Defining values for collection elements ensures valid quality data entry since the user can only select a value from the list that you define. For example, if your list of values for a Pass_Fail collection element only contains the values Pass and Fail; these are the only values that appear on the list of values when users collect quality results. Thus no other results values can be collected.

Collection elements with defined values also give you greater flexibility in creating collection plans, since you can choose which values you want to assign to the collection element when it is used in a collection plan.

   To define a list of collection element values:

1. Navigate to the Collection Elements window.

2. Select the Collection Element.

   You can define values and lists of values for user-defined collection elements and predefined collection elements.

3. Choose the Values button. The Values window appears.

4. Enter the Short Code.

   The short code generally is an abbreviation of the value and is used to ease data entry. For example, if you had a collection element called Color, you could assign the short code "Blk" to it's black value. The short code must match the data type of the collection element. For example, if the data type is number, the short code must be numeric.

5. Enter the Description.

   The Description provides additional information about the short code. For example, the short code lead might have a Description of broken lead.

6. Save your work.

   Note: You can explicitly save your work, but if you do not, your work is saved when the collection element is saved.

   To delete collection element values:

From the Values window, select the value's short code. Choose Delete Record from the Edit Menu.

You can only delete collection element values if they have not been copied to a collection plan element.