Creating a Custom Domain

Problem

You need to create a domain for a study, but there is not a standard domain template that meets your needs.

Solution

You can create a new custom domain inside a clinical component. The new domain uses the data model defined by the data standard to create the appropriate columns and metadata.

Tasks

To create a custom domain, complete the following steps:

In the Folders tree, right-click on the clinical component folder in which you want to create the custom domain, and select NewCustom Domain. The New Custom Domain wizard opens. The Domain Location page appears.
By default, the Location field is set to the folder in which you initiated the action. If you want to change the default location of the domain, click Browse to select a new location.

Note: A domain can be created only in a folder that is a clinical component root folder, or in a subfolder of a clinical component root folder. The name of the clinical component that is associated with the domain location is displayed in the Clinical Component field. If the domain location does not contain the clinical component, then the Clinical Component field is empty. You must select a valid domain location before you can proceed in the wizard.

Click Next. The Data Standard Selection page appears.
Select a data standard from the list of standards. The data standards in this list are associated with the clinical component in which the domain is to be created.

All domains in a folder must be associated with the same data standard. If you want to create a copy of the domain using a different version of the data standard, then you must create the copy in a different folder. If a domain already exists in the target folder, and that domain is associated with a different data standard than what you just specified in the wizard, then a warning message is displayed. You must choose a valid data standard before you can proceed.

Click Next. The General Information page appears.
In the Name field, enter a name for the new domain. In the Identifier field, enter an identifier for the domain.

Note: The name and identifier cannot be the same as the name or identifier of a domain template in the data model. When you click Next, the wizard validates the name and identifier. A warning message is displayed if either the name or identifier fails the validation.

Click Next. The Domain Information page appears.
Enter the property values for the new domain.

Click Next. The Library Selection page appears.
Select a library to assign to the domain. The library can be any library in the clinical component. If no libraries exist within the clinical component root folder or within a subfolder of the clinical component root folder, a message is displayed.

Note: You can create a domain without assigning a library. Later, you can create a library and assign it to the domain. However, if you use the domain in a job without first assigning a library, the job fails. The job generates errors that indicate you must assign a library. If you attempt to open the domain to view the contents and records, then the open fails, and an error message is displayed.

Click Next. The Column Group Selection page appears.
Select a conditional column group to use in the new domain. Column groups are groups of columns that are available to all new domains in a data standard. This page displays the core column groups that are available to all new domains in the data standard.

Note: Column groups can differ depending on the selected data model.

Click Next. The Column Selection page appears.
Select the individual columns that you want to include in the new domain. Click Add. The Available Columns list displays all of the core column groups and the selected conditional column group. You can add columns individually or as a group. To remove a column from the Selected Columns list, select the column or group of columns, and click Remove.

If you want to customize column properties, click Next. The Column Elaboration page appears. Otherwise, go to step 10.
Edit the properties for selected columns. The Selected Columns table displays all of the selected columns and their properties. Not all properties can be edited. Editable properties vary by data model.

You can change the column order. Select a column, and then click Move Up or Move Down to adjust its order.

If two or more columns are keys, you can change the key order. Click Order Keys. The Order Domain Keys window appears. Select a key, and then click Move Up or Move Down to adjust its order. Click OK to save the key order.
Click Finish to create the new domain.