Changes

<li>Pick which data elements to collect for a programmeMine Action Programme</li><li>Design templates for data entry that mimic paper formswill * facilitate high data quality and the data entry process* support the Mine Action Programme's processes / workflows / NMAS / strategy* implement good Information Management practice.</li>

{{Note| All objects on the data entry form Data Entry Form template are considered ''elements''. Elements include, but are not limited to, dates, images, labels, text fields, tableslines, option values, linestables, text areas, and date selection toolstext fields.}}

With the drag-and-drop capability, the Data Entry Form Template Designer lets information managers select from all of the data elements available in the Data Inventory Manager and position them on a template. Information managers can create wholly new data collection forms and forms Data Entry Forms or adjust Data Entry Forms that mimic existing paper forms were provided in the installation package as inspiration using only the data elements that are valuable to their programme’s workflow. The resulting, streamlined templates—free from tabs and other confusing navigational concepts—can then be printed and used for data collectionMine Action Programme’s workflows.

Because the design process is critical to the proper functioning of the information management Information Management system, {{IMSMANG}} provides several capabilities to facilitate the design and sharing of Data Entry Form templates. Information managers can save drafts Data Entry Form templates to the file system prior to publishing. These drafts stored in .FFML format . The templates can then be exchanged with other {{IMSMANG}} users or {{IMSMANG}} systems and be used to design other templates so information managers do not have to start with a blank templateMine Action Programmes.

{{noteNote|* After creating Data Entry Form templates in {{IMSMANG}}If necessary, it is recommended to use another application software (e.g. Word or iReport) to build the same forms for handwritten data collection in the fieldwith paper and pen. * The Data Entry Form templates are built to accommodate typewritten data which requires less space than handwritten databe filled in using {{IMSMANG}} and/or IMSMA Remote Entry. Using printed Data Entry Form templates to record data with pen in the field may impose limitations on the amount or extent of information collected.* When Paper-based data collection forms (questionnaires) and {{IMSMANG}} Data Entry Form templates will have a general different layout and design is determined for a programme’s elements. E.g. Country Structure information would need to be included on the questionnaires but will '''not''' be included on {{IMSMANG}} Data Entry Form templates, it is since in {{IMSMANG}} that will be obtained by assigning to a good idea Location.* Questionnaires are recommended to save an .FFML file be translated to the file system so it can language(s) that will be used as the basis for designing the rest of the programme’s during data collection and {{IMSMANG}} Data Entry Form templates. This should be done prior to adding itemare often mono-specific data to the templateor bilingual.

[[Image:AdminGuide_ProcessForPreparingReportTemplate.png|center|500px600px|''Process for Preparing and Maintaining Data Entry Form Templates'']]

Several important principles of template design assist information managers in building effective templates. These include using data elements for one item per template, creating one template for each step of the workflow, including standard data elements on all templates, allowing only cosmetic changes to text labels, removing unnecessary elements from templates and using the text tool for instructions and versioning. Following these principles, information managers can achieve the correct balance of usability and data quality necessary for a well functioning programmeMine Action Programme.

While the Data Entry Form Template Designer allows information managers to include data elements from more than one item on a single template (for example, land data elements and activity data elements), it is recommended to have data elements from only one item per template. Limiting the type of information collected on each template reduces the complexity of the reconciliation and approval process and helps ensure data quality and integrity. If a programmeMine Action Programme, for example, wants to use a general survey that collects information about land areas, activities and accidents, it is advisable to consider creating three independent general survey templates–General Survey-Land, General Survey-Activity and General Survey-Accidents–rather than creating one comprehensive template for all aspects of the general survey.

Like the Data Inventory Manager, the Data Entry Form Template Designer provides the capability to modify the text of existing data elements. This includes creating and editing labels, changing fonts and sizes and editing pick list values. This functionality can be used to ensure templates are laid out correctly and represent a programme’s Mine Action Programme’s data needs. Using this functionality in the Data Entry Form Template Designer, however, should be limited to performing cosmetic changes only, and should not be used to change the meaning or substance of a text element. Cosmetic changes include: