Using the Import Classification Sheets Wizard


The Import Classification Sheets Wizard assists you to import classifying data for sources or nodes from a spreadsheet or tab-delimited text file—refer to Import (or export) classification sheets for more information.

This topic explains the options on each step of the Wizard.   


Step 1 of 4

Click the Browse button, and then locate and select the text file or Excel workbook that contains the data you want to import.

For text files only, you can specify the format of the text file:

  • File encoding  Displays the file encoding that will be used to interpret the text file. NVivo tries to detect the file encoding used in the file. If you cannot import the data correctly, try using a different file encoding.

  • Text qualifier  Displays the character (single or double quotation marks) that encloses text values in your text file. All text enclosed within text qualifiers is imported as one value, even if the text contains a delimiter character (tab).

Step 2 of 4

Classification type  This option allows you to select the type of classification you are importing—you can select:

  • Node classification

  • Source classification

If you are importing data from a text file, you must also choose whether you want to:

  • Create new classification  If you select this option you must enter a name for the new classification

  • Import to existing classification  When you select this option, you must select the existing classification from the list

If you are importing data from an Excel workbook, the first cell of the worksheet must contain the classification name, NVivo will create a new classification if the classification does not already exist in your project. Refer to Import (or export) classification sheets (Prepare to import the data) for more information.

Create new attributes if they do not exist  If you select this option, any unmatched attributes will be added to the classification

Update the classification of existing sources or nodes   If you select this option, existing sources or nodes that have a different classification will be updated—the classification will be changed (attributes may also change), and attribute values will be updated.

Replace attribute values of existing sources or nodes that appear in this file  If you select this option, the attribute values of any matching items in your project will be updated.

Step 3 of 4

In this step you specify the format of source or node names in the file you are importing.

  • As names  Select this option if the first column of your file contains only the names of your sources and nodes. If you select this option, you must also select the folder location—by default the Internals folder is selected when you import source classifications, and the Nodes folder is selected when you import node classifications. Click Select to change the folder location.

  • As hierarchical names  Select this option if the first column of your import file contains the full hierarchical name of your sources or nodes—refer to Hierarchical source and node names for more information.

  • As nicknames (only available for nodes) Select this option, if the first column of your import file contains node nicknames.

Create new sources (or nodes) if they do not exist  If you select this option, sources or nodes are created if they cannot be matched to existing items in your project at the location you have specified. Note: unmatched sources are created as externals.

Step 4 of 4

Under Attribute Value Format, select the values that you want to be interpreted as 'Unassigned' and 'Not Applicable' values.

  • Unassigned  Displays the value that will be interpreted as an Unassigned value. By default, NVivo expects that Unassigned values are represented in the import file by the word 'Unassigned'. You can change this option, if you want to interpret a dash (-), a null value (none), or space as an Unassigned value.

  • Not Applicable  Displays the value that will be interpreted as a Not Applicable value. By default, NVivo expects that these values are represented in the import file by the words 'Not Applicable'. You can change this option, if you want to interpret a dash (-), a null value (none), or space as a Not Applicable value.

Under Dates, Times and Numbers, you can specify the format of any dates, times and numbers in your data. By default, NVivo expect that the data uses the dates, time and number formats specified in your Windows Regional Settings (Windows Control Panel).

  • Date Order Select the order of day, month and year in your dates—for example, if your file contains the date 10/05/2005 and you select MDY, NVivo interprets the date as 'October 05, 2005'. If you select DMY, NVivo interprets the same date as 'May 10, 2005'. When the data is imported into NVivo, it will be displayed in the date format that is specified in your Windows Regional Settings (Windows Control Panel).

  • Date Delimiter If the days, months and years in your dates are separated by a delimiter character (for example a slash (/) or a dash (-), enter the delimiter. If days, months and years are not separated by a delimiter, clear this box.

  • Time Delimiter If the hours, minutes and seconds in your times are separated by a delimiter character (for example, a colon (:), enter the delimiter. If the hours, minutes and seconds are not separated by a delimiter, clear this box.

  • Four Digit Years Select this option if the years in your dates include the century—for example '1999' or '2010'. If the years in your dates do not include the century, clear this box.

  • Decimal Symbol Specify the decimal separator that is used in your numbers. When the data is imported into NVivo, it will be displayed with the decimal separator that is specified for your country/region in your Windows Regional Settings (Windows Control Panel).