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What is the ards package?
Q: I don’t quite understand the concept of the ards package. What are you trying to do with it?
A: The ards package helps you create an Analysis Results Dataset (ARD) based on a CDISC recommended structure. The functions take your existing statistics, transposes them into a vertical format, and collect them into a single dataset. This dataset can then be saved, shared with sponsors, or used to produce any number of outputs. The ards package simply facilitates this workflow.
Why did you write the ards package?
Q: There are several packages that create an ARDS dataset. Why did you write this one?
A: The ards package was actually the first R package that output the CDISC ARDS structure. At the time it was written, in early 2023, there were no other public, ARDS-related packages. The ards package filled a need for that time, and still addresses some use cases that are not supported by other packages.
What is the difference between ards and the cards package?
Q: I see a lot of people using the cards package, which also produces an ARDS dataset. What is the difference between ards and cards?
A: The ards package does not produce statistics, the cards package does. The ards package assumes you know how to produce the statistics you want, and merely re-organizes them into the ARDS structure. The cards package both produces the statistics, and outputs them in the ARDS structure. The packages have different use cases. You should consider your requirements and select the package that is most appropriate for your situation.