Researchware, Inc.

Background

Many researchers and research teams develop a code list prior to the coding of any documents. Initial thought as to potential and anticipated major and minor themes expected in the data can help focus and guide coding efforts. HyperRESEARCH allows the import and export of code lists to its Code Book or list of master codes.

The information below:

• explains the options available for importing code lists to HyperRESEARCH, and 
• provides downloadable Microsoft Excel templates you can use for the style of code list, ranging from basic to full featured, that you wish to create and import.

A Basic Code List

The simplest code list that can be imported is a simple list of code names, one per line. In the first of our Microsoft Excel templates, or any text editor, you can simply create a list of code names (see side bar for name restrictions).

Once you have developed your code list in the Excel template, you can prepare it for import with the following steps:

If you are working in Excel:

1. Remove (Delete) the header line from the template
2. Select Save As from the File menu/tab to save the template
3. Select Text (Tab Delimited) (*.txt) from the Save as type: pop up menu in the Save As dialog.
4. Click Save to save your code list. Excel will warn you about saving in the text format. Just click Yes.

If you are working in HyperRESEARCH:

1. From the Edit Code pop up menu in the Code Book, select Import List... to import the code list you created.
2. HyperRESEARCH will remind you that the list will be appended or added to the current Code Book. Click OK to add the codes.

The Code Book shown to the left will be produced upon importing the list shown in the template above.

A Basic Code List with Code Descriptions

Code descriptions in HyperRESEARCH's Code Book can be used to keep notes about anything the researcher(s) like. Most often, code descriptions are used to keep guidance on how the code is intended to be applied or to clarify the difference between similar codes used in a study.

To create an importable list of codes with code descriptions, simply add a second column in Excel (or a second column separated by a tab in a text editor) for the Code Description. The Code Description column can contain any characters except a line break (carriage return). Code Descriptions can be blank or empty.

Following the same steps as above to save the edited template for importing as a code list:

1. Remove (Delete) the header line from the template
2. Select Save As from the File menu/tab to save the template
3. Select Text (Tab Delimited) (*.txt) from the Save as type: pop up menu in the Save As dialog.
4. Click Save to save your code list. Excel will warn you about saving in the text format. Just click Yes.

Importing the same template shown above for a code list with code descriptions produced the resulting code list shown to the left.

A Code List with Code Groups

To create a code list with code groups, two additional columns need to be added. They must be in order after the Code (or group) Name column. These are the Type (code or group) and the Parent Group. The row order does not matter, but it is a good convention for easier reading to list Groups before you use them. The Type column cannot be blank and must contain only the word code or group depending on whether the name is for a code or a code group. The Parent Group column must contain the name of the parent group for every code or group. The Top level group or default group or root of the tree is called All Codes. The Parent Group can not be blank.

Repeat the same steps as previously described to remove the header line and save the template as a tab delimited file and then import the code list into HyperRESEARCH.

The template above produces the code list shown to the left when imported. Notice that A Sample Code and Another Sample Code have been placed in the group called Sample Group.

A Full Code List (with everything)

A template for a full code list, combining everything from the examples above, consists of four columns. The Name, Type, Parent, and Description columns. The columns must be in that order. Descriptions can be optional (blank). You can assign a Code to more than one group by separating the Parent group names by a vertical bar "|" as illustrated for the code called A Last Sample Code shown in the template below. In this example, the code is assigned to both the Sample Group and the Last Codes Group.

Repeat the steps previously described to save the code list and import it to HyperRESEARCH.

The Code Book shown to the left results from importing the template above. Note that A Last Sample Code has been placed in two groups, the Sample Group and the Last Codes Group and the description for the Sample Group.