• <GetStart>
  • CSPro User's Guide
    • The CSPro System
    • Data Dictionary Module
    • The CSPro Language
    • Data Entry Module
    • Batch Editing Applications
    • Tabulation Applications
    • Data Sources
    • CSPro Statements and Functions
    • Templated Reporting System
    • HTML and JavaScript Integration
    • Action Invoker
    • Appendix
      • Appendix A - Installation
      • Appendix B - Keys Summary
      • Appendix C - Menu Summary
      • Appendix D - Toolbar Summary
      • Appendix E - Application Properties
      • Appendix F - Converting Within IMPS or ISSA
      • Appendix G - Errors in Censuses and Surveys
      • Appendix H - File Types
        • File Types
        • JSON Specification Files
        • SQLite Use in CSPro
        • Importing Data to CSPro Format
        • Locking Application Files
        • Temporary Data File
        • CSPro DB File Format
        • Files Description
          • Data Dictionary File (.dcf)
          • Data Entry Application File (.ent)
          • Forms File (.fmf)
          • Logic File (.apc)
          • Message File (.mgf)
          • Question File (.qsf)
          • Application Properties File (.csprops)
          • Program Information File (.pff)
          • Binary Data Entry Application File (.pen)
          • Index File (.csidx)
          • Notes File (.csnot)
          • Status File (.sts)
          • Paradata Log File (.cslog)
          • Operator Statistics File (.log)
          • Listing File
          • Frequencies File
          • Batch Edit Application File (.bch)
          • Edit Order File (.ord)
          • Saved Arrays File (.sva)
          • Tabulation Application File (.xtb)
          • Table Specifications File (.xts)
          • Tables File (.tbw)
          • Area Names File (.anm)
          • Table Matrices File (.tab)
          • Table Matrices Index File (.tabidx)
          • Frequency Specification File (.fqf)
      • Appendix I - JSON Representations
  • <CSEntry>
  • <CSBatch>
  • <CSTab>
  • <DataViewer>
  • <TextView>
  • <TblView>
  • <CSFreq>
  • <CSDeploy>
  • <CSPack>
  • <CSDiff>
  • <CSConcat>
  • <Excel2CSPro>
  • <CSExport>
  • <CSIndex>
  • <CSReFmt>
  • <CSSort>
  • <ParadataConcat>
  • <ParadataViewer>
  • <CSCode>
  • <CSDocument>
  • <CSView>
  • <CSWeb>

Binary Data Entry Application File (.pen)

  • A binary data entry application file is an alternative to distributing the entire suite of the data entry application files. It is a single binary file that contains all the information from your data entry application's dictionaries, forms, logic, message file, and CAPI question text.
  • While this file is generated within the CSPro Designer, it cannot be read by the CSPro Designer. It is read by CSEntry, on either desktop or mobile devices. A .pen file cannot be viewed with a text editor.
  • Binary data entry application files provide security during a data entry operation. If you install a .pen file to your data entry operators' workstations, the operators cannot change the application, even if they have the full CSPro installed on their machines.
  • .pen files are the only type of file you can install on an Android device.
  • Binary data entry applications created in versions of CSPro prior to version 6.0 used the extension .enc, not .pen. These files cannot be read by CSEntry versions 6.0 or higher.