Changelog

Source: NEWS.md

MockData 0.2.0

Major changes

New configuration format (v0.2)

• Breaking change: New configuration schema with uid/uid_detail system
• Replaces v0.1 cat/catLabel columns with unified metadata structure
• Adds rType field for explicit R type coercion (factor, integer, double, Date)
• Adds proportion field for direct distribution control
• Adds date-specific fields: date_start, date_end, distribution

Backward compatibility: v0.1 format still supported via dual interface. Both formats work side-by-side.

Date variable generation

• New create_date_var() function for date variables
• Multiple distribution options: uniform, gompertz, exponential
• Support for survival analysis patterns
• SAS date format parsing
• Three source formats: analysis (R Date), csv (ISO strings), sas (numeric)

Survival analysis support

• New create_survival_dates() function for cohort studies
• Generates paired entry and event dates with guaranteed temporal ordering
• Supports censoring and multiple event distributions
• Note: Must be called manually (not compatible with create_mock_data() batch generation)

Data quality testing (garbage data)

• New prop_invalid parameter across all generators
• Generates intentionally invalid data for testing validation pipelines
• Supports garbage types: corrupt_future, corrupt_past, corrupt_range
• Critical for testing data cleaning workflows

Batch generation

• New create_mock_data() function for batch generation from CSV configuration
• New read_mock_data_config() and read_mock_data_config_details() readers
• Processes multiple variables in single call
• Fallback mode when details not provided

Type coercion

• Explicit rType field controls R type conversion
• Proper factor handling with levels
• Integer vs double distinction for age/count variables
• Makes generated data match real survey data types

New functions

• create_date_var() - Date variable generation
• create_survival_dates() - Paired survival dates with temporal ordering
• create_mock_data() - Batch generation orchestrator
• read_mock_data_config() - Configuration file reader
• read_mock_data_config_details() - Details file reader
• determine_proportions() - Unified proportion determination
• import_from_recodeflow() - Helper to adapt recodeflow metadata

Function updates

• create_cat_var(): Add rType support, proportion parameter, uid-based filtering
• create_con_var(): Add rType support, proportion parameter for missing codes
• Consolidate helpers in mockdata_helpers.R, config_helpers.R, scalar_helpers.R

Documentation

New vignettes

• getting-started.qmd - Comprehensive introduction
• tutorial-dates.qmd - Date configuration patterns
• tutorial-config-files.qmd - Batch generation workflow
• reference-config.qmd - Complete v0.2 schema documentation
• advanced-topics.qmd - Technical implementation details

Updated vignettes

• cchs-example.qmd - Modernized to v0.2 with inline R
• chms-example.qmd - Modernized to v0.2 with inline R
• demport-example.qmd - Modernized to v0.2 with inline R
• dates.qmd - Aligned with v0.2 date configuration
• All vignettes use modern inline R approach

Metadata updates

• mock_data_schema.yaml - LinkML-style schema documentation (1,222 lines)
• metadata_registry.yaml - Document v0.2 format
• Renamed CCHS/CHMS sample files for consistency
• Updated DemPoRT metadata with v0.2 format
• Removed deprecated ICES metadata (moved to recodeflow)

Package infrastructure

• Added _pkgdown.yml for documentation website
• Updated NAMESPACE with new imports (stats::rexp, utils::read.csv, etc.)
• Updated DESCRIPTION with new dependencies

Breaking changes

Configuration format changes: - Variable details now require uid and uid_detail columns - rType field required for proper type coercion - New date fields: date_start, date_end, distribution

Migration path: - v0.1 format still works (backward compatibility maintained) - Dual interface auto-detects format based on parameters - v0.2 recommended for new projects

Deprecation timeline: - v0.2.0 (current): Both formats supported - v0.3.0 (planned 2026-Q1): Deprecation warnings for v0.1 - v0.4.0 (planned 2026-Q3): v0.1 format removed

File changes: - Renamed R/mockdata-helpers.R → R/mockdata_helpers.R - ICES metadata removed (maintained in recodeflow package)

Bug fixes

• Fixed ‘else’ handling in recEnd rules (issue #5)
• Fixed create_survival_dates() compatibility with create_mock_data()
• Fixed Roxygen documentation link syntax errors

Known issues

• Survival variable type must be generated manually with create_survival_dates()
• Cannot be used in create_mock_data() batch generation (requires paired variables)

Supersedes

• PR #5 (issue-5-fix-else): ‘else’ handling fix included
• Incorporates CHMS updates from documentation-restructure branch

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MockData 0.1.0

Initial release with basic categorical and continuous variable generation.