To stop new entries from being created for an element while keeping existing entries, which action should you take?

• A. End date the element definition.
• B. Change the effective date to the required date and select the 'Closed for entry' check box.
• C. You cannot achieve this requirement because you need to continue the existing element entries.
• D. Delete the element definition and re-create it with a different effective date.

Answer: (B)

You can control whether new data can be entered for an element by using its effective dating together with the Closed for entry setting. By changing the element’s effective date to the date from which you want to stop new entries and selecting the Closed for entry option, you prevent any new entries for that element from that date forward. Existing entries created before that date remain intact because you’re not altering those records. Ending the element would block everything, including existing data, and deleting and recreating would lose history and require re-entry. So this combination is the right way to freeze new entries while preserving current ones.