DHIS2 Category Combinations

A category is the way a number is split, and its options are the parts it is split into. When a data element uses a category, each value is entered once for every option.

Examples of categories

A category always has two parts. First you create its options, and then the category that holds them, because DHIS2 builds a category only from options that already exist.

Part 1: Open the category options

In the Maintenance app, click the CATEGORY tab and then Category option in the side menu.

123456

1. 1CATEGORY tab. The orange line shows that this tab is open.
2. 2Category option. Highlighted in blue, because this is the list you are looking at.
3. 3Search box. Search here first, because an option you need may already exist.
4. 4Count. 1 to 50 of 85 means there are 85 options, shown 50 at a time.
5. 5Existing options. Options already made for other categories, such as 5 years and above.
6. 6Blue plus button. Opens a new category option form.

Part 2: Fill in the new option form

123456789

1. 1Category option form. The back arrow returns to the list without saving.
2. 2Sharing note. Everyone can view and edit the new option.
3. 3Name (*). The full name of the option. It must be unique.
4. 4Short name (*). A shorter name, which must also be unique.
5. 5Code. Optional. Leave it empty.
6. 6Form name. Optional. A different label for the data entry form.
7. 7Description. Optional. What the option means.
8. 8Start and end dates. Optional. Only needed if the option is valid for a limited time.
9. 9Organisation units. Where the option can be used. We set this in Part 3.

Type the name and short name of the first option. Names must be unique, so the example adds _1 to the end. You can add your initials instead, for example Male_JT.

123

1. 1Name. Male_1
2. 2Short name. male_1
3. 3Code. Left empty.

Part 3: Choose the organisation units and save

Scroll down to the organisation units. They start with none selected.

123456

1. 1Filter. Type a name to find an organisation unit quickly.
2. 2Count. 0 Organisation units selected.
3. 3Organisation unit tree. Sierra Leone with its districts. Click the small arrow to open a district.
4. 4Level and group. Select every unit at one level, or in one group, at once.
5. 5SELECT ALL. Ticks every organisation unit in the tree.
6. 6SAVE. Saves the option and returns to the list.

Click SELECT ALL, so the option can be used in every facility.

12345

1. 1Count. 1332 Organisation units selected.
2. 2Sierra Leone. Ticked, with the number of units it contains.
3. 3Districts. Every district is ticked as well, from Bo to Western Area.
4. 4SELECT ALL. The button that ticked them all.
5. 5SAVE. Click it to save the option.

Part 4: Create the Sex of Child category

Now put the two options together in a category. Click Category in the side menu to open the list of categories.

123456

1. 1Category. Highlighted in blue in the side menu.
2. 2Category management. The title of the list page.
3. 3Data dimension type filter. Shows only Disaggregation or only Attribute categories.
4. 4Data dimension type column. Most categories are Disaggregation, which is what we need.
5. 5Existing categories. Categories already made, such as Gender and HIV age.
6. 6Blue plus button. Opens a new category form.

12345678910

1. 1Name (*). The full name of the category.
2. 2Short name (*). A shorter unique name.
3. 3Code. Optional. Leave it empty.
4. 4Description. Optional.
5. 5Data dimension type (*). Choose Disaggregation, because the category splits a data value.
6. 6Data dimension. Leave it ticked, so the category can be used to filter data in analysis.
7. 7Category options. Where you choose the options that belong to this category.
8. 8Available options. Every option in the system.
9. 9Arrow buttons. Move the selected option to the right, or back.
10. 10Selected options. The options that belong to this category.

Fill in the name, short name and data dimension type, then type Male in the search box under Category options, so the long list shrinks to the options you need. Click Male_1 to select it.

123456

1. 1Short name. sex_of_child, under the name Sex of Child.
2. 2Data dimension type. Disaggregation.
3. 3Search. Male typed in the search box.
4. 4Hidden by filters. 83 options are hidden, so only three are left to choose from.
5. 5Male_1. Clicked, so it is highlighted.
6. 6Arrow button. It turns orange once an option is selected. Click it to move Male_1 across.

12345

1. 1Search. Still set to Male.
2. 2Female and Male. Female also shows, because the word Female contains male.
3. 3Selected list. Male_1 has moved here.
4. 4ASSIGN ALL. Would move every option still on the left. Do not use it here.
5. 5REMOVE ALL. Moves everything back to the left, if you need to start again.

Clear the search box, find Female_1 in the same way and move it across. When both options are on the right, click SAVE.

12345

1. 1Search box. Empty again, so the full list shows.
2. 2Selected options. Male_1 and Female_1.
3. 3Up and down arrows. Change the order of the options, which is the order they appear in the form.
4. 4SAVE. Saves the category and returns to the list.
5. 5CANCEL. Closes the form without saving.

Check the category

Back on the list, type sex in the search box.

12345

1. 1Search. sex typed in the search box.
2. 2Count. 1 to 1 of 1, so one category matches.
3. 3Sex of Child. The category you just saved.
4. 4Disaggregation. The data dimension type you chose.
5. 5Row menu. The three dots open Edit, if you need to change anything.

Part 5: Build Locality and Age Group of Patient the same way

Repeat Parts 1 to 4 for the other two categories. Create the options first, one at a time, with every organisation unit selected, and then the category that holds them.

A data element cannot use a category directly. It uses a category combination, which holds one or more categories. Here the combination holds the Sex of Child category from Step 1.

Type the name and choose Disaggregation. Then type Sex in the search box under Categories, so only matching categories are left, and click Sex of Child.

1234567891011

1. 1Category combination form. The back arrow returns to the list without saving.
2. 2Name (*). Sex of Child. A combination can have the same name as its category.
3. 3Code. Optional. Leave it empty.
4. 4Data dimension type (*). Disaggregation, the same type as the category inside it.
5. 5Skip category total in reports. Leave it unticked, so reports still show the total of Male and Female.
6. 6Categories. Where you choose the categories this combination holds.
7. 7Search. Sex typed in the search box.
8. 8Hidden by filters. 18 categories are hidden, so only the match is left.
9. 9Sex of Child. Click it to select it.
10. 10Arrow buttons. Move the selected category to the right.
11. 11Selected categories. Empty until you move Sex of Child across.

Click the right arrow. When Sex of Child is on the right, click SAVE.

123456

1. 1Selected categories. Sex of Child is now in the combination.
2. 2Available categories. Empty, because the only match has moved across.
3. 3ASSIGN ALL. Greyed out, as there is nothing left to move.
4. 4REMOVE ALL. Moves the category back, if you need to start again.
5. 5SAVE. Saves the combination and returns to the list.
6. 6CANCEL. Closes the form without saving.

Check the category combination

Back on the list, type Sex in the search box.

123456

1. 1Category combination. Highlighted in blue in the side menu.
2. 2Search. Sex typed in the search box.
3. 3Count. 1 to 1 of 1, so one combination matches.
4. 4Sex of Child. The combination you just saved.
5. 5Disaggregation. The data dimension type you chose.
6. 6Row menu. The three dots open Edit, if you need to change anything.