Data-map definition (AskiaTools)

There are two methods of defining the data map in AskiaTools:

Simplified
Detailed

Simplified data map definition

Use this function to create or amend a *.QES file's simplified data-map (see below for details on using the detailed data-map definition).

If your *.QES file does not have a simplified data-map, AskiaTools can generate a default data map.

To generate a default data map:

Start askiatools and open a *.QES file.
In the file menu, select data-map definition and then simplified.... The data map definition window opens, showing the data map AskiaTools has determined for the QES:
To create this map, right-click and select generate.

For a description of commands available in the data map editor's context (right-click) menu, see data map commands.

The data-map that AskiaTools generates is based on the properties specified in the data map options (right-click and select options).

Note: It is also possible to define the data-map manually, directly in the data map definition dialog.

To export the data-map definition:

Right-click in the data map definition window, and select export map.
Select reduced, detailed (with each response's codes for closed questions) or XML as appropriate.

Detailed data-map definition

Use this function to create or amend a *.QES file's detailed data-map. This allows you to manually specify the positions of each item in the QES file.

Start AskiaTools and open a *.QES file. Then, from the file menu, select data-map definition and then detailed....
In the left-hand list, select a question, then in the table on the right enter the ASCII positions, CCPs or Keywords for each answer (ensure you select the option at the bottom of the dialog corresponding to the item you are entering).
Repeat step 2 for each question in the list.
To create this map, right-click and select generate.

The data-map that AskiaTools generates is based on the properties specified in the data map options (right-click and select options).

Data map columns

In the data map dialog, you will see the following column fields:

Field	Description
Exported	Defines whether the variable’s data will be exported or not.
Start	Defines the exact character-column location in the resultant export file where this variable's data will 'start' being exported.
Length	Defines the number of character-columns in the resultant export file across which this variable's data will be exported.
Binary	Defines whether the variable's data will be exported in binary format, that is 0 or 1.
Spacing	Indicates free spaces left between data.
Responses	Indicates the number of response items the question variable has.
Max responses	Indicates the maximum number of responses which were allowed to be given to this variable during fieldwork.
Occurrences	Indicates the number of times a loop’s sub-question was iterated during the fieldwork.

Data map commands

The following commands are available in the data map editor's context (right-click) menu:

Command	Description
Generate	Generates the data map, according to the settings in the options dialog.
Generate for CCPs	Available in detailed data-map definition only. Generates the data map using card/column positions (i.e. binary), according to the settings in the options dialog.
Adjust from here	Automatically adjusts the questionnaire's columns from the selected line onwards, according to the changes you have made in the data map definition dialog. For example, we might have the following questions in our QES: `Question Start Length` `Gender 5 1` `Age 6 2` If you change the start position of Gender from 5 to 10, and then select `adjust from here`, then the start position of the question age will be adjusted automatically from 6 to 11.
Adjust from here for CCPs	Available in detailed data-map definition only. Automatically adjusts the questionnaire's cards and columns from the selected line onwards, according to the changes you have made in the detailed data map definition dialog. For example, we might have the following questions in our QES: `Question Start Length` `Gender 5 1` `Age 6 2` If you change the start position of Gender from 5 to 10, and then select `adjust from here`, then the start position of the question age will be adjusted automatically from 6 to 11.
Verify	Checks the data map for problems.
Find free slot	Available in simplified data-map definition only.
Options...	Opens the data map options dialog, where you can view and change the settings for data maps.
Export map	Exports the data map in plain text format. You will be prompted for a location and name for the map file. Note: In the simplified data-map dialog, you can choose from sub-commands to export reduced or detailed maps.
Export map to ASCII	Available in detailed data-map definition only. Exports the data map in ASCII format. You will be prompted for a location and name for the map file.
Export map to CCP	Available in detailed data-map definition only. Exports the data map in IBM column binary format (.ibm). You will be prompted for the settings to be used (format, card size, etc.), and then a location and name for the map file.
Export data...	Available in simplified data-map definition only. Exports the data in plain text format. You will be prompted for a location and name for the data file.

Data map options

The following options are available in the data map options dialog:

Option	Description
Export to Unicode	Select this option if you wish exports to be in Unicode format.
Export ID	If this option is selected, the respondent ID field will be exported. In `size`, specify the width of this field.
Binary export for single by default	Single-coded closed questions will be exported in binary (1 if the answer is stated, 0 otherwise). One column will be generated for each response (e.g. if you have two responses, the length will be 2). For example, if we have a question called Gender: Column 5/gender is male (value will be 1 or 0) Column 6/gender is female (value will be 1 or 0)
Binary export for multiple by default	Multi-coded closed questions will be exported in binary (1 if the answer is stated, 0 otherwise). One column will be generated for each response (e.g. if you have two responses, the length will be 2). For example, if we have a question called Car Manufacturer: Column 5/car manufacturer Ford (value will be 1 or 0) Column 6/car manufacturer Chrysler (value will be 1 or 0) Column 7/car manufacturer Lexus (value will be 1 or 0) Column 8/car manufacturer Ford (value will be 1 or 0) etc.
Use response entry codes	If selected, response entry codes will be exported as the data values for closed questions.
Code DK as zero	If selected, Don't Know responses will be exported as zero values.
Export numerics	If selected, numerics will be exported.
Default size	Specifies the default width of numeric fields.
Export DK as	Specifies the value that will be used to code Don't Know responses during the export.
Always use '.' as the decimal point	If selected, the '.' character will always be used as a decimal separator, no matter what character was used during fieldwork.
Right justify	If selected, numeric values will be right-justified (i.e. padded will leading spaces) in the export.
Export open-ended	If selected, open-ended questions will be exported.
Default size	Specifies the default width of open-ended fields.
Empty columns/card	Specifies the number of blank columns you require per card.

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