Nvivo 13/R1: Create cases manually

Create codes in NVivo manually, on-the-run, via Quick Coding, or In Vivo; you can set names, descriptions, nicknames, and aggregate child code references.

Aug 26, 2026
Knowledge

Title

Nvivo 13/R1: Create cases manually

Answer

Create cases manually

Cases are people, places, organizations, events or other entities that represent the focus of your research.

If you are analyzing interviews, focus groups, surveys or social media, NVivo can automatically create cases based on your data. This is especially useful if you are working with a large number of cases.

If you have a smaller number of cases, or are working with different types of qualitative data, you can set up your classifications and cases manually.

Set up your case structure

Goal	Steps to get there...
Create a case classification	In the Navigation View, right-click on Case Classifications and then click New Classification. Enter a name for the classification. For example, Person, Place or Organization.
Add cases to the classification	In the Navigation View, right-click on the new classification and then click New Case. Enter the name of the case.
Set up the attributes and values for each case	In List View, expand a case and click to add the case attributes. Attributes that you create are added to the classification and are available for other cases in the classification. For example, if you create the attribute `Occupation`, it becomes available for all new cases. Click to update an attribute value. As you type, NVivo suggests any existing matching values—you can accept the value or enter a new one.
Code content at the new cases	Code content from files at the new cases. For example, code Ken's interview transcript at the case for Ken. You can code the entire file or selected content. Manual coding techniques (NVivo 13 Windows)

Goal

Steps to get there...

Create a case classification

A classification called Participant added under Case Classifications.

In the Navigation View, right-click on Case Classifications and then click New Classification.
Enter a name for the classification. For example, Person, Place or Organization.

Add cases to the classification

Cases in the selected classification.

In the Navigation View, right-click on the new classification and then click New Case.
Enter the name of the case.

Set up the attributes and values for each case

Setting attribute values for a case in List View.

In List View, expand a case and click to add the case attributes. Attributes that you create are added to the classification and are available for other cases in the classification. For example, if you create the attribute Occupation, it becomes available for all new cases.
Click to update an attribute value. As you type, NVivo suggests any existing matching values—you can accept the value or enter a new one.

Code content at the new cases

Content coded at a case from an interview transcript, survey dataset and video focus group.

Code content from files at the new cases. For example, code Ken's interview transcript at the case for Ken. You can code the entire file or selected content. Manual coding techniques (NVivo 13 Windows)

Create a case while coding in the Detail View

In the Detail View, select the content you want to code.
On the selected item's ribbon tab, click Code > Code Selection.
Select the Cases folder or one of its sub-folders, or an existing case to create the new case as a child to it. Type the new case's name in the Create New field.

Create a case by 'quick coding'

You can create a new case by selecting the content you want to code and entering a new case name in the Quick Coding bar at the bottom of Detail View. Make sure you set the folder location to Cases. Manual coding techniques (NVivo 13 Windows)

URL Name

NVR1Win-Content-cases-create-cases-manually

Nvivo 13/R1: Create cases manually

Information

Create cases manually

Set up your case structure

Create a case while coding in the Detail View

Create a case by 'quick coding'

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