NVivo 12: Manage classifications

Manage NV12 classifications: create, edit, delete, copy, merge case or file classifications; add, reorder, or update attributes and values; view classified items.

Aug 26, 2026
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NVivo 12: Manage classifications

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Create case classifications

Create file classifications

Manage classifications

You can make changes to the classifications in your project—for example, you might want to add new attributes to an existing classification.

Add attributes to a classification

In List View, select the classification.
On the Home tab, in the Classification group, click Case Classification or File Classification, then click New Attribute.
Enter a name for the attribute—for example, Age.
(Optional) Enter a description.
In the Type list, select the data type for the attribute values. For example, the attribute values for location are alphanumeric so the data type is text.
Click the Values tab, to add extra attribute values—by default there are only two attribute values (Unassigned and Not Applicable).
- Click Add to create a new attribute value
- Use the Sort or the Move Up and Move Down buttons to change the order of attribute values.
- Select the Default check box, to automatically assign this value when you add a case or file to the classification.

NOTE

The 'Unassigned' attribute value is used to indicate that the value of this attribute has not been assigned yet. This is the default value for the attribute, unless you select another attribute to be the default.
The 'Not Applicable' attribute value is used to indicate that the value is not applicable for the file or case that you are classifying.
Any attributes you add to a file classification cannot be exported to reference management tools such as EndNote or Zotero. If you intend to export bibliographical data, we recommend that you use only attributes provided by default in the predefined bibliographical classifications.

Copy attributes between classifications

You can copy attributes between classifications. For example, create the attributes age and sex for the classification Teachers and copy them to the classification for Students.

In List View, display the attributes—click the show icon to see the attributes for a classification.
Select the attributes you want to copy and copy them.
Select the classification you want to copy into and paste the attributes

NOTE When you copy an attribute the attribute values, including the default settings, are also copied.

Merge or copy classifications

Merge classifications

If two classifications are very similar you may decide to merge them. For example, since they share similar attributes, you could merge the respondent case classification into the person case classification.

CAUTION Merging file classifications can cause problems if you intend to export your bibliographical data to reference management tools such as EndNote or Zotero.

In List View, select the classifications you want to merge into a destination classification.
Cut or Copy the classification.
Select the destination classification.
On the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Merge and then click Merge Into Selected Classification.
Select your preferred merge options:
- Append attributes to add any attributes that do not exist in the destination classification.
- Append attribute values for duplicate attributes, add any attribute values that do not already exist.
- Reassign classified items to reassign files or cases to the new destination classification.

NOTE

Attributes are considered to be duplicates when they have the same name and data type.
You can also merge existing classifications into a new classification—on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click Merge and then click Merge Into New classification.
You cannot merge file and case classifications together.
You can also merge classifications, by dragging the classification you want to merge onto the destination classification.

Copy classifications

You can copy and paste a classification (along with its attributes and attribute values) within the same classification folder. This can be useful when classifications share the same attributes—for example, the attributes age, sex and date of birth might be appropriate in a number of case classifications.

You cannot copy a classification between the File Classifications and Case Classifications folders.

If you want to copy a classification without the attribute values, use paste special (on the Home tab, in the Clipboard group, click the arrow under Paste, and then click Paste Special).

Make changes to a classification or its attributes

Change the name and description of a classification

Select the classification you want to update.
On the Home tab, in the Item group, click the Properties image.
Enter the name and description you want to use for the classification.

Change the name or description of an attribute

In List View select the attribute you want to edit—click the show icon to see the attributes for a classification.
On the Home tab, in the Item group, click the Properties image.
Enter the new name and description for the attribute.

Change the data type of an attribute

The attribute values for an attribute have a specific data type. For example, values for the attribute location might be rural, urban, suburban—since these are text-based values, the attribute's data type is text.

NVivo provides the following data types: text, integer, decimal, date/time, date, time, boolean.

CAUTION Attribute values that are not compatible with the new data type are removed. For example, if you change date/time to date, all time values are automatically removed—this could result in the loss of data if the attribute values have been assigned to the files or cases in your project.

In List View select the attribute you want to edit—click the show icon to see the attributes for a classification.
On the Home tab, in the Item group, click the Properties image.
In the Type list, select the data type of the attribute values.

Reorder the attributes in a classification

You can move the attributes in a classification—the order you define is reflected in the classification sheet and in charts and other visualizations.

In List View, expand the classification to display its attributes.
Select the attribute you want to move.
On the Home tab, in the Workspace group, click Sort By, and then click Move Up or Move Down .
Keyboard shortcut To move up, CTRL+SHIFT+U, to move down CTRL+SHIFT+D

Delete a classification or its attributes

Before you delete a classification or its attributes, it is a good idea to be aware of the following:

If you delete a classification that has been assigned to files or cases in your project, the files/cases are declassified and any attribute values you have set are lost. To see the files or cases assigned to a classification, double-click the classification (the classification sheet opens in Detail View).
Removing attributes could result in the loss of data if the attribute values have been assigned to the files or cases in your project. To see if an attribute has been assigned to the files or cases in your project, double-click to open the classification sheet.

Review the cases in a classification

To see all the cases that have been assigned to a classification:

In Navigation View, under Case Classifications, click the classification you want to review. All the cases assigned to the classification are displayed in List View.
In List View, expand a classification to see the cases assigned to it.
Expand a case, to review or edit the attributes and attribute values.

Barbara's case and her attributes displayed in List View.

NOTE

To add a new case to the classification, right-click on the classification and choose New Case.
To add a new attribute, right-click on the classification and choose New Attribute.
Double-click an attribute to edit the attribute properties.
You cannot delete cases in this view—go to the Cases folder to delete cases.
Right-click on a case to visualize the coded content. For example, create a Word Cloud to see the words most commonly used by an interview participant.

URL Name

NV12Win-Manage-classifications

NVivo 12: Manage classifications

Information

Manage classifications

Add attributes to a classification

Copy attributes between classifications

Merge or copy classifications

Make changes to a classification or its attributes

Delete a classification or its attributes

Review the cases in a classification

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