Handling Query Results

NVivo provides a number of ways to handle the results of a query. You can:

Preview the results without saving them (the default)  

If you are not sure you want to save query results, you can 'preview' them in Detail View.

To preview results:

  1. Add or open the required query.

  2. Click the Query Options tab.

  3. From theOption drop-down list, select Preview Only.

  4. Click the Run button.

For text search queries, the results include the name of each matching item along with its relevance rating—refer to Text Search Queries for more information.

For coding and matrix coding queries, the results are displayed as a preview node.

Preview the results and then save them in a node or set  

  1. On the Tools menu, click Query.

  2. Click the Store Query Results option.

TheStore Query Results dialog box is displayed.

  1. Select the required options:

Option

Description

 

Option

From the drop-down list, select how you would like to save the results of the query:

Create Results as New Node

Creates a new node, codes all occurrences of search text at the node, and saves it in the selected node folder.

Merge Results into Existing Node

Codes all occurrences of search text at an existing node. Click the Select button and choose the required node.

Create Results as New Set

Creates a new set that includes all project items matching the search criteria.

Add Results to Existing Set

Saves the search results in an existing set. Click the Select button and choose the destination set.

Create Results as New Node Hierarchy

Saves the results as a tree node using the node name as the parent and matching items as the children.

 

For Text Search Query results:

If you store the results as a node, you will be able to view each occurrence of the selected keyword in context (KWIC). By default,the context is 'narrow', meaning five words on either side. For more information, refer to Viewing the Coding Context.

You can also change the definition of narrow, to show more or less words on each side of the selected word—refer to Setting Application Options (General Tab) for more information.

 

Location

If you are saving the results as a new node, click the Select button to define the location. For example, to save the results as a new free node, select the Free Nodes folder.

Name

If you are saving the results as a new node or set, enter a name for the new item.

If you are merging the results into an existing node or set, click the Select button and choose the destination item.

Description

If required, enter a description for the new node or set.

  1. Click OK.

Specify save options during query setup—before running the query  

  1. Click Add To Project in the query dialog box.

  2. Enter the name and description of the query in the General tab.

  3. Click the QueryOptions tab.

  4. From the Option drop-down list, select the required option:

Option

Description

 

Option

From the drop-down list, select how you would like to save the results of the query.

Create Results as New Node

Creates a new node, codes all occurrences of search text at the node, and saves it in the selected node folder.

Merge Results into Existing Node

Codes all occurrences of search text at an existing node. Click the Select button and choose the required node.

Create Results as New Set

Creates a new set that includes all project items matching the search criteria.

Add Results to Existing Set

Saves the search results in an existing set. Click the Select button and choose the destination set.

Create Results as New Node Hierarchy

Saves the results as a tree node using the node name as the parent and matching items as the children.

 

For Text Search Query results:

If you store the results as a node, you will be able to view each occurrence of the selected keyword in context (KWIC). By default,the context is 'narrow', meaning five words on either side. For more information, refer to Viewing the Coding Context.

You can also change the definition of narrow, to show more or less words on each side of the selected word—refer to Setting Application Options (General Tab) for more information.

 

Location

If you are saving the results as a new node, click the Select button to define the location. For example, to save the results as a new free node, select the Free Nodes folder.

Name

If you are saving the results as a new node or set, enter a name for the new item.

If you are merging the results into an existing node or set, click the Select button and choose the destination item.

Description

If required, enter a description for the new node or set.

  1. Click OK.

  2. Click the Run button.

 

You can also export query results as a spreadsheet or text file—refer to Exporting Query Results for more information.

Saving Results in the Results Folder

You can save query results as a node in the Results folder—a good place to keep result nodes until you decide to add them to your node system. You can export, print and work with them in the same way as other nodes.

 While the node is in the Results folder, you can also view the query that generated it  .  

  1. In NavigationView, click the Queries button.

  2. Click the ResultsFolder.

  3. Click the required query.

  4. On the Links menu, click OpenLinkedQuery.

You cannot code at nodes while they are in the Results folder. You can move the node into a free node, tree node or case folder but it is no longer linked to the query.

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