Analysing open-ended data (AskiaAnalyse)

Cloud tab

In this tab, AskiaAnalyse displays a word cloud based on the open-text analysis you have set up in the definition tab. The word cloud gives an indication of the most popular words found in the data for the selected open-ended question(s).

If you click a word in the cloud, its details are show below. Each mention of the word has its own row. On each row, you can see the interview number where the word was mentioned (the interview column), along with the text that appeared before the word in the open-ended data (the before column), and the text that appeared after it (the after column). You can sort the details by a specific column by clicking the column heading (clicking the heading again reverses the sort order).

When you right-click words in the cloud, the following commands are available:

• Recalculate: redraws the cloud, based on any changes you have made since the cloud was last drawn.
• Exclude
  • Temporarily: adds the word you right-clicked to the temporary exclusion list. The word will not be included in the dictionary or word cloud. For details on excluding words, see excluding words.
  • [List name]: Select a list name to add the word you right-clicked to that exclusion list. The word will not be included in the dictionary or word cloud. For details on excluding words, see excluding words.
• Template properties: opens cloud template window, where you can customise the appearance of the word cloud. See cloud template window below for details.
• Save as: Saves the word cloud as an image file. The default format is BMP, but you can also select GIF or JPG formats.

Cloud template window

The cloud template window allows you to create, modify and delete cloud templates. At the top of the window are the controls for creating, saving and deleting templates. The rest of the window contains the controls for modifying the selected template.

The controls at the top of the window are as follows:

• Name: Allows you to select an existing template (from the drop-down list), or change the name of the selected template (by typing in the box). The template you select here is modified by the controls in the remainder of the cloud template window.
•  New from default settings: Creates a new template based on the default settings. You can then change its name (in the name box), and define its details in the remainder of the cloud template window.
•   New from current settings: Creates a new template based on the settings in the currently-selected template. You can then change its name (in the name box), and define its details in the remainder of the cloud template window.
•  Save: Saves the currently selected template. You can save under a different name by changing the name in the name box, and then clicking save.
•  Delete: Deletes the currently selected template.

The controls for modifying the selected template are as follows:

• Description: Allows you to (optionally) enter a description for this template, which will help identify it in the future.
• Canvas
  • Width: Determines the width of the word cloud, in pixels.
  • Height: Determines the width of the word cloud, in pixels.
  • Horz: Determines the horizontal spacing between words (the possible values are between 0 and 30).
  • Vert spacing: Determines the vertical spacing between words (the possible values are between 0 and 30).
  • Display type: Determines the sequence in which words are placed, as follows:
    • Alphabetical: Words are placed in alphabetical order.
    • Centred: Words are placed into a pattern that fits them, in accordance with the other settings, centred within the word cloud canvas (area).
    • Excentred: Words are placed in an alternative, off-centred pattern, in accordance with the other settings, centred within the word cloud canvas (area).
• Font
  • Name: The font that will be used for the text in the word cloud.
  • Bold: If selected, the text in the word cloud will be emphasised with bold text.
  • Italic: If selected, the text in the word cloud will be emphasised with italic text.
  • Min size: The minimum font size that will be used for words in the cloud.
  • Max size: The maximum font size that will be used for words in the cloud.
  • Selection type:  Determines how words are ranked in the cloud.
  • Vertical (%): Determines what percentage of words in the cloud will be placed vertically (the rest will be placed horizontally).
• Colours
  • Serie 1, Serie 2, etc.: Words in the cloud are split into series (some words will be in series 1, some in series 2, etc.), to provide variety to the appearance of words in the cloud. By selecting a series in this list, you can then set its colours using the controls to the right (the foreground, hover and back colours; see below).
  • Ins: Allows you to add another series to the word cloud. This adds more variety to the cloud, as some words will be allocated to the new series, and hence have a unique appearance.
  • Delete: Removes the selected series from the word cloud. This reduces variety in the cloud, as words will be allocated to fewer series. Series are renumbered accordingly, so that they are numbered from 1 upwards (series 1, series 2, etc.).
  • Up: Moves the selected series upwards in the word cloud.
  • Down: Moves the selected series downwards in the word cloud.
  • Properties for selected series:
    • Foreground: the colour used for words in this series.
    • Hover: the colour used when the mouse pointer is held over words in this series.
    • Back: the background colour used for words in this series.
• Contour image: Allows you to specify an image file whose outline (shape) will be used as the shape of the word cloud. For example, if you select an image of a circle, then the word cloud will be reshaped into a circle. You can select a file in BMP, GIF or JPG format.