Memos (NVivo 15 Mac)

Memos are a type of document that enable you to record the ideas, insights, interpretations or growing understanding of the material in your project. They provide a way to keep your analysis separate from (but linked to) the material you are analyzing.  Memos can evolve into an important part of the 'writing up' stage of your project—for example, they might lead into the chapters of a book or the outline of a presentation.

You can use memos to suit the needs of your project. For example, you can choose to

• Create memos for files—capturing any issues, comments or insights that arise.
• Create memos for a codes—describing the significance of the code and the patterns or ideas that emerge from the references.
• Create 'unlinked' memos to store other information about your project such as research objectives or project progress.

If you have existing memos (perhaps as Word documents) you can import memos into the Memos folder. You can create sub folders under the Memos folder to organize your memos.

Memos can be automatically created when you import:

• References from reference management tools such as Citavi, EndNote, RefWorks and Zotero.
• Web content from NCapture. You can chose to record a memo when you use NCapture.

If you want to use your memos when you write up or present your findings, you can export your memos and incorporate the content into your report or presentation.

What can I do in a memo?

• Add or edit text by typing directly or using copy/cut/paste
• Code the entire memo or code portions of the content—this is particularly useful if you want your 'conceptual thinking' about a topic to be available when you open a code.
• Hear a selected passage of text read aloud—refer to Accessibility (Turn on Text to Speech) for more information.

Understand memo links

Each file, code, case or external can have one memo linked to it and that memo cannot be linked to any other item. You can also create memos that are not linked to any item.

1. Select a file, code, case or external in the List View.
2. Open the context menu and click Memo Link > Link to New Memo.
3. Enter a memo name and optionally, description, in the Memo Properties dialog box.
4. The new memo opens in the Detail View for you to write your notes.