Adding Custom Concepts to the OpenMRS concept dictionary

Owned by alio
Last updated: Apr 22, 2015
3 min read

Please see the Create and Edit Concepts page on the OpenMRS Wiki for information on adding and maintaining concepts for OpenMRS in general

Steps to take when adding a custom concept to the concept dictionary to use with OpenSRP

  1. If you haven't read the Create and Edit Concepts page on the OpenMRS Wiki, please make sure to read it before proceeding. If you have read it, it might not be a bad idea to read it again for good measure.
     
  2. Assuming you're sure after Step 1 that you really do need to create a concept, click the Dictionary option on the main OpenMRS menu and click the "Add new concept" link (see image below)



  3. The New Concept page opens up as below



  4. Enter the name of the Concept, any synonyms and search terms or a short name. Also enter a description to explain what this concept represents. A sample concept to illustrate this is below



  5. Enter the Concept class from the list available. See the Concept Classes page on the OpenMRS Wiki for a list of Concept Classes and what each one represents




  6. Enter the Concept datatype from the list available. See the Concept Datatypes page on the OpenMRS Wiki for a list of Concept Datatypes and what each one represents

     
     
  7. Enter any other information (Is Set, Version etc) and click the "Save Concept" button
     
  8. The next step is to add a mapping for the OpenSRP concept source. To do this, edit the concept, scroll down to the Mappings section, and click the Add Mappings button





  9. A new row for mappings appears. In this row, select SAME-AS in the relationship drop-down, OpenSRP in the source drop-down, and then type in the concept ID (the number you see next to the Id field at the top of the concept details) in the Code field. Leave the Name field blank. See the image below for how this would need to look for the AMBULANCE concept



  10. Scroll down, and click the Save Button, and you're done