# REDCapCAST package ![](reference/figures/logo.png)

Casting metadata for REDCap database creation and handling of
castellated data using repeated instruments and longitudinal projects in
REDCap.

This is implemented with

- An app-interface for easy database creation [accessible
  here](https://agdamsbo.shinyapps.io/redcapcast/) or available to run
  locally with
  [`shiny_cast()`](https://agdamsbo.github.io/REDCapCAST/reference/shiny_cast.md)
  allowing you to easily create a REDCap database based on an existing
  spreadsheet.

- Export data from REDCap in different formats handling castellated
  data, and on default only export requested data, this is mainly
  through
  [`read_redcap_tables()`](https://agdamsbo.github.io/REDCapCAST/reference/read_redcap_tables.md).

REDCapCAST was initially build on, and still includes code from
[pegeler/REDCapRITS](https://github.com/pegeler/REDCapRITS), and relies
on functions from the
[`REDCapR`](https://ouhscbbmc.github.io/REDCapR/)-project

## History

This package was originally forked from
[pegeler/REDCapRITS](https://github.com/pegeler/REDCapRITS). The
`REDCapRITS` represents great and extensive work to handle castellated
REDCap data in different programming languages. REDCapCAST has evolved
into much more than just handling castellated data and so has been
detatched from the original project while still relying on the main
`REDCap_split` function. All access to the REDCap database is build on
the outstanding work in [`REDCapR`](#id_0).

This package really started out of frustration during my PhD in health
science hearing colleagues complaining about that “castellated” data
formatting of REDCap exports when doing longitudinal projects and being
used to wide data. This led to some bad decisions in building databases
avoiding repeated instruments. This package solves these challenges, but
solutions are also implemented else where like the
[redcapAPI](https://github.com/vubiostat/redcapAPI) or
[REDCapTidieR](https://github.com/CHOP-CGTInformatics/REDCapTidieR)
packages, which are bigger project.

To help new PhD students and other researchers, I have also worked on
creating a few helper/wrapper-functions to ease data access.
Documentation is on it’s way.

For any more advanced uses, consider using the
[`redcapAPI`](https://github.com/vubiostat/redcapAPI) or
[`REDCapR`](https://ouhscbbmc.github.io/REDCapR/) packages.

## Future

The plan with this package is to be bundled with a Handbook on working
with REDCap from R. This work is in progress but is limited by the time
available. Please feel free to contact me or create and issue with ideas
for future additions.

## Installation and use

The package is available on CRAN. Install the latest version:

    install.packages("REDCapCAST")

Install the latest version directly from GitHub:

    require("remotes")
    remotes::install_github("agdamsbo/REDCapCAST")

Launch the REDCapCAST app interface directly on your own machine:

    REDCapCAST::shiny_cast()

## Code of Conduct

Please note that the REDCapCAST project is released with a [Contributor
Code of
Conduct](https://agdamsbo.github.io/REDCapCAST/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.html). By
contributing to this project, you agree to abide by its terms.
