Overwrite data using id and shortcuts (AskiaTools)

Use this feature to import data into the QES file or SQL database from an external file (either a QES file or a delimited ASCII file; if you are importing to a SQL database, you can import only from a QES file). Data in the main QES file or SQL database will be over-written, according to the contents of the external file. Records are matched according to record ID and question shortcuts. If importing from an ASCII file, you will need to specify the format of the file.

Note: if you want to import data from a file into a loop, you should use the feature overwrite data using table.

This function can be used to re-import data after external coding has taken place, for example to code data in post-code questions.

To overwrite data using id and shortcuts:

  1. In the merge menu, select overwrite data using id and shortcuts, then select from an Askia QES file or from a delimited ASCII file as appropriate.
  2. Set the options, as described below.

  3. Click OK.

Overwrite data options

When overwriting from a delimited ASCII file, the following options are available:

Option Description

Source

Click ..., and select the ASCII file containing the data you want to import.

Question separator

Select the character that is used in the ASCII file to separate questions. Any one of the following characters may be used:

  • TAB

  • ;

  • :

  • ,

The first row of the file must contain a list of shortcuts for the questions contained in the file.

Import rows with errors

If this option is selected, AskiaTools will import rows that contain errors, where possible.

Always use '.' as the decimal point

If this option is selected, the "." character will always be assumed to be a decimal point.

Use a multiple response separator

Select this option if your file contains multiple responses separated by a specific character. Any one of the following characters may be used:

  • ,

  • :

  • ;

  • TAB

Note: The separator character must be different from the one used to separate questions.

Use multiple columns (defined by _1, _2,...)

Select this option if your file contains multiple responses in separate columns that are indicated with an underscore character, and then the column number, e.g. Reason_1, Reason_2, Reason_3.

ID question

There must be a field in both the source ASCII file and the target QES file which can be used to match the interviews in the two files. Click ..., and then select the question in the QES file that uniquely identifies each respondent.

Note: a row from the source file can be used more than once during the import, but if so, an error will be generated. If a row in the source file is not used at all, an error will also be generated.

Allow duplicates in target file

If this option is selected, when multiple records have duplicate values in the ID question field, no error will be placed in the log. This permits the import of matching tables (e.g. post-code). More than one interview could have the same post-code, but this should not cause an error.

If the check-box is unchecked, the import will only work on IDs where there is one match (and an error will be logged if more than one match is present).

Import closed

This setting determines how data for closed questions will be interpreted when they are imported from the ASCII file. The possible options are as follows:

  • Using response order (1, 2, 3, ...)

  • Using response captions (in the current language)

  • Using entry codes (or the response order if entry codes are not present) (01, 02, 3, ... 10, 11)

  • Using numeric entry codes (1, 2, 3, ..., 10, 11)

If a response is not recognised, an error will be generated.
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