Create theme nodes automatically

NVivo provides tools that help you to create theme nodes automatically.

Create nodes from... Description

Importing files

Create theme nodes automatically and code the entire files to the nodes when you import files.

  • An NCapture file—specify theme nodes to code to when you use NCapture to gather web pages and social media data.

Query results

When you setup a query, you can choose to save the results as a new node. For example, you could

  • Run a Text Search query looking for the terms farming and cultivation and code all occurrences at a new node called agriculture.
  • Run a Coding query to find all content coded at wind power and solar power and gather it into a new node called alternative energy.

Mind Map

You can create theme nodes automatically after you have built a mind map. The node hierarchy matches the mind map structure.

Auto coding

You can auto code datasets based on structure. For example, if you are working with a dataset containing survey responses, you can use the Auto Code Dataset Assistant to make a node for each survey question. Automatic coding in datasets

Importing a codebook

To create your node structure, you can import a codebook that has been saved in the Codebook Exchange Format (.qdc). This is a standard format for sharing codes between Qualitative Data Analysis (QDA) tools.

To import a codebook:

1. On the Data tab, in the Import group, click Codebook.

2. Locate and open the .qdc file.

3. To include colors that have been assigned to codes, click the Include colors checkbox.

NOTE  Colors can vary between QDA tools. If you select the Include colors checkbox, NVivo uses the closest color match. This can lead to unexpected results and should be considered carefully if you have used colors to identify particular categories of nodes.