Frequently Asked Question

To request changes to an in-production project, follow these steps.

1. In REDCap, select “My Projects.”
2. Select the project you want to edit.
3. Under “Project Home” select “Online Designer and Data Dictionary Upload” (found under “Quick Tasks”) or under “Project Setup” select “Online Designer.”
4. A yellow box will be at the top of the webpage that points out that this project is in production and changes will not be made in real time. This box also asks if you would like to enter Draft Mode. Select “Enter Draft Mode.”
5. Select the instrument(s) you would like to edit.
6. Make the necessary changes, heeding recommendations and cautions below.
   1. If any point while drafting changes, you would like to look at a summary of all the changes you’ve made, you can click “View detailed summary of all drafted changes” on Online Designer.
   2. Some tasks to do prior to submitting the changes for review:
      
      1. Back up any data that has already been collected to ensure that it is not lost or altered if fields or answer choices are changing.
      2. Ensure that any new fields that collect identifiers are marked as identifiable data.
         
      3. Ensure that any new fields that need validation are validated.
         
      4. Test any forms or surveys to be added in a separate test project to ensure the new instruments flows and works as intended.
7. Select “Submit Changes for Review.”
8. Select “Submit” on the pop-up if you would like to submit changes, or “Cancel” if you would like to go back and make additional changes or delete all changes.
9. One of the following will happen:
   1. Changes will be automatically approved if:
      
   1. The project does not have any records; or
      
   2. The project has records, but the REDCap system does not identify any critical issues that will result in data loss or affect data validity.
   2. A yellow window will appear saying that your project is awaiting review of changes.
      
      1. Note: The REDCap administrative email address is monitored on evenings and weekends only for emergencies with the system. Requests to review in production changes will only be addressed M-F from 8 AM – 5 PM.
      2. If you need to review the changes you made while changes are pending, you can go to “Online Designer” and click “view a detailed summary of all drafted changes.”