Enquiries, Sources and Data Definitions: Sources
There are two methods for adding sources to an enquiry: creating a source from scratch, or linking a source to an existing data definition.
Creating a Source From Scratch
To create a source from scratch, enter the following information:
| Name | An alphanumeric string identifying the source (e.g.: Symptoms). |
| Caption | The text displayed to the end-user when the data is requested (e.g.: What are the patient’s symptoms?) |
| Data Type | The collected data can be of one of four types: text, integer, real, or boolean (e.g.: Symptoms could be of type Text). |
| Range | The collected data can be of a limited range of values (i.e., the end-user has to select one of these predefined values; e.g.: Symptoms could be: Headache, Nausea, Vomiting, Sensitivity to light) |
| Default Value | The collected data can have a default value. The default value is used to pre-populate the data entry dialogue box when the data is requested. |
| Selection Mode | By default, Selection Mode is set to single-value, so that only one of the range values of a source can be selected. If the range values are not mutually exclusive and the end-user can select more than one value, the selection mode has to be set to multi-value. Note: Multi-selection is only available for sources with range values. |
| Status | The status of a source determines the behaviour of the enquiry during enactment. When the status is mandatory, the enquiry remains in progress until all the data is collected, and only then completes. When the status is optional, the enquiry completes as soon as all the mandatory sources are supplied with values. |
When all the data is entered, click Add.
The new source will be added to the enquiry’s Source List.
Note: As sources are based on data definitions, when you create a source from scratch Composer creates a new data definition for it in the background.
Creating a Source Based On an Existing Data Definition
You can use existing data definitions to create a new source. Click the button to the right of the Name field 
. The Data Definition List dialog appears.
Select the data definition on which you want to base your source, and click OK. The data definition values will populate all the fields accept for Status (as this attribute is unique to sources).
Select the appropriate status for your source, and click Add.
The new source will be added to the Source List.