Home Decision Explorer® Import-export QSR NUD*IST

Decision Explorer and QSR NUD*IST

This page describes how to use the Q.S.R. NUD*IST to Decision Explorer transfer facilities. The import and export facilities described here is finished and shipping. But we are interested knowing how you would like to see these features developed in the future, so please contact us if you have any comments or suggestions (email to info@banxia.com).

What is QSR NUD*IST?

Before we continue - we'd better explain that NUD*IST is a text analysis package. It allows you to "code" text files with attributes (such as the speaker, male/female, subject, etc) and then get reports such as whether more females were for or against a subject, etc. It is a tool for "theory building". The NUD*IST acronym stands for "non-numerical unstructured data, indexing structure and theory-building". For a full explanation please see QSR's web pages (http://www.qsr.com.au/).

Export to NUD*IST

Version 3.0.7 (and later) includes a fully working export facility which allows you to:
1) export a Decision Explorer model (perhaps of an interview) for further analysis in NUD*IST and
2) export a Decision Explorer model as a node tree.

Exporting a Coded Model

In this mode of operation, you build a standard Decision Explorer model. Use the normal tools to build your model. A typical use may be to create a map of an interview. The primary purpose of your model will be to model a situation in the normal way. Exporting to NUD*IST is typically a requirement for post-analysis.

The benefit of the special export is that in addition to a listing of all the concepts, you can automatically "code" the document with the styles and sets that you have assigned during the building of the model. Thus if you have put concepts in sets called, for example, "positive" and "negative", then these can be transferred to NUD*IST nodes and the concepts that are in the sets automatically linked to those nodes.

Designing a Tree

In this mode of operation, you can experiment with and design a node tree. You create the nodes with the usual tools, but as a hierarchical tree. Create a link from a parent node to it's child nodes. The concept tree should match the sort of tree that the NUD*IST import produces. Node numbers that are in the concepts are ignored when exporting, only the text is used.

Getting the New Version

The new developments are available in the 3.0.7 release by downloading the latest patch. This will upgrade version 3.0.6 (full product). For a demonstration version visit the demonstration downloads page. Details of how to use the new facility are in the help (search for NUD*IST), and the new facility is accessed using the File menu Export item.

Please let us know how you get on with this facility - we want to maximise it's usefulness for you.

Import from NUD*IST

Sample output: (in scaled display mode!) Click to see the detailed version.

NUD*IST compatible versions

The NUD*IST import facility is in all 3.0.5 and later shipping versions. The demonstration version available from the download section includes the facility. NOTE: The demo is limited to 30 concepts, but when in NUD*IST import mode it will allow up to 90 concepts. This allows you to import a reasonable NUD*IST tree (such as the NOSMOKE stage 4 example), but you will not be able to add further concepts.

How to use this facility

It's simple! We'll use the NOSMOKE stage 4 example as the demonstration

Export from NUD*IST

In the NUD*IST IndexSystem menu, select Export Tree. The following dialog will appear:

The default options will work acceptably, or you can adjust them as you wish. For now, just select OK. A file selector will appear, suggesting a default filename of "export.nde". You can change this to whatever you want, but the .nde extension will make it easy on importing. The directory suggested is usually the Reports directory. You may want to change to the Decision Explorer model directory (typically C:\DExplore\Model) for easier import. NUD*IST will complete the export, and you are back at work in NUD*IST.

Import into Decision Explorer

Open Decision Explorer (3.0.5 Beta 1 is required for the new tree map, but all 3.x versions can import), and create a new model. Although you can import into an existing model, a new model makes things easier. Select the File menu Import item, and the following dialog will appear:

In the File Type selector, choose QSR NUD*IST Export, and then use the Directories and File selector items to locate the file you exported previously. When you have it selected, click OK. The import/paste dialog will appear:

The default options, all check-boxes on and Ensure Separation are best for NUD*IST import. Fast mode is much faster for operation, but if you don't select the map option later you end up with a pile of concepts to be manually sorted. The import will start, and a short while later you will be asked if you want to map the tree:

We recommend that you select Yes! Decision Explorer will arrange the concepts in a tree map. You may wish to select one of the alternative view sizes (half size or fit-to view). You can view the memo cards by right-clicking on a concept and selecting the View memo card item. You are now into Decision Explorer functions, and you should check out the manual, user guide and online help. The map will be similar to the sample at the top of this page.

Manually mapping

If you modify the Decision Explorer model, you may want to remap the model. To do this, select a concept, then select the Analysis menu Map concept item. Select "Tree" mode, and switch to the Tree options page. You can choose to have the map go left to right, or right to left. You can also choose to map the tree from the currently selected concept, or have Decision Explorer find the root for you.

Considerations

Concept numbers

When using Decision Explorer to map NUD*IST trees, you may prefer to turn off the display of the concept numbers. In the Property menu Model Display item, deselect the "show numbers" option.

Link Styles

The import routine creates NUD*IST links using a new style called "Index". If you are using Decision Explorer as a means of producing tree output from NUD*IST, this won't matter to you. If you want to develop the model further, you may want to change the link types to something more appropriate. If you want to change them all at once, simply rename the link style.

Map Size

Decision Explorer has a finite limit to the size of map it can handle. In normal Decision Explorer operation you won't encounter this limit. However, with large tree structures there may not be enough space to map (display) the whole tree. (A "random" network takes up a smaller mapping area than a formal tree structure - think about the physical size needed for the layout) If Decision Explorer cannot display the map fully, it will tell you so and suggest that you change the orientation or try to map less. The horizontal (left to right) mode can fit more in than vertical (top to bottom) mode.

What Next?

Decision Explorer has had these additions developed to support NUD*IST trees, but it is of course quite useable for many other purposes itself. Not only does it support mapping of ideas, it allows you to perform full analysis of them too. Check the main pages for more detail.

Feedback Please!

We would like you to let us know what you think of the current facilities and how you would like to see them added to or enhanced. You can email info@banxia.com with your suggestions and we will add them to the wish list (but we cannot promise instant implementation!). We will discuss your comments with Q.S.R.