Searching for Data Elements

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: 

   Field	Instructions
   Enter Search String	Type 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 ID	Specify the full numeric value for a single CDE public ID. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields.)
   CDE Long Name	Type 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.
   CDE Short Name	Type all or part of a CDE short name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Latest Version	Data 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 By	Select one or more contexts. Owning contexts have the privilege to edit and update the CDE.
   Registration Status	Registration status filters your results based on the data element registration status. Select one or more registration statuses.  For details, refer to Registration Status.
   Workflow Status	Workflow 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.
   Origin	Specify the source of the administered item. Select one or more sources.
   Origin Description	Specify a search string for the origin description.
   Program Area	Select one or more program areas.
   Created By	Select the person who created the item. You can select one or more people.
   Last Modified By	Select 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: 

   Field	Instructions
   Date Created	Click the calendar icon and select the date on which the item was created.
   Date Last Modified	Click 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:

   Specify Criteria for Question Texts

   Field	Instructions
   Question Text	Type 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 Name	Type all or part of the question text name.
   Context	Select one or more contexts.
   Language	Select a language.
   Enter Search String	Type 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.)

   Specify Criteria for Alternate Names

   Field	Instructions
   Alternate Name	A 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 Type	Select one or more alternate name types. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Context	Select one or more contexts.
   Language	Select a language.

   Specify Criteria for Alternate Definitions

   Field	Instructions
   Definition	Type all or part of the definition. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Definition Type	Select a definition type.
   Context	Select one or more contexts.
   Language	Select a language.

   Specify Criteria for Associated Concepts

   Field	Instructions
   Primary	Specify whether the associated concept is primary (Yes) or not (No).
   Concept	Select one or more concepts.
   Concept Definition	Type all or part of the concept definition.
   Integer Value	Specify 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.)

   Specify Criteria for Classifications

   Field	Instructions
   CS|CSI	Select one or more classification schemes or classification scheme items.
   CS Context	Type all or part of the classification scheme context.
   CS Long Name	Type all or part of the classification scheme long name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Enter Search String	Type 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.)

   Specify Criteria for Permissible Values

   Field	Instructions
   Permissible Value	Enter 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 Meaning	Type all or part of a value meaning. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Concept Codes	Type all or part of a concept code.
   VM Description	Type all or part of value meaning description.
   PV Parent Concept	Select one or more permissible value parent concepts.
   Enter Search String	Type 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.)

   Specify Criteria for VM Alternate Names

   Field	Instructions
   Permissible Value	Type all or part of a permissible value.
   Value Meaning	Type all or part of a value meaning.
   VM Alternate Name	Type all or part of a value meaning alternate name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Name Type	Select one or more name types.
   Context	Select one or more contexts.
   Language	Select a language.

   Specify Criteria for VM Alternate Definitions

   Field	Instructions
   Permissible Value	Type all or part of a permissible value. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Value Meaning	Type all or part of a value meaning. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   VM Public ID	Specify the full numeric value for a single value meaning public ID. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields.)
   VM Alternate Definition	Type all or part of a value meaning alternate definition. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Definition Type	Select one or more definition types.
   Context	Select one or more contexts.

   Specify Criteria for Forms/Modules

   Field	Instructions
   Form	Select one or more forms.
   Module Name	Type all or part of a module name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)

   Specify Criteria for Reference Documents

   Field	Instructions
   Document Name	Type all or part of a reference document name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Document Type	Select one or more reference document types.
   Document Text	Type all or part of a search string. This field searches reference document text. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Context	Select one or more contexts.
   Language	Select a language.
   Enter Search String	Type all or part of a search string. This field searches Document Name and Document Text. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)

   Specify Criteria for Derivation Components

   Field	Instructions
   Component CDE	Select one or more component CDEs.
   Component CDE Public ID	Specify 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.)

   Specify Criteria for Owned By or Used By

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

   Field	Instructions
   Owned By or Used By Context	Select 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.

   Specify Criteria for Data Element Details

   Field	Instructions
   DEC Long Name	Enter a keyword to return CDEs with the specified data element concepts. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   DEC Public ID	Specify the full numeric value for a single data element concept public ID. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields.)
   VD Long Name	Type all or part of the value domain long name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   VD Public ID	Specify the full numeric value for a single value domain public ID. (You cannot use wildcards in numeric fields.)
   Derived DE	Specify whether the data element is derived (Yes) or not (No).
   Derivation Type	Select a derivation type.
   VD Maximum Length	Specify 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 Length	Specify 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 Type	Specify 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 Format	Select a value domain display format.
   Unit of Measure	Select a unit of measure.
   Source Data Type	Select a source data type.
   Standard Data Type	Select a standard data type.
   Object Class Long Name	Enter a keyword to return CDEs with the specified object class name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Property Long Name	Enter a keyword to return CDEs with the specified property name. (To adjust search scope, click the Advanced Filter icon.)
   Object Class Concept Codes	Type all or part of the object class concept code.
   Property Concept Codes	Type 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.