Manage classifications (NVivo 15 Windows)

As a project progresses you may need to add classifications or adjust existing ones, for example by adding, editing or removing attributes.

Change classification or attribute properties

Change the name or description of a classification

1. Select File or Case Classifications in the Navigation View, then select the classification you want to update in the List View.
2. On the Home tab, click Item > Classification Properties.

Change the name, description or data type of an attribute

1. Select File or Case Classifications in the Navigation View then, in the List View, expand the relevant classification and select the attribute you want to edit.
2. On the Home tab, click Item > Attribute Properties.
3. Edit the name and/or description, and/or change the attribute type.
   NOTE: Attribute values not compatible with the new data type are deleted.

Reorder the attributes in a classification

By default, attributes are listed in the order you created them, but you can re-order them alphabetically or in any ordering that is useful to you. The order you set in the List View is used in the classification sheet and charts and other visualizations.

1. In the List View, expand a classification to display its attributes.
2. If you want to set a custom ordering, select an attribute or contiguous attributes to move.
3. On the Home tab, click Workspace > Sort By > Move Up or Move Down to move selected attributes, or Name to order the attributes alphabetically.
   Keyboard shortcut to move up: CTRL+SHIFT+U, to move down CTRL+SHIFT+D.

Delete classifications or attributes

You can delete classifications and attributes using the Delete command in the context menu when the items are selected. Be aware that attribute values given to files or cases with the classifications or attributes will be lost from the project.

Add attributes

1. Select File or Case Classifications in the Navigation View, then select the classification to add the attribute to in the List View.
2. On the Home tab, click Case Classification or File Classification as appropriate, then New Attribute.
3. Enter an attribute name and optionally a description.
4. In the Type dropdown, select the data type for the attribute values:
   • Text allows attribute values using any text characters or numerals
   • Integer and Decimal allow only numerals, either whole numbers or decimals
   • Date, Date/Time and Time use date and time formats as configured in your computer's operating system
   • Boolean allows just Yes or No values (or alternative terms—see Labels in the application options)
5. Optionally add attribute values (besides the default values Unassigned and Not Applicable). Note: you can add values at any time, later, as you work.
   • On the Values tab, click Add and type in a value.
   • Optionally add a description and assign a color for the value.
   • Click Sort to order values alphanumerically, or Move Up and Move Down to move selected values in the list.
   • Select one value as Default to set it as the default for new cases or files given the classification. Otherwise the value defaults to Unassigned.

NOTE   If you intend to export bibliographical data to a reference management tool such as Citavi or EndNote we recommend that you use only attributes included in the predefined bibliographical classifications—other attributes may not be imported by the tools.

Copy attributes

You can copy attributes in one classification to add to another.

Once an attribute is copied to another classification it is a distinct, new attribute, even though it has the same name and properties as the attribute it was copied from—any changes you make to either attribute will not affect the other one.

1. Select the relevant classification folder in the Navigation View then, in the List View, expand the classification with the attributes you want to copy.
2. Select the attributes to copy and copy—Home tab, Clipboard > Copy.
3. Select the classification you want to copy into and paste—Home tab, Clipboard > Paste.

NOTE  Copying an attribute includes all its configuration settings and values.

Copy classifications

You can copy classifications, including all their attributes and, optionally, values. This can be useful when creating new classifications that share attributes with existing ones—for example, the attributes age, sex and date of birth might be included in a number of case classifications.

• Files or cases assigned to the original classifications are not assigned to the copies—they have no files/cases assigned to them after they are created.
• Classifications can only be copied into the same folder—i.e. you cannot copy a case classification into the file classification folder (and you cannot create subfolders for classifications).

1. Select File or Case Classifications in the Navigation View to open it in the List View.
2. Select the classification/s to copy, then on the Home tab, click Clipboard > Copy.
3. Click in an empty area of the List View then click Clipboard > Paste. To copy a classification with its attributes but not attribute values, use Paste Special.

Merge classifications

You can merge classifications into existing or new classifications.

1. Select File or Case Classifications in the Navigation View to open it in the List View.
2. Select one or more classifications to merge into an existing classification, or two or more to merge into a new classification.
3. Cut the classifications—Home tab, Clipboard > Cut (or copy if you want to keep the originals).
4. Select a target classification to merge into, or click in an empty area of the List View to merge the cut classifications into a new classification.
5. On the Home tab, click Clipboard > Merge Into Selected Classification or Merge Into New Classification.
6. If creating a new classification, name it and optionally give a description.
7. Select merge options:
   • Append attributes: when merging into an existing classification, include attributes that do not already exist in the target classification.
   • Append attribute values: when merging into an existing classification, if there are duplicate attributes (same name and data type), include values that do not already exist in the target classification.
   • Reassign classified items: reassign files or cases assigned to the original classifications to the new (or target) classification.

View the files or cases in a classification

To see all the files or cases assigned to a classification:

1. In the Navigation View, under File or Case Classifications, click the classification to view. All the files or cases assigned to the classification are displayed in the List View.
2. Expand a file/case to see its attribute values. To change a value, click the dropdown arrow beside the value field to select from other current values, or click inside the field to type in a new value.