In Harmoni, project design is the process of turning raw source data A source is a collection of data either in an imported file or a connected data store. Learn more about Data Sources. into a project styled for analysis.
Automated design is applied as a default unless you use Infotools X-filesInfotools proprietary files read by our legacy Desktop applications. or you specifically unselect it when loading your sources. Automation occurs during the addition of a source.
Once a project loads, the Project Tree The dictionary for the loaded project. reflects the automated design applied by Harmoni. From here, you can customize your project. Learn more about Interactive Design
In this article
- Automated Design
- Mapping source variables
- Source comparison
- Labeling
- Grids
- Constructions
- Headings
- Flags
1. Automated Design
When a new source is loaded into a project, Harmoni applies first pass automation. During updates, Harmoni automatically assigns the project definitions applied to previous sources.
- Choose Upload or Connect.
- Go to the location of your data.
- Select the sources you wish to add to your project by clicking on each source.
- Automation will be on as a default "Run automation when creating the project."
- When ready, click the OK button, and your new project will be saved and loaded.
2. Mapping source variables
Harmoni automatically maps source variables into Harmoni types There are six variable types in Harmoni: Headings, Axes, Grids, Measures, Weights, and Verbatims Learn more about Harmoni Variable Types when data sources contain aninherent dictionaryMeta-data to guide interpretation Learn more about source dictionaries..
- Harmoni remembers the mapping for the same data source.
- When a new source is added, Harmoni will use the dictionary mappings applied to the previous source and apply to the new one.
- Any data design steps previously applied in your project will be replicated in your new data source.
3. Source Comparison
Data sources used in a project are compared to identify common and uncommon items.
- The color of the icons in the project tree indicates the commonality of items across multiple sources.
- New items will be bold.
- You can also identify new items by applying a filter in the project tree.Learn more about Project Tree filters.
- The Source Identification axis is added to the project. It is displayed at the end of the project tree and can be used to filter results to just one of the available data sources that you may be using. The source identification axis can also be used when creating your own customized constructions.
4. Labeling
During first pass automation:
- For standard axes, question labels are cleaned by removing text repeated in both the variable name and variable label. Measures and Verbatims will display both the variable name and label.
Example with an SPSS file:
During updates:
- Label changes manually applied in a project are automatically applied to new sources.
- Label changes manually applied flow through any construction definitions.
5. Grids
During first pass automation:
First pass automation will grid sequential common questions and answers.
- Auto-created Grids are added to group related items together.
- Group relationship relies on them appearing sequentially and having a high level of commonality:
- >=80% of the labels for the variables are common or
- >=80% of the elements are common.
- Harmoni looks at the wording of the questions to apply an appropriate label for the grid heading.
- The default term "Elements" is used for the element set unless a manual label change has been used previously for an element set containing 100% commonality.
During updates:
- During updates, new items are added to respective grids.
Example with an SPSS file - Sequential and very similar/identical elements.
Remove Grid:
- A grid can be split into individual axes where automation is not desired. You can select the automatically constructed grid and then use the option remove grid under grids in the design menu.
- When removing a grid or items from the grid, you can preserve or revert to the original labels of the items. You may want to maintain these if you have made label changes.
- Once split, standard axes will go back to their original location in the project tree.
6. Constructions
On creating a new project, Harmoni will scan the source file and create multiple response questions from single response questions in your data. Deconstruct allows you to revert this automation.
During first pass automation:
- Any repeated single-response questions with a common label will be automatically merged into a constructed axis. If the axis name is the same, even if the elements lists are different, they'll be combined.
- Multiple response axes are created where items with similar variable labels and common element lists are combined into a single item. They'll be combined if the name is similar and the element names are the same.
When creating a new project, these questions are automatically merged to one multiple response axis. A constructed axis will display in the project tree with the following icon .
During updates:
- When creating your own customized constructions, constructed definitions are applied to new sources.
Example with an SPSS file - an exact match in the long label name.
Deconstruct:
Where the automation is not desired, you can select the automatically constructed axis and then use the option deconstruct under construct in the design menu.
This will then return the automatically constructed axis to its original form.
7. Headings
Headings are created during first-pass automation to group measures together.
Headings can also be inserted using edit/add heading from the design menu. Learn more.
8. Flags
Hidden and Date flagging is applied to new items with the same label as another item that has previously had a flag.
- Date flags automation occurs across projects within a site.
- Hidden flags automation occurs within a project.