Create a custom code list

You can create or import a custom code list in the global library (for all studies at your organization) or you can create or import a custom code list in an individual study's library (for a single study at your organization).

If you chose to create a custom code list only in a study's library (on the Code Lists tab), that newly created code list can only be used within the context of that specific study. If you chose to create or update a custom code list in the global library (on the Library page), that newly created code list can be used across all studies at your organization.

To learn more about code lists, see About your code list library.

To learn more about the system default code lists that you can re-use in your study, see Browse the list of system default code lists.

To create a code list (whether custom or system) on the Library page (at a global level), you must be assigned the Code List Manager global role. To create a custom code list on a study's Code list tab (for an individual study), you must be assigned the Manage Study Code Lists permission, as a Study Designer.

Caution:

A custom code list can only be used in designing forms or for study filters.

Note:

When updating a custom code list that is used as part of a system code list group (for example, the EDCYearRange custom code list) you hide the existing values and update its labels. The new code values that you then specify must have the same labels as the labels that you previously marked as hidden. This way, the system can properly use the updated values in the study.
  1. Depending on where you want to create your custom code list, do one of the following:

    Tip:

    You can also create or update a custom code list by accessing a form in Draft mode, and clicking Code List next to a question in that form.
    • To create a custom code list group for all studies at your organization, on the Home page, click Library. On the Library Studies page, click View Library and make sure you're on the Code List tab.
    • To create a custom code list group for a single study at your organization, open a study's settings and select the Code Lists tab.
  2. Expand the Custom Code Lists group and click Add Custom Code List.
  3. On the right side of the page, fill in the following fields:
    Field Description
    Code List Title

    Enter a title for your code list. For example, Specimen Type.

    Note: Code lists do not appear in the Annotated Case Report Forms or Study Design standard reports if the code list title (entered in all uppercase) matches the reference code of the question where the code list is to be applied.

    To avoid this, do not enter the code list title in all uppercase or assign a unique title.
    Code List Description

    Enter a relevant and helpful description for your code list. For example, The names and descriptions of biological specimen.

    Select a Lab Normals Tag (Optional)

    If applicable, select a lab normals tag for your custom code list. Choose any of the following options:

    • Test
    • Unit
    • Gender
    • Race
    • Normal Text Result
    • Fasting
  4. Fill in the row for each code value that you want to include in your code list:
    Field Description
    Order

    To order values in a code list, enter a number from 1 to 2,147,483,647.
    Value

    Enter a value to be used in the system database that your custom code list must contain. For example, Plasma.

    Label

    Enter the label for the value in your code list. A label can be identical with the value. For example, you could also enter Plasma for this field.

    Note: When you apply a code list to a question with multiple options for an answer, it is the value in the Label field that is displayed for site users in a form.
    Code

    Enter a code corresponding to the code value A code can contain numbers and letters.
    LOINC

    This column is only displayed if you've previously selected Test for the Lab Normals Tag.

    Enter a specific LOINC code for your code value. This field is not mandatory, there are no character restrictions for special characters, although you cannot exceed 255 characters.
  5. To add another row and complete its fields, click the Add icon (Add icon is a circle with a plus icon in the middle of it.).
  6. Depending on your language preference, select a language tab, and enter the translated text for the Label column.

    Note:

    The Value column always displays in English.

    When you create or modify a custom code list, the additional language tabs are pre-populated with those changes. For other languages, all you have to do is translate the Label text for every code value in a code list.

  7. Click Save.

Related Topics

Parent topic: Create and manage code lists