Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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We have used some standard conventions for the following FAQs: Menu items are indicated by a vertical pipe (|), followed by the option(s) to select. For example, File|New indicates that you should select the option New from the File menu. References to buttons, option boxes, radio buttons, tabs, menus, and dialog boxes are italicized. Variable, Marker, or Response Card names are printed in ALLCAPS. QDS™ features are in Title Case.
Please select the appropriate section of questions to view:
Design Studio
ACASI/CAPI
Data Entry
Warehouse Manager
HAPI™
Upgrade Issues
Design Studio FAQs
No Subject ID Variable
Creating an Automated Subject ID Variable
Large Specifications File
Copying Specifications Between (or Within)
Questionnaires
Determining Question Numbering
Modifying Question Numbers
"Other, Specify" Questions
Labeling Scale Points
Hard Returns in Question Text
Initial Values of Variables
Maximum Number of Questions
WordPerfect Formatting
Skipping With Nominal-Check-Each Response Type Data
Elements
Displaying Previous Responses to Check-Each
Questions in Automated Interviews
Expanding Length for Edit Element Message
Calculating Age
Calculating Dates for Display in Automated
Interviews
Using Special Response Codes in 'If'
Statements
Constructing 'If' Statements
Skipping Table Cells
Using Markers in Tables
Accommodating Long Labels in Tables
Element Types Not Allowed in Tables
No Subject ID Variable
Q:
How do I fix the QDS™ error message: "There is no Data Element for the
Subject ID variable SUBJECT?"
A: Look at the Interview Options you have
set for your questionnaire; go to the Options|Interviews,
Identifier tab in the Design Studio. You will see that the
variable name for Subject ID is SUBJECT. This is a system default;
QDS™ requires a unique identifier for each survey as lack of an
identifier makes data management more difficult. If you do not want
to include a Subject ID variable, just blank out that item on the
Identifier Variables tab. Keep in mind that this option is
best for testing only.
Creating an Automated Subject
ID Variable
Q: Is
there a way to automatically assign a Subject ID variable so that it
does not have to be entered for each interview?
A: You can create an automatically
calculated ID so that interviewers and/or data entry staff need not
enter one. To do this, set up a questionnaire that includes an
Automatic Variable named SUBJECT using the following steps:
1. Create an Automatic Variable called TODAY; type:
Today's Date.
2. Create an Automatic Variable called TIME; type: Current
Time.
3. Create an Automatic Variable called SUBJECT, type: String
Expression.
4. Enter the following into the Numeric Calculation/String
Expression box:
CONCAT(TODAY,TIME)
The resulting Subject ID for an interview conducted on March 19,
2002 at 11:22 a.m. would be
3/19/200211:22:12.
Large Specifications
File
Q:
How can I reduce the size of QDS™ specifications files
(*.QDS)?
A: Specifications files retain a history of
all changes. This history is used in building Change History reports
and to undo changes. You can periodically clear old history
information from your file by going to File|Save a Copy As in
the Design Studio and checking the Discard Undo Information After
Saving Copy option box. This will let you copy the specification
and all its history to a backup file, then remove the history
information for your current file. If you are not interested in
retaining any history information, go to File|Save a Copy As
and check the Always Discard Undo Information Before Saving
option box. Both these options can significantly reduce file
size.
Copying Specifications Between (or Within)
Questionnaires
Q:
How do I copy specifications from one file to another or within the
same file?
A: To copy an Element or group of Elements
within the same Specifications file: 1) select the element(s) you
would like to copy (to select more than one element click on the
first element in the group, and while holding down the SHIFT Key,
click on the last element in the group); 2) go to Edit|Copy;
3) select the Element just below where you would like the
items inserted; and 4) go to Edit|Paste. Your copied
Element(s) will now be visible in the Element list. Remember that you
will need to edit the copied variable names and other changed
information.
If you wish to copy Element(s) to a different QDS
Specifications File, simply open both file(s) simultaneously within
the Design Studio and follow the same steps described above for
Copying Elements. You can toggle between files by using the Window
Menu item. You can also use the Copy, Cut, Delete, and Paste
Element(s) buttons on the Design Studio toolbar.
Determining Question
Numbering
Q:
How can I tell what the question numbering will be before building a
paper questionnaire?
A: Look at the Question Number box
on the Data Element tab to see your question numbering as you
go along in the Design Studio; after you make any updates that affect
question numbering, go to the Tools|Validate command and then
go back to the Data Element tab to see the updated
numbering.
Modifying Question
Numbers
Q:
How can I override the QDS™ default question numbering?
A: Although QDS™ does assign default
question numbers, there are several methods you can use to override
this function. A question number has 3 parts: Prefix, Integer, and
Suffix. For question number A1a, A=Prefix; 1=Integer; and a=Suffix.
For each Data Element in your specifications, the Integer is
determined automatically by QDS™ unless you override it with a
Section Header Element or Format Element. The Prefix
can be added optionally with a Section Header Element. The
Suffix can be added optionally using the Data Element tab,
Question Suffix box, and manipulated using the Increment
Question Number Integer checkbox. Go to Tools|Validate to
view the updated question numbering.
Q: How
do I number questions such as, 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, etc. for my paper
questionnaire?
A: You can check the Increment Question
Number Integer box on the Data Element tab to force QDS™ to
assign a larger integer for an element than for the preceding element
(e.g., 2, 3a, 3b) by: 1) adding the Suffix letters a and
b to the respective Elements to be numbered 3a and
3b in the Question Suffix box on the Data
Element tab; and 2) checking the Increment Question Number
Integer box on the Data Element tab for the Element to be
numbered 3a. Go to Tools|Validate to view the updated
question numbering.
"Other, Specify"
Questions
Q:
How do I include an Other-specify category to a code list
question?
A: QDS™ does not provide a specific Response
Type for Other-Specify questions. You will need to create two
separate Data Elements: one for the Code List and a second for the
Specify text. You can include a Skip Element between them to skip the
Specify element when the code is not the Other category.
Labeling Scale
Points
Q:
How do you label one or more of the points on a scale in addition to
the endpoints?
A: Create a Response Card for each
scale with intermediate labels.
Hard Returns in Question
Text
Q:
How can I enter a line return in my question text?
A: You can include a hard return in
question text with Ctrl-Enter. Hold down the Ctrl key
while hitting the Enter key.
Initial Values of
Variables
Q:
What are the initial values for variables?
A: Automatic (numeric) Variables are always
initialized to zero. Skipped Data Element variables are initialized
as specified on the Data Element If Skipped and
Calculations tabs. The default setting treats a skipped
variable as Not Applicable and uses the value of zero for Not
Applicable in a calculation. All numeric variables within QDS™ have a
numeric range, a separate numeric code (e.g., 97 for Don't Know), and
a string representation (e.g., Don't Know). When the Warehouse
Manager exports data to SPSS or SAS, it provides a number of options
for dealing with special values like Don't Know or Not
Applicable.
Maximum Number of
Questions
Q:
What's the maximum number of questions QDS™ can handle?
A: Under Windows NT and 2000, there is no
limitation on the number of questions. However, under Windows 95/98,
a questionnaire can only contain up to 2,048 elements.
WordPerfect
Formatting
Q:
How can I prevent questions from being split across two pages in my
Paper Questionnaire formatted for WordPerfect?
A: This seems to be a problem that all
versions of WordPerfect have with RTFs (Rich Text Files). Based on
testing, it appears that WordPerfect ignores any Keep Lines Together
directives in RTFs. We have notified Corel about the problem but have
received no response. This problem does not occur with Microsoft
Word.
Skipping With
Nominal-Check-Each Response Type Data Elements
Q:
How can I set up a skip based on responses to a Check-Each
question?
A: When you create a Data Element with a
Nominal-Check-Each Response Type, your output data set will
include a set of variables-one for each choice and one for the total
number of checked responses. For example, if you had the following
question:
Variable Name: BOOKS
Question: "Which of the following books have you read?"
Choices:
A Catcher in the Rye
B Grapes of Wrath
C Catch-22
D Tom Sawyer
You will have the following variables in your data set:
BOOKS: the total number of items checked
BOOKSA: was Catcher in the Rye checked (default = 1) or unchecked
(default = 0)
BOOKSB: was Grapes of Wrath checked (default = 1) or unchecked
(default = 0)
BOOKSC: was Catch-22 checked (default = 1) or unchecked (default =
0)
BOOKSD: was Tom Sawyer checked (default = 1) or unchecked (default
= 0)
To skip if more than one item was checked, you would enter the
following restriction in your Skip Element If*: statement:
BOOKS > 1
To skip if choice 'A' was checked, you would enter the following
restriction in your Skip Element If*: statement:
BOOKSA = 1
Displaying Previous Responses
to Check-Each Questions in Automated Interviews
Q:
How can I put the number of choices selected in a Check-Each question
into another question on an Automated Interview?
A: You can create an Automatic Variable to
display the count. After the Check-Each Response Type Data
Element, insert an Automatic Variable named, for example, COUNT;
select Numeric Calculation from the Type of Data to be Stored
drop-down box. Enter the name of your Check-Each Variable into the
Numeric Calculation/String Expression box:
BOOKS
where BOOKS is the variable name for your Check-Each question. The
number of picked items will be assigned to this Automatic Variable.
To display this number in a subsequent item, use a Substitution Token
in your Question Text: "You selected &[COUNT] responses
on the last question …."
Q: How
would I put the actual responses selected in a Check-Each question
into another question? For example:
Q1. Where do you usually go for
medical care?
A. Primary Care Doctor
B. Clinic
C. Emergency Room
Q2. Which of these places (list those
chosen in last question) do you use most for medical
care?
1. Primary Care Doctor
2. Clinic
3. Emergency Room
A: You can create an Automatic Variable to
display these. After the Check-Each Data Element: 1) insert an
Automatic Variable named, for example Q1S; 2) select String
Expression from the Type of Data to be Stored drop-down
box; and 3) enter the following expression into the Numeric
Calculation/String Expression box:
CONCAT(if(Q1A=1,if(Q1>1, "Primary Care Doctor,",
"Primary Care Doctor"),""),CONCAT (if(Q1B=1,if(Q1C=1,"Clinic,
","Clinic"),""),if(Q1C=1,"Emergency Room","")))
The If function used in our example evaluates a logical
expression and assigns one value if the expression is TRUE, another
if the expression is FALSE, and another if MAYBE (optional), with the
following syntax:
IF (Expr, Num1, Num2, Num3)
Num1 if Expr is TRUE, Num2 if FALSE, Num3 if MAYBE
For example: If (A = 1, 10, 20). If A=1 is True then the result
will be 10, if A = 1 is False then the result will be 20.
In this example, Q1 is the Variable Name for the first question,
Q1A is the Variable Name for the Primary Care Doctor choice; Q1B is
the Variable Name for the Clinic choice; and Q1C is the Variable Name
for the Emergency Room choice. You can follow this with an Edit
Element that displays an error if an item was chosen for Q2 that was
not chosen for Q1.
Expanding Length for Edit
Element Message
Q:
How can I fit a long Edit Element message completely in the pop-up
box?
A: You cannot alter the font or window size
for this dialog box. Typically, these messages are fairly short-for
example, "Response to Q11 cannot be greater than Q12." If you need to
display a longer message, you can specify that "Reconciliation
elements follow this" and go to an Information Element that displays
the longer explanation; for example,
Edit Element Message -> "This appears to be
inconsistent data; hit OK for further information."
Reconciliation takes you to -> Information Element with the
text: "The response that you entered for Q12 appears to be
inconsistent with the information that was entered earlier for
Q11, this could be because of one of the following …."
If needed, you can add an additional Edit Element (with the same
criteria) following the Information Element to loop back to the
appropriate place for reentering data.
Calculating Age
Q:
How do I setup a question to calculate the ages of respondents based
on their birth dates?
A: You will need to use the AGE Function to
create an Automatic Variable by: 1) entering AGE (or any other
variable name that you would like to specify) in the Variable
Name box; 2) selecting Numeric Calculation from the
Type of Data to be Stored drop-down box; and 3) entering the
following calculation in the Numeric Calculation/String Expression
box:
AGE(DOB,TODAY)
where AGE is the Automatic Variable name; DOB is a previously
collected Date Type Data Element for Birth Date; and TODAY is a
previous Automatic Variable of type Today's Date.
Calculating Dates for Display
in Automated Interviews
Q:
How can I display a range of dates in an automated interview? For
example, if I ask "Did you, in the last 2 months (between DATE and
TODAY), …?" and instead of (between DATE and TODAY), have
"between Saturday, December 22, 2001, and Saturday, February 22,
2002" appear in an ACASI or CAPI interview?
A: You will need to create two Automatic
Date Variables. First, to create an Automatic Variable named TODAY,
type: Today's Date. Next, create an Automatic Variable named PAST60D
and select String Expression from the Type of Variable
drop-down box. In the Numeric Calculation/String Expression
box, enter:
LONGDATE(TODAY-60)
For your question text, use substitution tokens to display the
values: "Did you, in the last 2 months (between
&[PAST60D] and &[TODAY]), …?"
Using Special Response Codes
in 'If' Statements
Q:
How do I create a skip based on a question response that was Refused,
Don't Know, Not Applicable, or Missing?
A: Insert a Skip Instruction Element with
the following in the If*: box
VAR=.REF or VAR=.DK or VAR=.NA or VAR=.
Where VAR is the variable name for your question, .REF' is
Refused; .DK is Don't Know; .NA is Not Applicable; and . is
Missing.
Constructing 'If'
Statements
Q:
How can I set up an If statement to test for a condition and then
return a response based on the condition?
A: The syntax for an If statement is:
IF(condition to be evaluated, return if true,
return if false)
In other words, the IF() function takes three arguments: If the
condition evaluates as true, the function returns the value of the
first argument; if the condition evaluates as false, the function
returns the value of the second argument. For example, in the
statement:
IF(AGE > 10, "Eligible","Ineligible")
'Eligible" will be returned if AGE is greater than 10, or
'Ineligible" will be returned if AGE is not greater than 10.
Skipping Table
Cells
Q:
How can I skip over certain questions (elements) in a Table for only
some categories in that Table?
A: If you want always to skip a question
for a particular category, you can use Table Applicability. On the
Applicability tab for the question to be skipped, select
Include/Exclude Categories, then list the categories that
do/don't apply for that question. (To help you list the categories,
go to Tools|Table Categories while in the Applicability
tab. You can then click on the categories to add them to the
list.)
Using Markers in
Tables
Q:
How do you use Markers as skip destinations within Tables?
A: You cannot insert a Marker Element
inside a table. You can designate a special Marker named NEXTCAT
within a table for your skip destination. NEXTCAT will jump to the
first element of the next category in the table. You can also set a
destination for a Marker Element outside the Table as long as it is
the first Element following the end of the Table.
Accommodating Long Labels in
Tables
Q:
How do I enter long category labels for Table questions?
A: You cannot increase the maximum length
(40 characters) of the Text (&TXT) substitute box on the
Table Element tab; however, you can use the &TXT and
&ALT fields together to create one long label. Continue your text
from the &TXT field to the &ALT field without spaces (unless
appropriate). For example, you could enter the following for this
long label:
&TXT: Welfare/Food Stamps/Aid to Dependent
&ALT: Children
You should enter the substitution reference in the question text
as: "Have you received any income from &TXT&ALT?'" This will
appear as: "Have you received any income from Welfare/Food Stamps/Aid
to Dependent Children?"
Element Types Not Allowed in
Tables
Q:
How can I put a Data Element with a Check-Each Response Type in a
Table?
A: The only Element types allowed within a
Table are:
Data Elements (cannot use a Check-Each Response Type)
Skip Elements
Automatic Variable Elements
Data Elements with a Check-Each Response Type are prohibited. If
you need to include this type of question in your Table, use a series
of Data Elements with Yes/No Response Types instead. Information and
Edit Elements are also not allowed.
CAPI/ACASI Module
FAQs
"Cannot Open Bitmap File" Message
Using the Keyboard for ACASI Interviews
Exiting ACASI Program
Resuming an Incomplete ACASI or CAPI
Interview
Using Human Recorded Voices (WAV files) in ACASI
Interviews
Using Different Voices in a Computer Voice ACASI
Interview
Reading Choices for a Pick List in ACASI
Changing the ACASI/CAPI Screen Display
Removing Special Code Buttons From ACASI
Screen
Adding Space for Longer Question Text in an
Automated Interview
Displaying Question Numbers in an Automated
Interview
Displaying More Than One Question per Screen in an
Automated Interview
"Cannot Open Bitmap File"
Message
Q:
What can I do about the message: "Cannot open Bitmap File C:\Program
Files\QDSv2\Studio\Bitmap32\En\Keyed\Male-U.BMP. The standard QDS
bitmap will be substituted."?
A: If your bitmap files are not installed
with the default installation, C:\Program
Files\QDSv2\Studio\Bitmap32\En, you will need to change the directory
for button bitmap files. Go to Build|CAPI Application or
ACASI Application, click the Options button on the
Automated Interview Control File box, and select the
External Files tab on the Build Options box. This is the
case even if only the drive letter is different-e.g., D: instead of
C:. If you do not change the options, QDS™ will use the default
buttons.
Using the Keyboard for ACASI
Interviews
Q:
How can I use the keyboard for numeric responses in an ACASI
interview?
A: You need to have the Use Keyboard for
ACASI option checked on the Number and Date tabs on
Options|Data Defaults in the Design Studio. Also, you need to
check the Support Keyboard Input box on ACASI Build options.
From the Design Studio, select Build|ACASI Application. Click
the Options Button (bottom right-hand corner). You will see
the Build Options dialog box; check the Support Keyboard
Input box on the Operations tab.
Exiting ACASI
Program
Q:
How can I exit an ACASI interview before it is complete?
A: To exit an interview where keyboard
input is allowed, press Alt-F4 and supply the password (if password
is required). When keyboard input has been disabled, move the mouse
pointer to the upper left corner of the screen and simultaneously
click the left and right mouse buttons. QDS™ will ask for the exit
password. Select Cancel to continue the interview.
Resuming an Incomplete ACASI
or CAPI Interview
Q:
How do I resume an ACASI or CAPI interview that was interrupted
before it was complete?
A: To resume an interrupted, saved
interview: 1) open your ACASI/CAPI Application; 2) select the
Resume a prior interview radio button in the Open
ACASI/CAPI dialog box; an Impending Interviews dialog box will
open where Identifier(s) lists your Identifier Variable(s),
Status displays the Interview status, and Started and
Ended display the interview start/end date and time. (Clicking
the Show All button displays Completed as well as Incomplete
interviews); 3) Select the Interview you would like to resume and
click OK. A dialog box will confirm which interview is resuming. You
will return to the screen in the interview where you left off.
Using Human Recorded Voices
(WAV files) in ACASI Interviews
Q:
How do I set up human recorded WAV files for an ACASI
Interview?
A: You will first need to create your WAV
files outside of QDS™ with recording studio software. You will need a
separate WAV file for each Data Element|Text of
Question, Information Element|Text, Edit
Element|Display Message, and Pick-One or Check-Each
Response set category. Next, to associate your WAV files, enter each
WAV filename (minus the WAV extension) in the appropriate Audio
File Name box. These are located on the Data Element tab
for question text, Info Element tab for information elements,
Edit Element tab for information elements, and Response
Set tab category description dialog boxes for Pick-One or
Check-Each Response set categories.
All Audio Files must be located in the same directory, and
the path must be set using the Build|ACASI Application Build
Options:
- From the Design Studio, select Build|ACASI Application
and select the Options button
- Select the Audio tab
- Enter the complete path in the Directory for Audio Files box
NOTE: The path must be replicated on any machine that will be used
to administer your survey, and all WAV files must be copied to this
path on any other machine.
Using Different Voices in a
Computer Voice ACASI Interview
Q:
For an ACASI interview, how do you use a different computer-generated
voice from the default (male) voice?
A: You can select different computer voices
by embedding DECtalk® text-to-speech inline commands within the
text of a Data Element or Information Element. These commands will
not appear when the text is displayed, but will be passed on to
DECtalk® as an instruction to alter the voicing or pronunciation
of the text that follows. There are ten different DECtalk® voices
to select from:
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Command
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Function
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Male Voices
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[:np]
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Change to Paul's voice (default)
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[:nh]
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Change to Harry's voice
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[:nf]
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Change to Frank's voice
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[:nd]
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Change to Dennis' voice
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Female Voices
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[:nb]
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Change to Betty's voice
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[:nu]
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Change to Ursula's voice
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[:nw]
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Change to Wendy's voice
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[:nr]
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Change to Rita's voice
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Child's Voice
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[:nk]
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Change to Kit's voice
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If you wanted to use Betty's voice for a question, you would enter
the following into the text box on your Data Element: [:nb]
This will be the first question…. Betty's voice (female) will be
substituted for the default male voice. You will need to add this
command to each Element for which you would like to change the
voice.
Reading Choices for a Pick
List in ACASI
Q:
How do I tell QDS™ to have the computer voice read Pick-List choices
during an ACASI interview?
A: This is an ACASI Build Option. Go to
Build|ACASI Application in the Design Studio. In the next
window, click the Options button in the lower right-hand
corner and go to the Audio tab. Check the Read Choices
(text buttons) option box.
Changing the ACASI/CAPI Screen
Display
Q:
Can I change how my CAPI/ACASI screen looks?
A: You can change some appearance aspects.
Go to Build|CAPI/ACASI Application and select the
Options button in the dialog box. To change options regarding
how/when special code boxes are displayed, go to the
Operations tab and check the appropriate option box. To select
options for font size for questions and buttons, space allotted for
question boxes, shape of standard buttons, and whether to display
question numbers on the screen, go to the Appearance tab. Any
changes made will affect all the screens in your CAPI/ACASI
Application. The current QDS™ version does not allow you to change
screen colors or appearance for individual screens. You can change
background screen color by modifying your Windows settings in
Start|Settings|Control Panel|Display.
Removing Special Code Buttons
From ACASI Screen
Q:
How can I remove the Don't Know and Refused to Answer buttons from my
ACASI interview screen?
A: After you select Build|ACASI
Application in the Design Studio, select the Options
button on the Automated Interview Control File dialog box. On
the Operations tab, check the option box Hide disallowed
special response buttons.
Adding Space for Longer
Question Text in an Automated Interview
Q:
How do I display a very long question in an Automated Interview
without the text being cut off?
A: You can change the space for all
question text boxes under Build Options by: 1) going to Build|CAPI
Application (or Build|ACASI Application) in the Design
Studio; and 2) in the Automated Interview Control File dialog
box, clicking the Options button and selecting the
Appearance tab. You will see a Space for Questions box
that contains a scaled-down image of the interview screen. Move your
mouse to the bottom border of the white rectangle and drag it down to
the desired size. You can make it as long as half the screen. Note
that expanding the size of the question field will cause the size of
your response buttons to be proportionately smaller for Pick-One and
Check-Each lists.
Displaying Question Numbers
in an Automated Interview
Q:
How can you display question numbers onscreen during an Automated
Interview?
A: For both CAPI and ACASI, this is a Build
Option. In the Design Studio, go to Build|CAPI Application (or
Build|ACASI Application). Click the Options button on
the Automated Interview Control File dialog box; go to the
Appearance tab. Check the option box Show Question
Numbers.
Displaying More Than One
Question per Screen in an Automated Interview
Q:
Can you display more than one question on a screen in a CAPI or ACASI
interview?
A: No. QDS™ is designed so that each screen
displays one Data Element (question) or Information Element
(informational text) at a time. This format makes it easy for
interviewers or respondents to enter answers without error.
Data Entry Module
FAQs
Data Entry Specifications Do Not Match
Viewing Possible Responses in Data Entry Mode
Allowing Missing Values in Data Entry
Entering Missing Values in Data Entry
Key Verification
Data Entry Specifications Do
Not Match
Q:
When adding new interviews with the Data Entry program, I got the
message: "The QDE Control File INTERVIEW DE.QDE does not match the
specifications used to collect the interviews on file INTERVIEW
DE.QPD." What does that mean?
A: All interviews in a single paper data
file (e.g., INTERVIEW DE.QPD) must correspond to the same version of
the questionnaire. Whenever you rebuild the Data Entry control file
(INTERVIEW DE.QDE), there is a chance that the specifications have
changed. The Data Entry program therefore insists that you begin a
new data file for the new control file. To begin a new data file,
enter a new code under Batch on the File Open Dialog
box.
Viewing Possible Responses in
Data Entry Mode
Q:
How can you display Pick One or other Response Type lists in Data
Entry?
A: To view and/or select response codes for
any coded Response Type (i.e., Gender, Pick One, Check All that
Apply, Yes/No, Rating Scale, Response Card): go to Code|Show
List, click the Code List toolbar button, or use the
predefined Function Key set under Data Entry Build Options,
Windows tab, Function Keys. Click on the appropriate
code value to enter it and return to Data Entry, or click
Escape to return to Data Entry without selecting a value.
Allowing Missing Values in
Data Entry
Q:
How do I tell the QDS™ Data Entry Module to allow missing
values?
A: Go to Build|Data Entry
Application in the Design Studio and select the Options
button. You will see the Build Options box. Select the
Windows tab. Check the Allow a Missing Value for all non-ID
fields option box. You Data Entry Application will now allow
missing values.
Entering Missing Values in
Data Entry
Q:
How can I enter a missing value in Data Entry?
A: In Data Entry, enter a missing value by
going to Code|Missing, clicking the Missing toolbar
button, or entering a [.]. A value of [.] will be
recorded for missing values in your data file. Note that this
command/button will be enabled only if the option to allow missing
values was set under Data Entry Build Options.
Key Verification
Q:
How do you conduct double-blinded key verification for data
entry?
A: On the Open Data Entry dialog
box, select the Verify Prior Interviews radio button. In this
verification mode, the original responses are not displayed-except
for text responses, which can be edited. Data entry personnel must
reenter data in the same ID order as in the original keying; they
will be prompted to reenter a response if the verification response
does not match the first response. QDS™ generates a log detailing any
discrepancies between the original data entry and the
verification.
Warehouse Manager
FAQs
Difficulty Finding Variables in the
Warehouse
Warehouse Files Are Too Large
Not All Interviews Were Exported From the Warehouse
Manager to SAS, SPSS, or MS Access
Difficulty Finding Variables
in the Warehouse
Q: I
cannot locate all of my Data Elements in the Warehouse Manager. Are
they there?
A: Yes. The confusion may be the order in
which QDS™ lists variables in a Warehouse data file. First, all "base"
variables are listed. Then, QDS™ lists all "component" variables; this
includes month, day, and year components for date variables and each
category for Check-Each Response Type questions.
Warehouse Files Are Too
Large
Q:
How do I reduce the size of a Warehouse file?
A: If you are running QDS™ V2.0 or higher,
you can execute the Save and Compact feature. Open your Warehouse
file (*.QDW) in the Warehouse Manager; go to File|Save and
Compact. QDS™ will save the file under the same name. Files that
have undergone significant editing, version reconciliation, and
conversion will experience the greatest reduction in size.
Another way to reduce file size is to remove deleted cases. The
QDS™ default setting specifies that deleted cases will be removed only
when they exceed 50% of the file size. You can change this setting by
going to View|Options in the Warehouse Manager and changing
the percentage in the Remove Deleted Interviews When …
box. Setting the percentage to 0 (zero) will always remove deleted
interviews from the Warehouse when it is saved. Removing deleted
interviews will reduce your file size.
Not All Interviews Were
Exported From the Warehouse Manager to SAS, SPSS, or MS
Access
Q:
How do I export all of my Warehouse interviews to SPSS, SAS,
or MS Access?
A: When you export data from the Warehouse
Manager, only cases in the Standard Version are exported. You must
convert any nonstandard-version cases to the Standard Version before
they can be exported. See Working With Multiple Versions in
the QDS™ Manual or online Help for information on reconciling
versions.
HAPI™
FAQs
Partnership with ActiveSync®
Synchronization Folder
Unresolved Items After Synchronization
Numeric Input in Transcriber mode
Missing Components for Dates
Terminating HAPI™
Partnership with ActiveSync®
Q: How do I create a partnership with ActiveSync?
A: Before you create the partnership, it's generally a good idea to define a device ID for your Pocket PC. From the Pocket PC, select Start | Settings and then tap the System tab. Next, tap About then the Device ID tab. Next, enter a unique name in Device name. Then, tap ok.
Now you are ready to create a partnership. Place the device in its cradle. ActiveSync will automatically detect the device and launch the New Partnership wizard. Follow the instructions on the screen. When presented with the Select Synchronization Settings screen, be sure to check the Files item. When the wizard is finished, ActiveSync will automatically create a file synchronization folder on your desktop named …\<your_device_name> My Documents. QDS™ control and data files will reside in the Qdsv2 subfolder within this folder.
Synchronization Folder
Q: Where do I load the HAPI™ interview control file so that I can begin the interview process?
A: The control file should be copied to the "Qdsv2" subfolder within your Pocket PC's synchronization folder. If you don't know where to locate the synchronization folder, launch Microsoft ActiveSync on your desktop computer. From the menu, select Tools | Options to open the Options dialog box. Next, highlight Files on the list box and select the Settings... button. This will open the File Synchronization Settings box. This dialog displays the full path of the synchronization folder. Files in this folder will be synchronized with the "My Documents" folder on your Pocket PC.
This folder should contain a subfolder named, "Qdsv2". However, if the Pocket PC device was not in its cradle during installation of QDS, this folder will be missing. If this is the case, you can create it manually by using Windows Explorer and selecting File | New | Folder from the menu.
Unresolved Items After Synchronization
Q: I keep getting an error message, "Synchronization finished. N unresolved items," from ActiveSync. What can I do to avoid this?
A: To clear this error condition, you can try one or all of the following strategies:
(1) Remove the Pocket PC from the cradle and then re-insert. Sometimes this clears the problem. (2) Make sure that the handheld is not still running an interview. From the device, start HAPI™. If the screen displays the "QDS HAPI" picture, the last interview has completed. However, if you see a question or information screen, then an interview is still in progress. Tap Interview | End to save the interview with a status of "Incomplete". (3) Try terminating HAPI™. First, select Start | Settings and then the System tab. Next, tap Memory. Next, tap Running Programs. Then, tap QDS HAPI™. Then, tap Stop.
After doing one or all of these steps, go back to ActiveSync and select Resolve items. ActiveSync should be able to complete file synchronization at this point.
Numeric Input in Transcriber mode
Q: When I attempt to enter a response to a numeric data element using Transcriber mode, the program keeps beeping. What am I doing wrong?
A: If you are having trouble inputting numbers, you might try changing Transcriber's Recognition mode to numeric. You can modify the mode via the command bar at the bottom of the screen. Tap on the icon that is second from the left to scroll through the options: "a" for all symbols, "A" for upper case letters, and "12" for numerals. Selecting "12" usually makes it easier for Transcriber to correctly recognize the input of numbers.
Missing Components for Dates
Q: When responding to a date type question, our subjects often do not know the exact day of the month. How do we handle this in HAPI™?
A: You can enter the day of the month as either a space or question mark. For example, if the date is February 2005 and a full date format is required, you can enter, "2/?/2005" or "2/ /2005".
Terminating HAPI™
Q: When I tap on the "x" on the top right corner, the program disappears but continues to run in the background. How do I terminate the program?
A: Tapping on the "x" minimizes HAPI™ but doesn't terminate the program. If you need to stop HAPI™, you have two options. Using Keyboard input mode, you can tap the "Ctl" key followed by the "Q" key. Alternatively, you can select Start | Settings and then the System tab. Next, tap Memory followed by the Running Programs tab. Next, highlight QDS HAPI™ and tap Stop.
Upgrade Issues
As with previous releases, QDS™ version 2.4 is backward compatible, but older versions are not forward compatible. This means that version 2.4 can open QDS™ files (specifications, control, and data) created in older versions, but older versions cannot open the files generated by 2.4.
For 2.0 and 2.1 users, the benefits of upgrading include the ability to run surveys on a handheld device, the ability to encrypt your data, the ability to password protect your data from unauthorized users, the ability to automatically launch a second questionnaire based on collected data, and the ability to produce custom reports during administration of an interview.
For 2.3 users, the benefits of upgrading include the ability to password protect your data from unauthorized users and the ability to produce custom reports during administration of an interview.
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FAQs
