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Downloading Comma Delimited Results Files

In order to perform statistical analyses on the results of ProtoGenie studies, to export them to other software programs, or to transmit them to other researchers the data must be downloaded from the data archives on the ProtoGenie server in a format that supports these research tasks. In particular, these files must indicate where one event ends and the next event begins.  This information is conveyed in what is called file "delimiters."  Delimiters can be most any alpha-numeric character or character set.  

A popular format for data files is the comma delimited results file, in which rows separate the results for each session and commas separate (delimit) the results on the variables (events).  This format displays the extension .csv, standing for "comma separated values."   This comma delimited file format option supports most popular statistical and data analysis programs, including standard spreadsheets and most widely-used analysis software like SPSS.

To avoid the data file delimiter problem in the comma-delimited results file, ProtoGenie automatically scans results for all sessions and replaces commas embedded in results with the text "USER_COMMA."  If desired, incidences of these converted commas in subject/respondent text subsequently can be edited out by the researcher.

Also, ProtoGenie automatically inserts in the top row of the data table the "variable labels" assigned to events in the Composer/Editor.  If these labels are not given during protocol construction, the number of the column in which the event resides is used instead.

The comma delimited results file is downloaded from the All-Sessions Index Table page by clicking on the second of the three links appearing above the All-Session Index Table.  See below.

View all sessions as a single data table.  
Download Comma Delimited (RxC) Results File  
Download Results File Using a Delimiter of Your Choice

When the link called "Download Comma Delimited Results File" is selected, a SAVE dialog box will come up.  If you click on SAVE, a standard Save dialog will appear containing a temporary file name made up of the alphanumeric string "ProtocolDataxxxx," where xxxx is the number of your protocol.  For example, this file name may be ProtocolData3402.  Before saving, you need to indicate where you want the file to be saved on your system and you can change the file name if desired.