identifier 2.
   • Select the Type of the identifier. You can select Item, Event Date, or Casebook Variable.
   • Select the components of the identifier. For each Type, required fields are highlighted in yellow.
   • Optional: for an Item-type Identifier, you can leave the Event and Event Group blank to evaluate the rule reciprocally against the selected Form or across the whole schedule. This functions similarly to the @Form floating identifier in User Defined Rules.

   • For Repeating Forms: if the Form you selected is a repeating Form, for Repeating Form Instances select Current Instance, All Instances, or select Specific Instance and enter the sequence number you want the rule to evaluate against.

   • For Identifier Items that allow unknowns: For Unknown Handling select whether to replace the unknown parts of a date or datetime with the minimum or maximum value.

4. Select an Operator from the dropdown menu. Operators in Comparison Rules V2 function differently than in Comparison Rules V1. Learn more about available operators(#available-operators).

5. Optional: For Rule Scope, select the Within Current Event Group checkbox. For inputs that are collected multiple times, this setting prompts Vault to only add the Event or Form within the current Event Group that the rule is evaluated in, instead of across the whole study.
6. Optional: For Rule Execution, select the Post-save Rule checkbox to delay execution of the rule until after the user submits the Form. You may wish to do this for rules that have a lot of permutations to avoid prolonged Form submission.

7. In the Action section, choose which Identifier to Open Query On.

8. Optional: To use your own text for the query message, enter a Query Message Override. Otherwise, leave this blank to use the Default Query Message.
9. When you are finished creating your rule, click Save and Close.

Copying Comparison Rules

Vault allows you to copy Comparison Rules from both the current Study and from another Study that you have access to. Comparison Rules can only be copied from other Studies that use Comparison Rules V2.

From the Current Study

You may wish to duplicate a Comparison Rule in your study to quickly create a rule that is similar to another rule in your study. To duplicate a Comparison Rule within the current study:

1. Navigate to Studio > Comparison Rules.
2. Hover over the Comparison Rule to show the Actions menu.

3. Click Duplicate. The New Comparison Rule page opens with the same selections as the Comparison Rule being copied.

4. Make your desired changes, then click Save and Close.

From Another Study

You can also copy Comparison Rules from another Study. Note that if matching identifiers don’t exist in the target Study, Vault copies the rules as “invalid”, and you’ll need to update the identifiers and reactivate the rules before they are available for use. To copy a Comparison Rule from another Study:

1. Navigate to Studio > Comparison Rules.
2. Click Copy from Study.
3. Select Create a copy or Use existing to handle duplicates.
4. Select a Vault.
5. Choose where you want to copy from (From Study or From Library.)
6. Select a Study to copy from.
7. Select the Environment to copy from.
8. Select the Comparison Rule you want to copy.
9. Optional: Select the Select all checkbox to select all Comparison Rules for copying.
10. Click Copy # Comparison Rule(s). Vault begins a job to copy the Comparison Rules into your Study. When finished, Vault will send you an email notification with a link to download the log file.
11. Click Close.

Comparison Rule Actions

You can perform the following actions from the Comparison Rule Actions menu:

• Rename
• Duplicate
• Inactivate / Activate
• Archive
• View Rule Bindings

Archiving (Deleting) Comparison Rules

Archived Comparison Rules are functionally deleted. They do not appear in the list of Comparison Rules at Studio > Comparison Rules, and cannot be retrieved.

To archive a Comparison Rule:

1. Navigate to Studio > Comparison Rules.

2. Hover over the Comparison Rule to show the Actions menu.

3. Click Archive. The Archive Rule Dialog opens.

4. Click Archive. The Comparison Rule is archived (deleted) and cannot be retrieved.

Available Operators

The table below lists the operators available for use. Each operator has a standard query message.