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A verbatim CSV file (UTF-8 with BOM) contains the answers to verbatim questions, one line (row) per answer.
If using fixed format data (ASC, UNI, or CBA) then this file is used to collect the answers to verbatim questions. It is loaded and saved (optionally) when the data file is used.
For CSV data the main data file will contain any character and verbatim questions. You can create a verbatim (coding) file from selected entries using [Data] [Export coding file for selected entries] the Main window menu Data menu.
Empty (skipped) questions are not written to the verbatim file.
The verbatim file contains the following columns:
Serial |
The serial number for this record |
<Date> |
The date the record was saved |
<Time> |
The time the record was saved |
<User> |
The user (windows login name) who saved this record |
<Which> |
Any carry forward text used for this verbatim question |
Entry |
The entry name to code the answers to |
Value |
Will be used for the coded responses to be stored in Entry |
<Verbatim> |
The verbatim text (answer to the verbatim question) |
<VerbatimEntry> |
The name of the verbatim entry |
IMPORTANT: The Entry column will be the same as the VerbatimEntry column unless you have set the question to "Code to" setting for the question.
Notice some of the column headings are surrounded with < > characters. This is so Companion recognises the names as headings, and does not confuse them with entry names from the questionnaire.
When not using a CSV data file and the end of the questionnaire is reached during data input and the record is saved, the verbatim texts are written to the end of the CSV file. To access the verbatim texts you need to use the CSV file.
To include answers to verbatim questions in your analysis you will need to "code" them, see Reserve responses.
For information on coding verbatim entries see User guide, Coding introduction.
The completed coding file can be used as a "Coding" type file to merge the coded answers into the main data file using [Data] [Merge data files]. This is the reason that most of the column headers are surrounded with <> so that they will not be confused with entry names.
Whenever a fixed format raw data file is opened you can choose to include the verbatim data from the verbatim file. The data in the files will be matched, and a report of any discrepancies will be reported.