Creating a QES file from an SPSS Dimensions file (askiatools)

Option	Description
Dimensions connection string	Specify the connection string, or click `...` and select the dimensions file. Note: you can specify a context after selecting the MDD file, by clicking `properties`.
Respondent ID	Specify the name of the variable that contains the respondent ID. In some versions, it is called LevelID, in others, Respondent.Serial and in the newer versions (after 5.6) RespondentSerial.
Askia target file	Type the path and filename of the output file (where the data will be stored), or click `...` and specify the path and filename in the file dialog.
Numeric DK values
System DK caption	You can, optionally, specify a caption that will be recognised in the source file as equivalent to the Askia system's DK response. Instances of this caption will therefore be imported into the *.QES file as DK items.
Group all DKs in system modality	If this option is selected, multiple DK modalities (separated by the ; character) will be grouped together into the system DK code (-1), rather than changing the modality base type.
Into inverted data format	If this option is selected, the data will be inverted on import. Inverted format makes data analysis in AskiaAnalyse and AskiaVista much faster when dealing with large amounts of data.
Prefix sub-questions with parent shortcut	We recommend using this option, to ensure clear variable naming in your imported Dimensions surveys. In Dimensions, variables can have duplicate names, because the position of the question in the hierarchy differentiates the two identically-named variables. In Askia surveys, variable names must be unique. The `prefix sub-questions with parent shortcut` option determines how identically-named variables are renamed during the import procedure. If this option is selected, then variables with duplicate names in the Dimensions file will be imported into with the name of the parent variable or chapter as a prefix in the shortcut. For example, suppose the Dimensions file contains the following hierarchy: Respondent ID Loop2 slice With this option enabled, it will be imported as follows: Respondent Respondent_Id Loop2 Loop2_slice If this option is not selected, then any variables with duplicate names will have a number added to their shortcuts. However, if questions are inserted, the numbering scheme changes, and this can lead to confusing question shortcuts. Therefore, we recommend using this option.
Develop levels when depth	Determines whether any loops (and loops of loops) are to be developed in AskiaAnalyse. This can dramatically decrease the number of files generated in the inverted database directory and the speed of the import. If you leave the field at the default value of 0, all loops are developed. If you set it to 1, none of the loops are developed. If you set it to 2, only grids are developed.

Option

Description

Dimensions connection string

Specify the connection string, or click ... and select the dimensions file.

Note: you can specify a context after selecting the MDD file, by clicking properties.

Respondent ID

Specify the name of the variable that contains the respondent ID. In some versions, it is called LevelID, in others, Respondent.Serial and in the newer versions (after 5.6) RespondentSerial.

Askia target file

Type the path and filename of the output file (where the data will be stored), or click ... and specify the path and filename in the file dialog.

Numeric DK values

System DK caption

You can, optionally, specify a caption that will be recognised in the source file as equivalent to the Askia system's DK response. Instances of this caption will therefore be imported into the *.QES file as DK items.

Group all DKs in system modality

If this option is selected, multiple DK modalities (separated by the ; character) will be grouped together into the system DK code (-1), rather than changing the modality base type.

Into inverted data format

If this option is selected, the data will be inverted on import. Inverted format makes data analysis in AskiaAnalyse and AskiaVista much faster when dealing with large amounts of data.

Prefix sub-questions with parent shortcut

We recommend using this option, to ensure clear variable naming in your imported Dimensions surveys.

In Dimensions, variables can have duplicate names, because the position of the question in the hierarchy differentiates the two identically-named variables. In Askia surveys, variable names must be unique. The prefix sub-questions with parent shortcut option determines how identically-named variables are renamed during the import procedure.

If this option is selected, then variables with duplicate names in the Dimensions file will be imported into with the name of the parent variable or chapter as a prefix in the shortcut.

For example, suppose the Dimensions file contains the following hierarchy:

Respondent
   ID
Loop2
   slice

With this option enabled, it will be imported as follows:

Respondent
   Respondent_Id
Loop2
   Loop2_slice

If this option is not selected, then any variables with duplicate names will have a number added to their shortcuts. However, if questions are inserted, the numbering scheme changes, and this can lead to confusing question shortcuts. Therefore, we recommend using this option.

Develop levels when depth

Determines whether any loops (and loops of loops) are to be developed in AskiaAnalyse. This can dramatically decrease the number of files generated in the inverted database directory and the speed of the import.

If you leave the field at the default value of 0, all loops are developed. If you set it to 1, none of the loops are developed. If you set it to 2, only grids are developed.

Creating a QES file from an SPSS Dimensions file (AskiaTools)