{"id":4746,"date":"2026-04-07T16:40:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T20:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/?page_id=4746"},"modified":"2026-06-02T10:12:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T14:12:37","slug":"redcap-optional-modules-customizations","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/services\/informatics-core\/redcap-home\/guides-how-tos\/redcap-optional-modules-customizations\/","title":{"rendered":"REDCap Optional Modules &amp; Customizations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"top\" style=\"max-width: 1100px;margin: 0 auto;line-height: 1.7;color: #1f2937\">\n<div style=\"text-align: right;margin-top: 14px\"><a href=\"\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/services\/informatics-core\/redcap-home\/\" style=\"background: #eef6f8;color: #1f2937;padding: 6px 12px;text-decoration: none;border-radius: 20px;font-size: 0.95em\">Back to REDCap Homepage<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right;margin-top: 14px\"><a href=\"\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/services\/informatics-core\/redcap\/guides-how-tos\/\" style=\"background: #eef6f8;color: #1f2937;padding: 6px 12px;text-decoration: none;border-radius: 20px;font-size: 0.95em\">Back to Guides<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #64C7C9;border: 1px solid #bae6fd;padding: 18px 20px;margin: 24px 0;border-radius: 6px\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>REDCap Optional Modules &amp; Customizations<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p style=\"font-size: 1.08em\">REDCap provides a range of optional modules and customizations that enhance project functionality, improve workflow, and support more complex study designs. These features should be enabled intentionally based on your project needs.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background: #fff7ed;border-left: 6px solid #fff7ed;padding: 14px;margin: 20px 0\"><strong>Core Principle:<\/strong> Enable only what you need. Additional functionality increases complexity and should align with your study design.<\/div>\n<div style=\"background: #f0f9ff;border: 1px solid #bae6fd;padding: 16px;border-radius: 6px;margin: 24px 0\">\n<h2 style=\"margin-top: 0\">On this page<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#data-collection\">Data Collection Structure<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#records\">Record Management<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#surveys\">Survey &amp; Participant Management<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#workflow\">Workflow &amp; Data Quality<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#automation\">Automation &amp; Integration<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#system\">System Enhancements<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><!-- DATA COLLECTION --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"data-collection\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px;border-radius: 6px\">Data Collection Structure<\/h2>\n<h3>Repeating Instruments<\/h3>\n<p>Allows a single instrument to repeat multiple times for a record (e.g., medications, adverse events).<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Supports one-to-many data collection<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited repetitions per record<\/li>\n<li>Works in both classic and longitudinal projects<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #eff6ff;border-left: 6px solid #2563eb;padding: 14px;margin: 20px 0\"><strong>Best Practice:<\/strong> Use repeating instruments when the number of entries is unknown or variable.<\/div>\n<h3>Repeating Events (Longitudinal Only)<\/h3>\n<p>Allows an entire event (multiple instruments) to repeat together.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Useful for visits or timepoints with multiple forms<\/li>\n<li>Eliminates need to predefine multiple events<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #fff7ed;border-left: 6px solid #ea580c;padding: 14px;margin: 20px 0\"><strong>Important:<\/strong> Repeating instruments repeat a single form; repeating events repeat a group of forms.<\/div>\n<h3>Data Output Behavior<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Each repeat instance appears as a new row in exports<\/li>\n<li><code>redcap_repeat_instance<\/code> identifies the instance number<\/li>\n<li><code>redcap_repeat_instrument<\/code> identifies the instrument<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><!-- RECORD MANAGEMENT --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"records\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px;border-radius: 6px\">Record Management<\/h2>\n<h3>Auto-numbering Records<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Automatically assigns sequential record IDs<\/li>\n<li>Prevents manual entry errors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Tip:<\/strong> To start at a specific number, create the first record manually, then enable auto-numbering.<\/p>\n<h3>Custom Record Labels<\/h3>\n<p>Enhances record identification using additional fields (e.g., name, DOB).<\/p>\n<p><code>Example: [last_name], [first_name]<\/code><\/p>\n<h3>Secondary Unique Field<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Prevents duplicate values in a designated field<\/li>\n<li>Must be a text field<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Order Records by Field<\/h3>\n<p>Allows sorting records by a field (e.g., last name) instead of record ID.<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><!-- SURVEYS --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"surveys\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px;border-radius: 6px\">Survey &amp; Participant Management<\/h2>\n<h3>Designated Email Field<\/h3>\n<p>Allows REDCap to use a field to populate participant email addresses for survey invitations.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Useful when first instrument is not a survey<\/li>\n<li>Populates Participant List automatically<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #fef2f2;border-left: 6px solid #dc2626;padding: 14px;margin: 20px 0\"><strong>Important:<\/strong> Email use links identifiers to responses and must align with IRB approval.<\/div>\n<h3>Repeating Surveys<\/h3>\n<p>Allows participants to submit the same survey multiple times.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Must enable repeating instrument first<\/li>\n<li>Then enable repeat option in Survey Settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><!-- WORKFLOW --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"workflow\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px;border-radius: 6px\">Workflow &amp; Data Quality<\/h2>\n<h3>Field Comment Log<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Allows users to leave comments on individual fields<\/li>\n<li>All comments are searchable and exportable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Data Resolution Workflow (Data Queries)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Structured query system for resolving data issues<\/li>\n<li>Supports open\/respond\/close workflow<\/li>\n<li>Integrated with Data Quality module<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #eff6ff;border-left: 6px solid #2563eb;padding: 14px;margin: 20px 0\"><strong>Best Practice:<\/strong> Use Data Resolution Workflow for regulated or clinical studies.<\/div>\n<h3>Require Reason for Data Changes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Prompts users to document changes to existing records<\/li>\n<li>Logged in audit trail<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><!-- AUTOMATION --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"automation\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px;border-radius: 6px\">Automation &amp; Integration<\/h2>\n<h3>Scheduling Module (Longitudinal Only)<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Generates visit schedules based on events<\/li>\n<li>Supports study calendars<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Data Entry Trigger<\/h3>\n<p>Triggers an HTTP POST to an external system when data is entered or modified.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Used for system integrations<\/li>\n<li>Not triggered by imports<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #fff7ed;border-left: 6px solid #ea580c;padding: 14px;margin: 20px 0\"><strong>Advanced Feature:<\/strong> Typically requires developer support.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><!-- SYSTEM --><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"system\" style=\"background: #329EB8;color: white;padding: 12px;border-radius: 6px\">System Enhancements<\/h2>\n<h3>Data History Widget<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Displays field-level audit history<\/li>\n<li>Shows who changed what and when<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Today \/ Now Buttons<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Auto-populates current date\/time<\/li>\n<li>Improves data entry efficiency<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"background: #eff6ff;border-left: 6px solid #2563eb;padding: 14px;margin: 20px 0\"><strong>Best Practice:<\/strong> Keep default system enhancements enabled unless there is a specific reason to disable them.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: right\"><a href=\"#top\">Back to top \u2191<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Back to REDCap Homepage Back to Guides REDCap Optional Modules &amp; Customizations REDCap provides a range of optional modules and customizations that enhance project functionality, improve workflow, and support more complex study designs. These features should be enabled intentionally based on your project needs. Core Principle: Enable only what you need. Additional functionality increases complexity [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4679,"featured_media":0,"parent":2190,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-25 04:04:05","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4746"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4679"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4746"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4746\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5108,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4746\/revisions\/5108"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/health.uconn.edu\/clinical-research-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}