Code maintenance

Introduction

A system administrator can configure sets of codes for items that then become available for selection by users of ASSURE.

Each set of codes is known as a code type. For convenience, related code types are grouped together into code groups. The All Codes group includes all code types.

Most code types consist of simple Code/Description pairs. The code is used internally by ASSURE; the description is what is visible to ASSURE users. More complex code types have additional fields.

Many code types have a Start Date from which each code is available to users. Once created, a code cannot be deleted while still in use; instead, it is made inactive by setting an End Date from when it is no longer available.

Important

Some code types come with predefined codes. They are usually predefined for a reason, perhaps relating to statutory requirements, and you should always be wary about editing or deleting them.

Finding codes in the ASSURE Help

To get information about a particular code type, use the Search control at the top of this window.

  1. Select Codes from the drop-down filter; this restricts the search to just code types.

  2. Type the name of the code type, or a code description.

  3. Click the magnifying glass icon, or press Return.

Protected codes and code types

Some codes may have a Protected checkbox which, if ticked, means that the code can be changed only by NEC Software Solutions.

Whole code types may also be protected. This means that you cannot change any existing codes or add new ones. You can identify these protected codes types because the Add New button will be unavailable.

Merging codes

Although codes cannot be deleted while still in use, for some Public Protection code types, if an old code has been replaced by a new code, you can merge the old code to the new code, and then the old code can be deleted.

Tip

Generally in ASSURE, codes that are now inactive but have been used in the past are still visible in historical records, but are unavailable for future selection.

User-defined LA code types

All code groups and code types are created only by NEC Software Solutions. However, there are 70 authority-specific Public Protection code types, identified as LA Code 01 to LA Code 70. These are all simple code types, but are otherwise undefined and can be used in any way your authority requires.

Mirror code types

Two code types are said to mirror each other when some or all of the codes in one code type are deliberately defined to be the same as those in the other code type. With a mirrored code, the system can get related information from each code type in which the code is used.