Field

Description

Import from

Import Format

The format of the file to be imported. Choose between:

Access:

Command Center: With this option, you can import a Command Center XML data file generated by the extraction from another Command Center project.

Note: The data structure file must also be uploaded to the server.

CSV. This format refers to a field-delimited text file.  You specify the character which delimits each of the source file's data elements in the Delimiter field.

Interviewer SQL. The format refers to a (Voxco) Interviewer Version 5.x project. It requires specifying the database and project.

PNT. This format refers to a project in which the data is stored in Voxco's proprietary PNT format.

Notes:

• The project's questionnaire (.QUE file) must conform to Command Center standards. The Design application includes a questionaire conversion utility for converting a 'PNT' questionnaire to Command Center standards.

• The project's INS (Installation) file must also be uploaded to the server. The PNT and INS files can be zipped-up together with the other project files and uploaded as a single ZIP file which will be automatically unzipped when requested.

• Interviewers (users) in the PNT project must previously be imported as Users in the Command Center project. If this is not done, they will not be recognized in Productivity reports or filters in the Case Browser. See 'Importing Users' below for specific steps to follow.

Case Generator. This is not, in fact, an import format. It is an option to automatically generate cases in the file. You use it together with other settings in this page:

• Number of Records

• Start Numbering At

• Generate PINS

TXT. A text file in which each item of data in the record is located in a specific position.

XML. Allows you to import data from an XML file already generated in the Exportation tool. Note: In the Field Mapping, only the desired fields need to be specified; their order is not relevant.

Source Name

The name of the file to import. The drop-down list allows to choose amongst all the files which have been uploaded to the server.

Note: For a Command Center importation, you choose the project.XML file, however you must upload both the project.XML file and the project_structure.XML file which were generated on extraction. See Extraction. For a PNT importation you can choose either the project's INS file, or a Zip file which contains both the INS and PNT file.

Tip: As a shortcut, you can use system variables in the source name: $P (Project name), $D (Date YYYYMMDD) and $H (Time HHMM).

If the file you wish to import is not in this list, you first need to upload it. Click on the Upload button to navigate to the file(s) that you need, and then upload it or them.

Note: You can also upload importation files in the Imported Files Browser.

Save Task/Load Task

This feature enables you to save the current Importation options under a Task title (name)which you assign:

Later on, when you wish to perform an importation using a particular combination of options, you can browse for and load the appropriate Task:

The 'Copy from...' button allows  you to copy a task saved in another project.

Note: When you save a Task, you also have option of having it executed by the  Task Scheduler.

Importation Options

Duplicate Case Numbers

Abort. Does not import any cases if a case id. number is found which already exists in the project database.

Update. Replaces all the data in cases with matching case id. numbers.

Ignore. Ignores all cases whose case id. numbers already exist in the project.

Duplicate Phone Numbers

Ignore. When importing a sample file, you may specify that all cases bearing a telephone number which already exists in the project database be ignored.

Allow. Allows all cases to be imported regardless of the fact that some might contain telephone numbers already existing in the project database.

Abort. Aborts the importation process if any case is found to contain a telephone number which already exists in the project database.

Note: This setting also applies when updating responses (see below).

Update Responses Only

This option allows you to import data over the top of data in existing case records in the database i.e. it does not add new case records to the database. It operates as follows:

• You must select the desired key field in the database from the drop-down list. This key field is used to match each case to its appropriate record in the import file.

• Data is overwritten in the fields specified in the Field Mapping. The location of the key field in the import file must, of course, be included in the import mapping.

Note:

• The Duplicate Phone Numbers setting (see above) also applies with this option.

• The $MD (manual dialing exclusively) system variable cannot be updated.

Warning: Do NOT use this feature together with the 'Start Numbering At' option (see below), since this will overwrite case records in strict sequence starting at the specified case no.

Callback rules: Update respondents priority

This option applies to PNT importation only.

Time Zone from Area Code

This option, applicable for US and Canadian telephone numbers, compares the first three digits of the number with the Area Code/TimeZone list (Global Settings). The matching time zone will automatically be written to the record's $Z variable, and to the TZONE question (if attached questionnaire has one).   Thereafter, strata for controlling access to sample on the basis of Time Zone can be easily created.

Validate with DNC

The Command Center comes with a DoNotCallList table in database to contain telephone numbers that are not to be called. Once the sample has been imported, this option triggers matching of the imported sample against this table. All records whose $N system variable (telephone number) matches a number in the Do Not Call list will have the Do Not Call result code written into their S_RES system variable.

Notes:

• Validation of the sample against the Do Not Call list can also be launched at any time from the Options menu.

• The Do Not Call result code itself, default code P9, is contained in the SystemConfig table in the database - it can be modified.

Skip First Record

This option is provided to enable the first record in the source datafile to be skipped if it known that it consists of a header (rather than data) record.

Import as inactive sample

This option (not selected by default) sets all of the cases in the next batch to 'inactive' status. For more information on active/inactive status see Data Browser case listing.

Start Numbering At

Automatically generates a respondent ID number for imported records by adding 1 to the last ID number in the project. You may however decide to override this starting number by entering your own starting number in this field.

Number of Records

If this field is set to 0, all the records in the specified sample file will be imported. You may also want to import only a subset of these records; in this case, specify the number of records you wish to import.

Add Value to Record Number

This option allows you to add a constant to each case number.

PINs Options

PINS...

No PINs. No PIN numbers will be imported.

Import PINs. PIN numbers will be imported into the system variable reserved for PINs, and also into the specified PINS question (see below).

Generate PINs. This option is provided for CAWI projects for access by respondents over the Web. The purpose is to randomly generate a unique access code for each respondent who is to be invited, usually by email, to participate in the survey. The PIN numbers are stored in the system variable reserved for PINs and also into the PINs Question (see below).

PINs Question

The Question field, allows you to store the PIN number, additionally, in any question of the survey that you specify. You may choose a system variable as well.

Warning: Avoid using the $N system variable since it is reserved for telephone numbers.

PINs Generation Mask

The Mask field allows you to specify the number of characters and the alphanumeric composition of the PINS. If using the Generate PINs option (see above) the number of characters will be automatically adjusted to match the code width of the selected PINS Question.

Example: 999999 or 99AA99Z where 9 represents any digit, A represents any letter of the alphabet, and Z any alphanumeric character. Any other digit or letter will included as is.

Case Filter Options

Applies only when importing from a PNT project .

The Filter options are largely self-explanatory.  You can filter the cases by their Status, Date of Last Call, and any other Filter Expression.

Source Settings

The Source Settings are specific to the Import Format currently selected. The settings for each are described below.

Field Mapping - System Variables

Regardless of the source type (CSV, TXT etc.) data is imported into questions and system variables.
The available system variables are:

CSV

Delimiter. Specify the character which separates each data element in the import file.

Field Mapping. In the Field Mapping section, you use the 'Add' or 'Add Multiple' button to append one or a specified number of rows to the table for each question/system variable into which you need to import data.

In the Question column you can select the question/system variable in two ways:

• Type one or more characters of the question alias.  In the filtered list of aliases that appears, scroll down to select the alias, and then press the 'Tab' key or 'Return' key.

• Double-click in the column and click on the ''down arrow' that appears in the field. In the question list that appears, scroll down to the select the alias, and then press the 'Tab' key or 'Return' key.

In the Position column, specify the order position of the corresponding data field in the Source file.

Note: To import characters with accents, the CSV file must be encoded using Unicode. Both MS Notepad and Wordpad editors, for example, provide the Unicode option when saving a file.

Interviewer SQL

When importing data from an existing Interviewer version 5.x (SQL) project, you can also import the Call History, Time Slot definitions, Strata/Quota definitions, and Call-Back settings.

PNT

When importing data from an existing Interviewer version 5.x (PNT) project, in addition to the data, you can also import the Call History, Notes, Time Slot definitions, Strata/Quota definitions, Call-Back settings, and the Project Field Options. You would normally use the Import All Fields checkbox  - when you choose this option, the question selection list is hidden from view.

Note: The source project's PNT, INS and QUE files must have been uploaded to the server. See Source Name/Upload.

If you do not use the Import All Fields option, the you can include/exclude any question (field) in the project. The Add button adds another row to the list; when you click on in the Question field, you then pick the question (or system variable) from the drop-down list which appears. The Delete button removes the question(s) with checkbox(es) currently selected in the list. The Copy From button allows you to populate the question list (from which you can choose questions) with one from another project. The Load button will load all of the questions in the source project - it is equivalent to using the Add button for each question.

Note: When importing from a PNT file, data is only transferred between existing questions with matching aliases.

Importing Users

1. In Interviewer's INSTALLATION module, export the interviewers to an Excel file.

2. In EXCEL, open the file and save it as a CSV file.

3. In the Command Center Security Module:

1. Create a role for the user group (optional as you can use an existing interviewer role)

2. Create a Group.

3. Assign the Role(s) to the group.

4. In the Command Center's Users page:

1. Select the Group which you created above.

2. Select the 'Import Users' option.

3. Upload the properly programmed CSV and XML files

4. Import the Users

5. In the Command Center's Project page:

1. Create the new project (the one into which the PNT project date will be subsequently imported)

2. Create a CATI module

3. Attach the User Group to the CATI module.

ZIP

This option is designed to facilitate the importation of PNT project files (see above). The ZIP format considerably reduces the size of files to be uploaded.

Steps:

1. On your PC, compress the project's 7 files into a single ZIP file.

2. Upload this 'zipped' file (see the Upload button above).

3. Select your importation options, and then click on the 'Ímport' button.

The system will automatically 'unzip' the file and import the PNT project.

TXT

Field Mapping. In the Field  Mapping section, you use the 'Add' or 'Add Multiple' button to append one or a specified number of rows to the table for each question/system variable into which you need to import data.

In the Question column you can select the question/system variable in two ways:

• Type one or more characters of the question alias.  In the filtered list of aliases that appears, scroll down to select the alias, and then press the 'Tab' key or 'Return' key.

• Double-click in the column and click on the ''down arrow' that appears in the field. In the question list that appears, scroll down to the select the alias, and then press the 'Tab' key or 'Return' key.

In the Position column, specify the starting character position of the data in the Source file.

In the Length column, specify the number of characters that are to be imported into the question/variable.

Button

Description

Import

Imports the selected file according to the settings.

Preview Importation

Displays the Importation Preview page.

View Active Tasks

Displays the Active Tasks Page

Import History

Displays the Import History Page.

Sort Sample

Displays the Sort Sample Page