CENTRAL Management Plan
The CENTRAL Management Plan describes the methods used and work invested in developing the CENTRAL database. Two of the chapters are Guides to be used by Cochrane Group Trial Search Coordinators for contributing trials registers for publication on CENTRAL.

1. Introduction
2. Guide for Submission of Specialized Registers to CENTRAL
3. Guide for Submission of Hand Search Results to CENTRAL
4. Coding of Records in CENTRAL as CCTR and Correction of Records
5. Work Performed by the USCC in the Development and Management of CENTRAL
6. Update Software's System for Processing Specialized Registers and Hand Search Results
7. Searching CENTRAL

Introduction - Introduction in rtf format

Guide for Submission of Specialized Registers to CENTRAL - Guide in pdf format

The Specialized Register Guide is for the person within a Collaborative Review Group (CRG) or Field/Network who is responsible for submission of that entity's specialized register to CENTRAL (the CENTRAL register of studies that are possibly relevant for inclusion in Cochrane systematic reviews). This is usually the Review Group Coordinator (RGC) or Trials Search Coordinator (TSC).

Appendix 1: Tags to be used with ASCII export files

Appendix 2: CRG or Field/Network SR codes

Appendix 3: Submission Form for Centralized CENTRAL Specialized Registers

Appendix 4: FTP "How To" Manual

Guide for Submission of Hand Search Results to CENTRAL - Document in rtf format

The Hand Search Guide provides instructions for members of the Cochrane Collaboration who are hand searching healthcare journals to identify randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials. It provides guidelines and instructions for searching and/or coordinating the search of healthcare journals, and procedures for submitting citations to the identified reports to the US Cochrane Center.

Appendix 1: Journal Hand Search Registration Form

Appendix 2: "Stand-Alone" Conference Proceedings Hand Search Registration Form

Appendix 3: Data entry specifications for journal citation data not present in MEDLINE (1966 to present)

Appendix 4: Data entry specifications for non-journal article reference types

Appendix 5: Submission Form for Hand Search Results for CENTRAL

Coding of Records in CENTRAL as CCTR and Correction of Records - Document in MS Word format

This Coding of Records section describes the processes by which records in CENTRAL will be included in the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR) and by which errors in CENTRAL and CCTR will be corrected.

Work Performed by the USCC in the Development and Management of CENTRAL - Document in MS Word format

This section describes how the USCC is involved in developing and maintaining CENTRAL through its role as the coordinating and processing center for the Cochrane Collaboration's hand and electronic searching activities.

Update Software's System for Processing Specialized Registers and Hand Search Results - Document in rtf format

This section describes the work performed by Update Software in the development and management of CENTRAL

Searching CENTRAL - Document in PDF format

This section provides information about searching CENTRAL that is specific to the needs of Cochrane Review Groups for developing and maintaining their specialized registers, as well as other interested parties.