Create or edit attribute values

NVivo allows you to record the attributes of files and cases, e.g. date recorded for interview transcripts, or occupation for the cases of interviewees. Each attribute has 'values'—for example, 26 March 2020 for file attribute date recorded and sales assistant for case attribute occupation.

If you know some or all of the values of an attribute, you can define them at the same time you create the attribute. You can add new values at any time later if you need, as you import files or create new cases. You can also create new values at any time by adding them to classification sheets Classification sheets. Besides creating values manually within NVivo, you can import pre-existing lists of values in text files (instructions for both, below).

By default, all attributes have values Unassigned and Not Applicable, with Unassigned the default. These values cannot be removed, however you can change the terms used for them (e.g. change Not Applicable to Not relevant), either for all projects (NVivo Settings) or an individual project (File / Project Properties)—in either case use the Labels tab.

Attribute values all have a 'type', for the formatting and characters used to define them. The attribute types are:

• Text: this is the most general value type, allowing you to define values with alphanumeric characters (including special characters).
• Integer: where the values are integers, i.e. positive or negative whole numbers or zero.
• Decimal: positive or negative numbers to two decimal places.
• Date/Time: a combination of date and time. NVivo uses your computer's date and time formats.
• Date: a date, using your computer's date format.
• Time: a time, using your computer's time format.
• Boolean: this attribute has 'Yes', 'No', 'Unassigned' and 'Not Applicable' as its only values. (You can change 'Yes' and 'No' to 'True' and 'False' or other options in Nvivo preferences Labels).

Create attribute values manually

Follow the instructions below to add values to an existing attribute (you cannot add values to Boolean attributes).

1. Click File Classifications or Case Classifications in the Navigation View to open the classifications in the List View.

2. Double-click the classification with the attribute you want to add values to.

   A list of the attributes in the classification opens in the Detail View.

3. Select the attribute, control-click to open the shortcut menu, and select Get Info.
4. In the Attribute Properties dialog box, click the + button to add new values.
5. Optionally enter value descriptions.
6. Optionally set colors for the values.
7. Optionally select Default to make a value the attribute's default for all files or cases assigned the classification.
8. Use the up and down triangle arrows in the bottom-right of the interface to order the values (this order is used in reports, charts, and other visualizations).

If you delete a value that has been assigned to one or more files or cases you are prompted to select another value for the attribute, to replace the deleted one.

Import attribute values

You can import attribute values in a text (.txt) file. For example, if a classification includes the attribute country of origin, you can save time by importing a list of countries. The text file must contain a single column of values.

1. Click File Classifications or Case Classifications in the Navigation View to open the classifications in the List View.

2. Double-click the classification with the attribute you want to add values to.

   A list of the attributes in the classification opens in the Detail View.

3. Select the attribute, control-click to open the shortcut menu, and select Import Attribute Values

4. Browse to find the import file and click Import.

   NOTE   NVivo tries to detect the encoding used in the file. If the data does not import correctly, try a different file encoding.

5. Control-click the attribute again and select Get Info, to see the imported values.