Central Registry User Data Dictionary and Edits Metafile

The Mid-Level Tactical Group (MLTG) manages the cancer surveillance change control process to ensure an efficient and timely change management process. There are many steps in this process including monitoring the timing of products released. One of the products is the timely release of central registries’ user-defined data dictionaries and registry-specific edits metafiles. Central registries with locally defined data items and/or edits should provide cancer registry software vendors with a user-defined dictionary and/or registry-specific edits metafile by September 15. The timing of when central registries release this information impacts the release of cancer registry software vendor updates. As the cancer surveillance community strives to receive data more timely, it is important that the products used to implement the changes for a given diagnosis year meet their deadlines.

There are two separate websites that house the user-defined data dictionaries and the registry-specific edits metafiles. The NAACCR Edits website is home to the Edits Clearinghouse where central registries post their registry-specific edits metafiles; as well as a user manual, Developing Central Registry Edits Metafile, and training videos. Registries should upload their custom edits metafiles by the deadline of September 15. Registries that do not use a custom metafile should also post that information to the Edits clearinghouse by the deadline.

The XML Data Exchange Standard website includes the data exchange standard and the XML dictionary (documentation, tools and libraries). From there, users can access XML user dictionary information (FAQ, Help with User Dictionaries, Uploaded Dictionaries, etc.) and upload their own user dictionary. Registries should upload their user dictionary by the deadline of September 15. Registries that do not use a user dictionary should also use the form on the XML Dictionary Submission Clearinghouse to communicate this information.