Manage classifications

You can make changes to the classifications in your project—for example, you might want to add new attributes to an existing classification.

Add attributes to a classification

  1. In List View, select the classification.
  2. On the Home tab, in the Classification group, click Case Classification or File Classification, then click New Attribute.
  3. Enter a name for the attribute—for example, Age.
  4. (Optional) Enter a description.
  5. In the Type list, select the data type for the attribute values. For example, the attribute values for location are alphanumeric so the data type is text.
  6. Click the Values tab, to add extra attribute values—by default there are only two attribute values (Unassigned and Not Applicable).
    • Click Add to create a new attribute value
    • Use the Sort or the Move Up and Move Down buttons to change the order of attribute values.
    • Select the Default check box, to automatically assign this value when you add a case or file to the classification.

NOTE

  • The 'Unassigned' attribute value is used to indicate that the value of this attribute has not been assigned yet. This is the default value for the attribute, unless you select another attribute to be the default.
  • The 'Not Applicable' attribute value is used to indicate that the value is not applicable for the file or case that you are classifying.
  • Any attributes you add to a file classification cannot be exported to reference management tools such as EndNote or Zotero. If you intend to export bibliographical data, we recommend that you use only attributes provided by default in the predefined bibliographical classifications.

Copy attributes between classifications

You can copy attributes between classifications. For example, create the attributes age and sex for the classification Teachers and copy them to the classification for Students.

  1. In List View, display the attributes—click the show icon to see the attributes for a classification.
  2. Select the attributes you want to copy and copy them.
  3. Select the classification you want to copy into and paste the attributes

NOTE  When you copy an attribute the attribute values, including the default settings, are also copied.

Merge or copy classifications

 

Make changes to a classification or its attributes

 

Delete a classification or its attributes

Before you delete a classification or its attributes, it is a good idea to be aware of the following:

  • If you delete a classification that has been assigned to files or cases in your project, the files/cases are declassified and any attribute values you have set are lost. To see the files or cases assigned to a classification, double-click the classification (the classification sheet opens in Detail View).
  • Removing attributes could result in the loss of data if the attribute values have been assigned to the files or cases in your project. To see if an attribute has been assigned to the files or cases in your project, double-click to open the classification sheet.

Review the cases in a classification

To see all the cases that have been assigned to a classification:

  1. In Navigation View, under Case Classifications, click the classification you want to review. All the cases assigned to the classification are displayed in List View.
  2. In List View, expand a classification to see the cases assigned to it.
  3. Expand a case, to review or edit the attributes and attribute values.

Barbara's case and her attributes displayed in List View.

NOTE

  • To add a new case to the classification, right-click on the classification and choose New Case.
  • To add a new attribute, right-click on the classification and choose New Attribute.
  • Double-click an attribute to edit the attribute properties.
  • You cannot delete cases in this view—go to the Cases folder to delete cases.
  • Right-click on a case to visualize the coded content. For example, create a Word Cloud to see the words most commonly used by an interview participant.