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When you search for Common Data Elements (CDEs) in OneData, keep in mind the following points:

  • CDEs follow the ISO/IEC 11179 standard, so you can search for data elements using ISO/IEC 11179-based attributes.
  • For each field, the default is all values. For example, in the Latest Version field, the default behavior returns all versions.
  • Searches are not case sensitive. Searches for Gene and gene return the same results.
  • In any editable text field, enter a search string, complete or partial. This does not apply to numeric fields such as CDE Public ID. 
  • In any editable text field, you can use a percent sign (%) as a wildcard. For examples, refer to Using Wildcards.  
  • For some fields, you can adjust the search scope (with options such as IS NULL, IS NOT NULL, NOT LIKE, Exact Phrase Match, All Of The Words, or One Of The Words) by clicking the Advanced Filter icon. 
  • The system processes search criteria as AND statements, so the results include only CDEs that fulfill all the criteria.
  • To reset a list of values, click the Clear Values icon next to that list. 
  • You can specify the number of results returned: Type a number in the Number of Rows field and press <Enter>.
  • When you remove or change search criteria, the system does not update search results until you click Apply Filter again.

To perform a data element search:

  1. Open a supported browser (Google Chrome) and navigate to the https://cadsr.cancer.gov portal. The home page appears.

  2. From the View menu, select Browse and then select one of the following options:

    • Data Elements - View/Browse: Search for data elements used by or owned by any context. 
    • NCI Standard Data Elements: Search within released data elements that are either owned by or used by the NCI Standards Context. NCI considers these data elements to be standard for the NCI. These elements are a subset of the data elements available in Data Elements- View/Browse.

    The corresponding page appears. (Logged in users can add pages like this to their favorites. For instructions, refer to Managing Your Favorites.)

  3. If necessary, you can clear the saved filter from the upper right corner of the search criteria panel, or select a different one:

    • The default saved filter excludes retired (from Workflow Status), excludes test and training (from Owned By), and includes the latest version. 
    • Another saved filter excludes only test and training (from Owned By).
    • Another saved filter includes only test and training (from Owned By).
    • To clear the saved filter, set this field to Select a Filter.
  4. Specify one or more search criteria, as described in the following table: 

    FieldInstructions
    Enter Search StringType all or part of a search string. This field searches the concatenation of CDE Short Name, CDE Long Name, and any type of Question text. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    CDE Public IDSpecify the full numeric value for a single CDE public ID. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields.)
    CDE Long NameType all or part of a CDE long name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Multiple Public ID Search

    Type all or part of a public ID.

    To specify multiple public IDs, click the Advanced Filter icon. In the adjacent field, select One of the Words.

    To treat each specified number as a complete ID, enclose each ID in periods and separate each value with a space (for example: .5. .6. .10.). The periods ensure an exact match to the public ID. Otherwise, this search treats the IDs as text and returns any public ID containing the specified value. For example, "5" returns any public ID containing "5". Also, if you have a column of IDs in a spreadsheet, and each ID is enclosed in periods, you can copy that column into this field.

    Multiple Public ID Search field with example IDs.

    CDE Short NameType all or part of a CDE short name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.) 
    Latest VersionData elements are assigned version numbers by the curators. As in all fields, the default behavior returns all versions. Select one of the following options.
    • To search for the latest version of the CDE, select Yes.
    • To search for all versions except the latest version, select No.
    Owned BySelect one or more contexts. Owning contexts have the privilege to edit and update the CDE.
    Registration StatusRegistration status filters your results based on the data element registration status. Select one or more registration statuses.  For details, refer to Registration Status
    Workflow StatusWorkflow status filters your results based on the administrative workflow status of the data element. Select one or more workflow statuses.  In most cases, you will want to search for "Released" data elements, but any status is available. For details, refer to Workflow Status
    OriginSpecify the source of the administered item. Select one or more sources.
    Origin DescriptionSpecify a search string for the origin description. 
    Program AreaSelect one or more program areas.
    Created BySelect the person who created the item. You can select one or more people. 
    Last Modified BySelect the person who last modified the item. You can select one or more people. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
  5. In the fields that have a Select a Value icon, you can select one or more values. Click the Select a Value icon next to the field. A Reference Data Panel appears. 

    • To select one value: Click the value name. The value name appears in the field. 
    • To select one or more values: Click the checkbox for each row you want to include. Click Set Values. The field indicates how many values you have set. 
  6. For date criteria, click the Audit Columns icon and specify dates as described in the following table: 

    FieldInstructions
    Date CreatedClick the calendar icon and select the date on which the item was created.
    Date Last ModifiedClick the calendar icon and select the date on which the item was last modified.

    To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon and consider the following options:

    • The list to the left of each date field allows you to search for items later than (>), earlier than (<), and/or equal to the date you specify. 

    • The list to the right of each date field allows you to specify whether the date field is NULL or NOT NULL.
    • The check box below each date field allows you to specify a date range. 
  7. You can also create your own query to search, by specifying an explicit "where" clause. Click the Advanced Filter icon. Under Filter Options, select a column and then click >>. The name of the selected column appears in the text box. Complete the query string. (For example, if your query string is "a.CURRNT_VER_IND=1" when you click Apply Filter, the system returns all items of the latest version.)
  8. If necessary, you can specify additional criteria for finding data elements using one of the "Child Filter" options in the lower part of the search page. The system filters for data elements that match details specified in the selected child filter. For details, click one of the following links:

    FieldInstructions
    Question TextType all or part of the actual text that appears for the data element on a Form. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Question Type

    Select a question type:

    • Alternate Question Text 
    • Application Standard Question Text 
    • CDASH Alternate Question Text 
    • NRDS Question Text 
    • Preferred Question Text 
    • Standard Alternate Question Text
    Question Text NameType all or part of the question text name.
    ContextSelect one or more contexts. 
    LanguageSelect a language. 
    Enter Search StringType all or part of a search string. This field searches Question Text and Question Text Name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    FieldInstructions
    Alternate NameA data element may have multiple alternate names in multiple contexts. Type all or part of an alternate name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Alternate Name TypeSelect one or more alternate name types. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    ContextSelect one or more contexts. 
    LanguageSelect a language.
    FieldInstructions
    DefinitionType all or part of the definition. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Definition TypeSelect a definition type.
    ContextSelect one or more contexts. 
    LanguageSelect a language.
    FieldInstructions
    PrimarySpecify whether the associated concept is primary (Yes) or not (No). 
    ConceptSelect one or more concepts. 
    Concept DefinitionType all or part of the concept definition. 
    Integer ValueSpecify all or part of the integer value. You can specify part of the value because this field is actually a text field. For example, if you specify "20" in this field and if items exist with "120" or ">=200", the system returns those items. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    FieldInstructions
    CS|CSISelect one or more classification schemes or classification scheme items.
    CS Context

    Type all or part of the classification scheme context. 

    CS Long NameType all or part of the classification scheme long name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Enter Search StringType all or part of a search string. This field searches CS Long Name and CSI Long Name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    FieldInstructions
    Permissible ValueEnter a permissible value to return a list of data elements based on or limited to that permissible value. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Value MeaningType all or part of a value meaning. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Concept CodesType all or part of a concept code. 
    VM DescriptionType all or part of value meaning description. 
    PV Parent ConceptSelect one or more permissible value parent concepts. 
    Enter Search StringType all or part of a search string. This field searches VM Long Name or VM Description. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    FieldInstructions
    Permissible ValueType all or part of a permissible value. 
    Value MeaningType all or part of a value meaning.
    VM Alternate NameType all or part of a value meaning alternate name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Name TypeSelect one or more name types. 
    ContextType all or part of a context. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.) (TBD: Most of the Context fields changed to a multi-select pop-up, but this one is still a text box. Will this Context field also change to a multi-select popup?)
    LanguageSelect a language. 
    FieldInstructions
    Permissible ValueType all or part of a permissible value. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Value MeaningType all or part of a value meaning. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    VM Public IDSpecify the full numeric value for a single value meaning public ID. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields.)
    VM Alternate DefinitionType all or part of a value meaning alternate definition. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Definition TypeSelect one or more definition types.
    ContextSelect one or more contexts. 
    FieldInstructions
    FormSelect one or more forms. 
    Module NameType all or part of a module name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    FieldInstructions
    Document NameType all or part of a reference document name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Document TypeSelect one or more reference document types.
    Document TextType all or part of a search string. This field searches reference document text. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    ContextSelect one or more contexts.
    LanguageSelect a language.
    Enter Search StringType all or part of a search string. This field searches Document Name and Document Text. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    FieldInstructions
    Component CDESelect one or more component CDEs.
    Component CDE Public IDSpecify the full numeric value for a single component CDE public ID. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields.)

    (To view all derived data elements, select the Derivation Components child filter, leave all fields blank, and click Apply Filter.)

    This child filter is available only for Data Elements - View/Browse. 

    FieldInstructions
    Owned By or Used By ContextSelect one or more contexts. Data elements are owned by the context that has administrative authority to edit and update them. In addition to the owning context however, a data element can be designated for use by another non-owning context. 
    FieldInstructions
    DEC Long NameEnter a keyword to return CDEs with the specified data element concepts. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    DEC Public IDSpecify the full numeric value for a single data element concept public ID. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields.)
    VD Long NameType all or part of the value domain long name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    VD Public IDSpecify the full numeric value for a single value domain public ID. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields.)
    Derived DESpecify whether the data element is derived (Yes) or not (No).
    Derivation TypeSelect a derivation type.
    VD Maximum LengthSpecify the full numeric value for the maximum length of a value domain. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields. To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    VD Minimum LengthSpecify the full numeric value for the minimum length of a value domain. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields. To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    VD TypeSpecify whether to search for an Enumerated or Non-Enumerated value domain. To search for both, clear this field. (That is, set it to Select a Value.)  
    VD Display FormatSelect a value domain display format. 
    Unit of MeasureSelect a unit of measure.
    Source Data TypeSelect a source data type.
    Standard Data TypeSelect a standard data type.
    Object Class Long NameEnter a keyword to return CDEs with the specified object class name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Property Long NameEnter a keyword to return CDEs with the specified property name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
    Object Class Concept CodesType all or part of the object class concept code.
    Property Concept CodesType all or part of the property concept code.

  9. Click Apply Filter. The system displays the search results. By default, the system also hides the search criteria.

At this point, you have the following choices:

  • To compare two or more data elements, select the rows of interest and click Compare CDE. The Data Element Compare page appears. 
  • To compare permissible values in two or more data elements, select the rows of interest and click Compare PV. The Permissible Value Comparison page appears. 
  • To view details about a data element, click the value in the CDE Long Name column. 

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