v.0.5.0

Version 0.5.0

New features

• New option ("semi") for the batched argument in links(). All
  matches are compared against the record-set in the next iteration.
  Therefore, the number of record-pairs increase exponentially as new
  matches are found. This means fewer record-pairs (memory usage) but a
  longer run time compared to the "no" option. Conversely, it leads to
  more record-pairs (memory usage) but a shorter run time compared to
  the "yes" option.
• New argument (batched) in episodes()
• New argument (split) in episodes(). Split the analysis in
  N-splits of strata. This leads to fewer record-pairs (and memory
  usage) but a longer run time.
• New argument (decode) in as.data.frame.pid(),
  as.data.frame.epid() and as.data.frame.pane()
• New function - episodes_af_shift(). A more vectorised approach to
  episodes() based on epidm::group_time().
• New function - links_wf_episodes(). Implantation of episodes()
  using links().

Changes

• Optimised episodes() and links(). Each iteration now uses less
  time and memory.
• link_id slot in pid objects is now a list.
• links() - records with missing values in a sub_criteria are now
  skipped at the corresponding iteration.
• Updated argument in links()- recursive. This now takes any of
  three options [c("linked", "unlinked", "none")] .
  [c("linked", "unlinked")] collectively were previously [TRUE],
  while ["none"] was previously [FALSE].
• as.epids() now calls make_episodes().
• The default value for the window argument in partitions() is now
  NULL
• as.data.frame() and as.data.list() now only creates
  elements/fields from non-empty fields
• id and gid slots in number_line objects are now integer(0) by
  default.
• episode_group(), record_group() and range_match_legacy() have
  been removed.
• ["recurisve"] episodes from episodes() are now presented as
  ["rolling"] episodes with reference_event = "all_records" i.e
  • Old syntax ~ episodes(..., episode_type == "recursive")
  • New syntax ~ episodes(..., episode_type == "rolling", reference_event = "all_records")

Bug fixes

• When recursive was TRUE, links() ended prematurely and therefore
  missed some matches. Resolved.
• recurrence_sub_criteria in episodes() was not implemented
  correctly and lead to incorrect linkage result in some instances.
  Resolved.
• overlap_method() - logical tests recycled incorrectly. Resolved.
• check_links argument - Option "g" implemented as option "l".
  Resolved.
• make_pairs_wf_source(). Created incorrect pairs. Resolved.
• case_sub_criteria and recurrence_sub_criteria in episodes() led
  to incorrect results. Resolved.