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Pre-defined

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Pre-defined Coding ¶

Pre-defined coding allows you to assign units of text to categories using keystrokes.

Creating Pre-defined Codes ¶

Pre-defined coding often is based upon the results of open coding.

There are a number of ways by which you can create pre-defined codes in PCAT.

1) After you have uploaded a dataset, you will be taken to a page where you can enter in individual codes.

After you have selected **"Add Code,"** a new set of blank fields will appear. You can enter/add as many codes as you like.

If at any time you wish to modify a previous entry, you may click on the Modify icon next to the entry.

If at any time you wish to delete an entry, you may click on the Delete icon next to the entry.

2) When viewing your dataset, in the Toolbox to the left, there is a choice **"Add or modify codes in the dataset."** When you click on that link, you will be taken to the same page as above, where you can add/modify Codes, Descriptions, and Keys.

3) You can upload a plain text file containing the Code names, Descriptions, and Key each separated by the "pipe" "|" key ("SHIFT" + "\" will enter the pipe key).

An example would be <Code 1 name>|<Code 1 description>|<keystroke assigned>.

IMPORTANT NOTE Please be aware that if you upload a Code File, it will overwrite any existing codes you already have created for the dataset.

Assigning/Using Pre-defined Codes ¶

As each page of the dataset loads, the pre-defined codes will be displayed across the top of the browser window. Each code will be listed along with the keystroke assigned to it: (<keystroke assigned>) <Code name>. You may organize the display either Alphabetically based on the Code name, or numerically based on the Key code (keystroke). You can also adjust the number of columns in which the codes are displayed (from 3 to 6 columns).

In order to assign a code to a document, the preferred method is to use the assigned keystroke. It is possible to use the mouse to select the check box next to a code, but please be aware that this will disable the keystroke function. To re-enable it, simply click the mouse anywhere on the page.

When you have selected the appropriate code(s), select "Code".

Number of Allowable Codes

The number of allowable codes (only 1 code may be applied to any page of a datset vs. multiple codes may be applied) is determined at your discretion. The number of allowable codes can either be set when uploading a CAT style dataset ("Allow coder to select multiple codes"), or when viewing an already-uploaded dataset (in the Toolbox to the right you will see either "Allow Single Codes Only" or "Allow Multiple Codes;" click on the link to toggle between the two).

If you have decided only to allow single codes, the "check box" will not be displayed next to the code when coding; the keystroke is still usable.

Most Frequently Asked Questions ¶

Why would I use this system? | Where do I get FDMS bulk downloads? | Does PCAT identify duplicates? | What is QDAP?

© 2009 - 2010 Qualitative Data Analysis Program (QDAP), in the University Center for Social and Urban Research, at the University of Pittsburgh, and QDAP-UMass, in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. As of 2010, PCAT and this PCAT Help Wiki are maintained and improved by personnel from Texifter, LLC, which is a software start-up located in North Amherst & Springfield, MA and online at http://texifter.com/.

Content on this website was made possible with the following grants from the National Science Foundation: III-0705566 "Collaborative Research III-COR: From a Pile of Documents to a Collection of Information: A Framework for Multi-Dimensional Text Analysis" and IIS-0429293 "Collaborative Research: Language Processing Technology for Electronic Rulemaking." We are also grateful for financial support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. **Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.** == ==

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