Dictionary Changes during Data Entry Process

[langitluna]

Good Evening forum

I hope you all fine over there.

I need you all help me. Thanks alot.

My Data entry has been on progress for sometimes and I just realized that some fields need to add and some change.
I have three times changed the dictionary, during data entry process. On 30% progress, 50 % and 90 % progress.

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Here is my Dictionary Structure
original:
pen file: myproj1.pen
Q1 numeric, lenght 2, decimal 0
Q2 numeric, lenght 4

1st changed on Q1
tobe Q1 numeric, lenght 2, decimal 2
pen file: myproj2.pen

2nd Changed on Q2
tobe Q2 Alpha, lenght 4
pen file: myproj3.pen

3rd changed add Q5 at the end of Dict
pen file: myproj4.pen

At the end my dictionary structure on myproj4.pen:
Q1 numeric, lenght 4, decimal 2
Q2 alpha, lenght 4
Q3
=============================

After 100 % data entry completed, I concatenated all result.

I open with final pen file myproj4.pen, but Q1 have some weird fill.
On version 6.2 : Q1 that entry with myproj.pen have decimal follow from first case entried on myproj3.pen
on version 7 beta: its geting * asterix symbol on Q1 as Q3 as well.

Regarding this, could you please give me advice what I have to do on my final data.

Thank you very much. And happy Weekend.

[josh]

When you change the length of dictionary variable or add a new dictionary variable in the middle of a record after starting data entry this changes the start positions of the variables that follow causing your data to no longer match your dictionary.

You will need to reformat the data BEFORE you concatenate it together so that all of the data is based on the latest dictionary. Once you have reformatted the data then concatenate the files. See the help for the reformat data tool for information on how to reformat data.

[langitluna]

thanks Josh. I got it now.