Refresh Data in Ancillary and Published Studies

2024-03-29

When you create a published or ancillary study, a new folder is created to hold the data selected for publication. But what if the data in the original study changes? How do you refresh the data in the published study? This topic outlines the options.
Note that if you are using the specimen module, you will have additional specimen-related options. Learn more in the documentation archives.

Definitions

Note that refreshing data is different from reloading data.

Refreshing data applies specifically to published and ancillary studies with a base study elsewhere on the server.

Reloading data refers to the process of updating study data from source files. For details on reloading, see Export/Import/Reload a Study.

Which Studies Can Be Refreshed?

The following table summarizes what sorts of datasets are produced when creating ancillary and published studies.

Snapshot datasets can be refreshed to pickup changes in the original study. The design of snapshot datasets cannot be modified after they are created. If you wish to control the design of a dataset, use study publication and select the refresh style "None".

Creation MechanismRefresh StyleDatasets Produced
AncillaryAutoSnapshot Datasets
AncillaryManualSnapshot Datasets
PublishNoneNon-Snapshot Datasets
PublishAutoSnapshot Datasets
PublishManualSnapshot Datasets

Refresh Dataset Snapshots

Refresh the data in a child study (i.e., an ancillary or published study) by updating individual dataset snapshots. Refreshing all dataset snapshots simultaneously is not supported. Note that changing the population of participant groups in the parent study has no effect on the child studies. That is, adding or removing participants from participant groups is not reflected in child studies.

To update the snapshot:

  • Navigate to the dataset in the ancillary (child) study that you would like to update.
  • Select (Grid Views) > Edit Snapshot.
  • Click Update Snapshot.
    • Updating will replace the current data with a new set based on the current contents of the parent (source) study. Confirm that this is your intent.
    • You can also change whether this data is automatically refreshed from this page.

Learn more about working with dataset snapshots in this topic: Query Snapshots.

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