For help when entering data see section Question display.
IMPORTANT: when a record (serial/questionnaire) is being updated it is "locked". This means that, except for data entry purposes, other networked users will not be able to access the file; they will not be able to produce reports and tables until the updates have been saved.
Once you have opened a data file which requires updating, at the "Start of interview" dialog box, select [Close] and from the Data window select the [Update questionnaire] toolbar icon or select [Action] [Update questionnaire].
The "Which serial number" dialog box is displayed with the [Update the questionnaire with this serial number] radio button highlighted. In the "Serial number" box, the first serial number in the Data file will be shown; you should overtype the number of the questionnaire which you would like to modify and select [OK].
TIP: another way to find and update the appropriate serial number is to use the menu selection [Serial] [Find questionnaire], or use the [F8] key, and at the "Which serial number" dialog box, select the [Update questionnaire with this serial number] radio button.
Notice in the bottom left hand corner of the screen the Mode update is shown, and the first question on your questionnaire, along with the previously selected responses are displayed. As you update data in paper mode a "data input history", showing all responses that have been entered so far, appears on the right hand side of the screen. This history may be removed, if it is not required, see section View options for data (F9).
To update the data, select the required responses by using your mouse, or typing the response number(s) using your keyboard. For a full description of how to enter data for different types of entry, see sections Input data with different question types and Input data.
When updating a multi-coded question using your keyboard, it is possible to use the [+] and [-] keys to add or remove a specified response from those selected. For example, to add response 4 and remove response 24 at Q3, ensure Q3 is ready to be updated and then press +04 followed by -24.
IMPORTANT: If you use your mouse to add extra responses to a multi-coded question, any responses already entered will remain (any updates you make will be added to them). If, however, you enter new responses using your keyboard, existing responses will be removed and must be re-entered (if they are required).
Note, if the new data entered satisfies different filter conditions from the data previously entered, QPSMR will automatically position you at the next entry which should now be answered as a result of the data you have just entered.
When you have updated data for all appropriate entries in the current questionnaire, select the [Save changes to questionnaire] toolbar icon (the disk), the [F12] key, or select [Questions] [Save changes to questionnaire]. The updated questionnaire will then be saved to the data file and the "Which serial number" dialog box is displayed with the next serial number in the Data file shown.
If you choose to update again, without saving your changes in this way, QPSMR will display a message showing the serial number and asking if you wish to save the changes to the Data file. To save your modifications select [Yes]; you are then automatically positioned at the "Which serial number" dialog box, ready to enter the serial number of the next questionnaire which requires updating.
If, however, at the "Save changes" message, you wish to return to the same questionnaire select [Cancel]; selecting [No] means that the "Which serial number" dialog box will be displayed, but your changes will be discarded. Note that you can also discard the updates you have made to the questionnaire currently displayed by using the [Abandon changes to questionnaire] toolbar icon (the crossed out disk), the [F11] key, or by selecting [Questions] [Abandon questionnaire].
To move about the entries in your questionnaire, use the [Up] button, or the [Move up to previous entry] toolbar icon (the data column with the up arrow), or select [Questions] [Up to previous answered question] to move towards the start of the current questionnaire. Use the [Down] button, the [Move down to next question] toolbar icon (the data column with the down arrow), and the selection [Questions] [Down to next answered question] to move down the questionnaire (towards the last entry).
Verbatim texts are not stored in the data file (CBA or ASC). Instead they are held in a Comma Separated Value file (CSV), which is automatically created by QPSMR, when this type of question is used. It is not yet possible to update verbatim responses in QPSMR and they may not, without modification, be used in analysis. In order to use this information it must be coded and assigned (handed back) to an open ended question.
IMPORTANT: when working with a survey which uses verbatim questions it is very important not to use the "Change serial number" facility, unless you also modify the appropriate serial number(s) in the Comma Separated Value file (Verbatim CSV). This is because the "Change serial number" facility causes only the serial number used in the CBA or ASC Data file to be modified; QPSMR will NOT change the serial number(s) for verbatim comments stored in a CSV file. If you do not also modify the serial numbers in the CSV file, the verbatim answers from each respondent may no longer be tied back to their remaining responses held in the QPSMR Data file.
You may select which entry should be displayed first during "Update data", see section View options for data.
For details about how to alter the serial (record) numbers for your questionnaires, see section Change serial.
IMPORTANT: Every questionnaire in your Data file must have a unique serial number for identification purposes. If, however, your data was not entered with QPSMR (for example, you have been supplied with a flat ASCII file) serial numbers may not always be included with the data. If possible, we recommend that you add a serial number to the ASCII record (preferably at the beginning of each line).
IMPORTANT: Deleting data will cause information from your Data file to be permanently discarded.
Selecting [Responses] [Delete responses] [Rest of the questions] means that any answers already entered for the question currently displayed, and all responses to following questions (to the end of the questionnaire) for the current serial number will be permanently discarded.
The [Responses] [Delete responses] [All questions] selection is used to permanently remove the answers to every entry in the current questionnaire. Note the serial number information will remain in the Data file, so you can re-enter the data for this questionnaire (beginning with the first entry).