Import a survey

In order to be able to process your qualitative data, you need to import it into SimpleX. 

Most online tools generating qualitative data (survey, messaging, digital meetings) provide built-in export features into spreadsheet format. SimpleX imports data from .xlsx or .csv files.  It also handle Gsheet (still in Beta tough).

Each successful import in SimpleX creates a survey, the main focus of which being the column containing the qualitative data you want to focus your analysis (aka "key column")

In order to properly import and start using SimpleX, there are 3 steps to take:

. prepare your spreadsheet

. define upload settings

. map fields from your spreadsheet

The imported spreadsheet must display on the first row the labels of each field. Empty rows will be ignored but a row is considered as empty ONLY if it is completely empty of any character on every column. SimpleX will import any non blank row, even if there is no relevant text in there.

You might want to take the following preparatory steps on your spreadsheet before import (you might first duplicate the original tab as a back up):

- clean every zone outside the data of interest

- ensure a clear, unambiguous label for the main column with the key qualitative data

- delete rows in which the key column cell is empty

- delete unnecessary columns (will make import easier later on)

There are two different import modes:

- Step by step

- Fast

Teh step by step will guide you through the process.

Should you select the Fast mode, 

• provide a title for the survey
• assign a label to the survey (optional)
• specify the type of source: file or GSheet (URL)
• Point at the file location (resp the URL) and if any the tab of the file containing the data
• Specify if the text data of the key column is multilingual. 

• Click on Continue

This step defines the layout of your survey in the SimpleX console. Thanks to the preview, you can check before importing that the console will have the desired layout.

 After the file upload, you are prompted in a modal window with every column from your original spreadsheet. The labels of each column in your original spreadsheet are displayed in the first column of the modal window (File columns).

In the second column of the modal window are displayed a sample of each column, to clarify the content fo the column from the original spreadsheet.

The third column is where you map the columns of the original file with the elements desired in the SimpleX console.

For each relevant field, indicate with the dropdown selector the type of data.

• Keep skip (defaut selection) for every field that you don't need for your analysis
• Select Text answers for the field containing the qualitative data that is the focus of your analysis
• Select others options (multiple choice, rating, filter, date, likes, dislikes,) to qualify the type of data contained in the corresponding columns. 

Use the ID if your data source contains a field with a unique ID. It is optional but will prove useful if you would like to re-import additional data in to this survey.

You have to select one and one only column as "Text answers". You will create one SimpleX survey for each analysis of a different column with textual data. If you want to analyse in the same survey text data displayed in different columns, you must prepare the original spreadsheet accordingly to put it all in one single column.

Use case 1: Stand-alone text answers

In many instances, you get text material to an open question: "How would you define Diversity?" or "What are your main sources of satisfaction?"

During the mapping, select Text answers for the field containing the qualitative data that is the focus of your analysis.

Use case 2: Text answers as additional comments to answering a closed question

In some other instances, you get text comments  is a complement to a closed question, in which respondent bring additional text content to precise or justify his/her vote : Typically, it will include "Could you elaborate?" or "Please explain" after a vote or a multiple choice question.

In this case, you usually would like to keep an easy access to the relevant rating or multiple choice values when analyzing textual comments.

In selecting this field as Multiple Choice or Value, it will remain visible on the left sidebar at any moment. Making it easy to perform actions such as:

• filter answers with a specific keyword and count how resulting answers break down by rating/choice value
• Select answers attached to a specific rating and perform topic modeling on these answers only (ex: what are the reasons behind 5 satisfaction rating?)

There can be only one Multiple Choice field or one Rating field per survey. Picking a Choice field prevents to select of Value and the other way around. 

Other filters

Additional mapping is optional.

Fields selected as filters will be accessible on the right sidebar. Filters will enable to filter in the console text answers according to the data of the filter column. It is usually be multiple choice fields (gender, age range), but can be also numerical values (age). You can select as many filters as your plan allows.

Period filter is suitable for fields with date formatted data will allow for time-dependent filtering. Make sure to select a column with proper date format.

Field selected as Likes (or favorite) and dislikes filters will be accessible in the center sidebar. The likes/dislikes are impacting some of the algorithms at work.

Likes or Dislikes Make sure to select a column with integer counter format

As a recap

• Select of each field the desired type of data
• Once done, click on Preview 
• Check out the preview on how your survey will be displayed in SimpleX
• Click on Exit preview to come back to filed mapping modal window
• When satisfied with the layout, click on Final Validation
• Take a last check, click on Yes, I confirm

Once confirmed, import will be performed. Usually in few seconds, it might take up to a few minutes. Once completed, you can be notified by email (see and edit your profile accordingly). Imported rows be will deducted from the quota corresponding to your plan. Before import actually takes place, you are notified of how many credit you will be left after the import. If the file yoiu are trying to upload is beyond your credit allowance, the import will not take place, until you reduce the size of the original corpus or buy extra credits.

See also Data reimport