File types

This section describes the files used by QPSMR Input.

All project files reside in the project folder.

All file names have two parts; the name and an extension consisting of three characters. There is a full stop between the name and the extension.

You will not see the extension unless you have unset the "Hide extensions for known file types" in View options.  You must unset this if you need to change the extension of a file name.

The extension will normally be lower case (for example qif), but it is shown here, and in the rest of the manual in upper case (for example QIF) for readability.

Below are listed the files that you need to receive before you can enter data.  They will normally have to be copied to a hard drive on your PC before you can begin.  If you are connected to a server then these files will normally have been placed in an accessible folder on the server.

Input Control (QIF) file

This is the file opened by QPSMR Input.  It contains all the information about the mode to be used and information about the other files to be used.

Question Definitions (QDF) file

This is the file that contains the questionnaire information to be used to collect the data.  This is the master file for the main QPSMR modules and may simply be listed as a QDF file.

Serial Number (QSN) file

This small file controls the next serial number to be issued.

ASCII Data (ASC) file

This is where the data collected is stored. Data locations refer to byte positions in the data.

Binary Data (CBA) file

For binary projects the data is stored in a CBA file instead of an ASC file.

Comma Separated Value (CSV) file

Answers to Verbatim questions are stored in this file which will have " Verbatim" added to end of the name.

This file will be created when verbatim data is first entered.

CSV files are also used for CATI Quota control.

Sample Index (QSP) file (QPSMR Telin only)

Only used with CATI projects.

Contains the index to the Sample Data file.

Paper mode projects

Data entry will require:

QIF

QDF

QSN

ASC or CBA

If the project contains verbatim questions then it will create a Verbatim CSV file.

If partial records are saved then a Partial ASC file or Partial CBA file will be created.

CAPI mode projects

These require the same files as paper mode plus any picture (BMP) or video (WMV) files to be shown during interview.

Telephone mode projects

These require the same files as paper mode.

If Appointments are made then a Partial ASC file will be created for them.

CATI mode projects (QPSMR Telin only)

These require the same files as telephone mode with some extra files.

If Quota Control is used there will be a CSV file with the updated quota information.

If Sample Data files are used then there will be a Sample ASC file and a QSP file with the same name.

Text Document (TXT) files

These files will be created when lists are created from the menus.