Lister Assistant PDF

askialister Assistant
Software version 5.2.2.0
Table of Contents
About askialister ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
Creating a Sample List ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Access (mdb) import options ............................................................................................................................... 3
Excel (xls) import options .................................................................................................................................... 4
List file (lst) import options ................................................................................................................................... 4
Managing Sample Lists ........................................................................................................................................... 7
Managing Sample Lists ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Editing sample file content ................................................................................................................................... 7
Managing sample list fields ................................................................................................................................. 7
Merging sample lists ............................................................................................................................................ 8
Exporting sample ................................................................................................................................................. 8
De-duplicating sample ....................................................................................................................................... 13
Menus and toolbars............................................................................................................................................... 15
Menus ................................................................................................................................................................ 15
Toolbar .............................................................................................................................................................. 15
Field types ............................................................................................................................................................. 17
Support information ............................................................................................................................................... 19
iii
About askialister
Askialister allows you to create and manage sample list files (lst), which are used in askiafield to supply sample
to CATI and Web projects. Sample lists contain the set of potential respondents who will be contacted during
fieldwork. Every CATI and Web project must have at least one sample list associated with it before any telephone
calls or email invitations can be made.
As well as allowing you to create sample files from Excel spreadsheets or Access databases, askialister allows
you to:
•
Edit the contents of sample file records
•
Edit the fields included in the sample file
•
Merge sample files
•
Export sample to a new file (Excel or CSV) or Access database
•
De-duplicate sample files
•
Remove all calls
1
Creating a Sample List
Note: this section describes how to create a new sample list in askialister. To open an existing sample list, select
open from the file menu.
To create an Askia sample list (.lst) file, you first need the list of potential respondents in Comma Separated
(csv), Excel (xls) or Access™ (mdb) format. Alternatively, you can import an exisitng Askia list (lst) file. Once you
have created the new .lst file, you can associate it with your survey task in askiafield CCA or askiafield
supervisor (see the askiafield Assistant for more information) and use it to draw sample.
Excel file should have one potential respondent per row, with each piece of information in a separate column
(e.g. column for first name, column for last name, column for email address, etc.).
CSV files should one potential respondent per row, with each piece of information separated by a comma (e.g.
first name, last name, email address, etc.).
To create a sample list in askialister:
1.
In the file menu, click import. The open dialog appears.
2.
Browse to, and select the file that contains the sample you want to import.
3.
Click open. Askialister parses the file, and displays an options dialog appropriate to the file type.
4.
Select the appropriate options in the dialog (see below), then click import.
5.
You are prompted to save your .lst file. Select a location and file name and click save.
6.
Your list file is displayed in askialister. You can then edit the fields, or the data in the file: see managing
sample lists.
Access (mdb) import options
Database
This is the path to the file you selected. You cannot change the contents of
this field.
Table
Select the table in your database that contains the sample you want to
import. If askialister finds any records in the selected table, it displays the
number next to the list box. The field selection box (see below) displays the
available fields in this table, which you can choose to include of exclude
from the import.
Mapped fields
Select the fields that contain the respondent telephone number and email
address respectively. If your table does not contain this information, leave
the item blank.
Note that if you nominate a field for telephone or email address, that field
must be populated with information, or else the available count will be 0,
and it will not be possible to commence calls or issue email invitations.
Prefix phone number with
"0"
If you select this, a zero will be added to the start of all telephone numbers
during the import process.
Field selection box
Select the fields that you want to import into your lst file, and clear (deselect) any fields you don't want to import. By default, all fields in the table
are selected. You can quickly select all of the fields, or none of them, by
clicking select all or deselect all.
When parsing the file, askialister determined the type of each field, but you
can over-ride this choice. See field types for details.
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Excel (xls) import options
Database
This is the path to the file you selected. You cannot change the contents of
this field.
Table
Select the worksheet in your Excel workbook that contains the sample you
want to import. If askialister finds any records in the selected sheet, it
displays the number next to the list box. The field selection box (see below)
displays the available fields in this worksheet, which you can choose to
include of exclude from the import.
First line has header
If the first row of your worksheet contains header information (i.e. column
labels), then select this option. If, on the other hand, it contains a data
record, then clear (de-select) this option.
Mapped fields
Select the fields that contain the respondent telephone number and email
address respectively. If your worksheet does not contain this information,
leave the item blank.
Note that if you nominate a field for telephone or email address, that field
must be populated with information, or else the available count will be 0,
and it will not be possible to commence calls or issue email invitations.
Prefix phone number with
"0"
If you select this, a zero will be added to the start of all telephone numbers
during the import process.
Field selection box
Select the fields that you want to import into your lst file, and clear (deselect) any fields you don't want to import. By default, all fields in the table
are selected. You can quickly select all of the fields, or none of them, by
clicking select all or deselect all.
When parsing the file, askialister determined the type of each field, but you
can over-ride this choice. See field types for details.
List file (lst) import options
Database
This is the path to the file you selected. You cannot change the contents of
this field.
Table
This field should be set to AskListe. If askialister finds any records in the
selected lst file, it displays the number next to the list box. The field
selection box (see below) displays the available fields in this file, which you
can choose to include of exclude from the import.
Mapped fields
Select the fields that contain the respondent telephone number and email
address respectively. If your file does not contain this information, leave the
item blank.
Note that if you nominate a field for telephone or email address, that field
must be populated with information, or else the available count will be 0,
and it will not be possible to commence calls or issue email invitations.
Prefix phone number with
"0"
If you select this, a zero will be added to the start of all telephone numbers
during the import process.
Field selection box
Select the fields that you want to import into your lst file, and clear (deselect) any fields you don't want to import. By default, all fields in the table
are selected. You can quickly select all of the fields, or none of them, by
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Creating a Sample List
clicking select all or deselect all.
When parsing the file, askialister determined the type of each field, but you
can over-ride this choice. See field types for details.
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Managing Sample Lists
Managing Sample Lists
Askialister allows you to perform various maintenance tasks on an open sample list. Follow the links below for
information.
•
Editing sample file data
•
Managing the fields in the sample file
•
De-duplicating sample
•
Merging sample lists
•
Exporting sample
Editing sample file content
When you have a sample file open in askialister, you can edit the contents of the file.
The information is shown in a grid, with each record on a separate row. To edit the data in a field, simply doubleclick the fields, and type a new value.
By default, Askia's system fields are hidden. You can display these by selecting display the system fields at the
bottom of the grid.
For ease of viewing and editing, you can resize columns in the grid, by clicking and dragging the line between the
column headers. You can reposition columns by dragging and dropping their headers to another position. You
can also resize row heights by clicking and dragging the horizontal line between rows.
Use the toolbar to move quickly between records, add or delete records, or save your changes.
Managing sample list fields
Askialister allows you to change the fields including in your sample list. You can change the name of existing
fields, remove them entirely, or add new fields.
To manage sample list fields, in the tools menu, select manage fields. The fields management window appears,
displaying the fields in the sample file.
Note that any changes you make in the fields management window are not applied until you close the window by
clicking OK. If you close it with cancel, any changes you made will not be applied.
To edit the name of a field:
1.
In the field list, click the field to select it.
2.
Below the list, click rename field. The new field name dialog appears.
3.
Type a new name for the field, and click OK.
To remove a field:
1.
In the field list, click the field to select it.
2.
Below the list, click remove field.
3.
Click yes to confirm your choice.
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AskiaLister Assistant
To edit the name of a field:
1.
In the field list, click the field to select it.
2.
Below the list, click rename field. The new field name dialog appears.
3.
Type a new name for the field, and click OK.
To add a new field:
1.
Below the list, click add field. The new field properties dialog appears.
2.
In field name, type the name you want for the field.
3.
In field type, select the type of data the field will store. See field types for
details.
4.
Click OK.
Merging sample lists
Askialister allows you to merge two sample files. The currently open sample file will be merged with another file
of your choice. This file can be another lst file, or any of the other files that askialister can import (Excel, Access
or Comma-Separated). By repeating the process, you can merge several sample files.
To merge sample lists:
1.
Ensure you have opened the first file to be merged (in the file menu,
select open).
2.
In the tools menu, select merge.
3.
Select the file that you want to merge with the open sample file.
4.
The import dialog appears, appropriate to the type of file you selected. For
example, if you selected an Excel file, the Import MS Excel file dialog appears.
See Access__mdb__import_options, Excel__xls__import_options and
Comma_separate__csv__import_options for details.
5.
Click import. The file is processed, and the records are added to your
sample file. If you want to edit the data, please see Editing sample file content for
details.
6.
In the toolbar, click save modifications to save your changes to the
original list file.
Exporting sample
Askialister allows you to export sample from the currently open sample file.
To export sample:
1.
Open the sample list from which you want to export data (to open a list,
select open from the file menu).
2.
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In the tools menu, select export. The export list dialog appears.
Managing Sample Lists
3.
In the field list, select the fields that you want to export. You can quickly
select all of the fields by clicking select all, or de-select all of the fields by
selecting unselect all.
4.
If you want to view Askia's hidden fields, select display system fields.
By default, these are selected.
5.
If you want to export call information, select export calls. This option will
only take effect if you are exporting to a list file.
6.
You can define a logical expression to control which records are exported
(i.e. you can include or exclude records in the export if they contain certain
information, for example exporting only records which have had successful
interviews). See logical expressions during export for further details.
7.
Click OK.
8.
In save as type, select the type of file you want to create. You can select
Askia list format (lst), Access (mdb, accdb), Excel (xls, xlsx) or comma-separated
(csv).
9.
Specify a name and location for your file, and click save.
Logical expressions during export
You can use logical expressions to determine which records are exported. This allows you to export a subset of
the data, instead of every record. For example, you might want to export a list of records where there has not
been a successful interview.
You can manually define a expression, or load one that has already been defined.
Predefined export
To load a predefined export, simply select it from the drop-down list at the top of the export list dialog:
When Askialister is first installed, you will find three predefined expressions. These are:
Never call
This expression selects respondents who have never been contacted. This might be
because the respondent did not answer the telephone, or take part in a web survey, or
it might be because a contact attempt has not yet been made.
Success
This expression selects respondents who have had a successful interview, in either a
CATI or Web survey.
No success
This expression selects respondents who have not had a successful CATI or Web
interview.
To define a new condition:
1.
Click new:
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AskiaLister Assistant
2.
Define your expression (see defining your own expressions, below).
When you are ready, you can save the condition (see below).
If you make changes to a predefined condition, you can save these changes.
To save an expression:
1.
Set up the condition to your liking (see defining your own expressions,
below)
2.
Click save:
To rename an existing pre-defined expression:
1.
In the drop-down list, select the expression you want to rename.
2.
Click rename:
3.
Type a new name for the item, and click OK.
To delete an existing pre-defined expression:
1.
In the drop-down list, select the expression you want to delete.
2.
Click delete:
Defining your own expressions
You can define your own logical expressions, in order to control which records will be included in the export. For
example, you might want to export only the records that have e-mail addresses (i.e. records that contain data in
the e-mail address field).
Before you add a new expression ensure that one is not already displayed in the export list dialog. Expressions
appear as follows (the details will vary, depending on the particular expression):
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Managing Sample Lists
If a expression is displayed, click new:
This will start afresh with a new logical expression.
Logical expressions are made up of one or more conditions. You can build up sophisticated logical structures in
order to determine which records will be exported. Conditions that are evaluated together within the sample
logical expression are shown within the same box. When you have two or more conditions, you must specify the
relationship between them by selecting OR or AND between them. If you require BOTH conditions to be true for
a record to be selected, select AND. If you require at least one of them of them to be true, select OR.
For example, the above expression selects the records for potential respondents who have never been
contacted.
A condition consists of a field name, an operator and a value. For example:
Field
Operator
Value
Telephone
EQUAL TO
NULL
This condition is true if the record has no information in the Telephone field. When you run the export, only fields
with no telephone number will be included.
To change the field, simply click it and select another one from the drop-down list.
To change the logical operator, click it and select from the list as follows:
EQUAL TO
The value in the list file record must be exactly equal to the value you specify
in the condition.
DIFFERENT TO
The value in the list file record must not be the same as the value you specify
in the condition.
GREATER THAN
The value in the list file record must be greater than the value you specify in
the condition.
GREATER THAN OR
EQUAL TO
The value in the list file record must be greater than or equal to the value you
specify in the condition.
LOWER THAN
The value in the list file record must be less than the value you specify in the
condition.
LOWER THAN OR
The value in the list file record must be less than or equal to the value you
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EQUAL TO
specify in the condition.
To change the value, click it. Depending on the field type, you either type in a new value (e.g. NULL or 1), or for
result code fields (e.g. AskLastTelephonyResult), you will be prompted to select the relevant values:
Select all the values that you want to include in your condition. You can quickly select the entire list or codes, or
no codes at all, by clicking select all or select none respectively.
Working with multiple logical conditions
When you add a second (or subsequent) logical condition, it is evaluated in relation to the other condition/s in
your expression. An operator (OR or AND) is shown between conditions, and this determines how the conditions
interact. You should ensure the appropriate operator is selected for the relationship between the two conditions. If
you require both conditions to be true for a record to be selected, you should select AND. If you require at least
one of them of them to be true, you should select OR. To change an operator, simple click it and select a different
one from the drop-down list.
You can add or remove conditions by clicking the following controls:
Add condition
When adding a condition, there are two places you can add it:
•
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If you click add condition within a condition, you are adding a new logical
Managing Sample Lists
condition that will be part of the same logical expression. For the expression
to be satisfied (and hence records that meet the criteria be included in the
export), either both statements must be true (if you select AND between
them) or at least one of them must be true (if you select OR between them).
•
If you click add condition at the bottom of the list of conditions, then the new
condition will be evaluated separately. If you select AND between it and the
previous condition, then both must be true for the logical expression to be
satisfied. If you select OR, then at least one of them must true for the
expression to be satisfied.
Add subcondition
Adds a sub-condition to the associated condition. Sub-conditions are contained within
the associated condition and are evaluated as a block with other sub-conditions of the
same parent condition. As with conditions, you must specify the relationship between
the sub-condition and its parent condition, and with each other, by selecting AND or
OR between them (see above for details).
Remove
Removes the condition.
De-duplicating sample
Askialister allows you to de-duplicate the currently open sample file. You can search for duplicate records based
on the contents of any field (or combination of fields), and then easily delete the duplicate records, either
manually, or by automatically keeping the first or last of any set of duplicates.
To de-duplicate sample:
1.
Open the sample list which you want to de-duplicate (to open a list, select
open from the file menu).
2.
In the tools menu, select view duplicates. The search duplicate records
dialog appears.
3.
In the field list, select the appropriate fields. Askialister will find any
records which have identical values in this field. For example, if you want to
search for fields with duplicate email addresses, select the email field (the name
of the field will depend on your particular list file).
If you select multiple fields, askialister will find duplicate records with identical
values in all of the selected fields. For example, if you select first name, middle
name, and last name, plus address fields, askialister will consider any people
with the same first, middle and last names, and also with the same address, to be
duplicate records.
4.
If you want to view Askia's hidden fields, select display the system
fields. By default, these are selected. You can then, if you wish, use these as
fields in your search.
5.
Click search. The duplicate records are displayed in the right-hand pane,
according to the fields you selected in the previous step. Askialister may find
more than two records that are considered duplicates, if more than two share the
same values in the selected fields.
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AskiaLister Assistant
To view the contents of Askia's hidden fields in this pane, select display the
system fields.
6.
To manually delete a record, simply right-click it and select remove.
7.
To automatically delete duplicate records, select keep the first item or
keep the last item (see below), and click remove duplicate items.
If you selected keep the first item, then for each group of records considered to
be duplicates, all will be deleted except for the first one. If you selected keep the
last item, all will be deleted in each group except for the last one.
8.
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When you have finished removing duplicate records, click close.
Menus and toolbars
Menus
The menu bar contains the following menus:
File menu
Edit menu
Tools menu
Help menu
File menu
Open
Allows you to open an existing lst file; a file dialog appears, allowing you to
browse to, and select, the desired file. You can then perform operations on
the file, such as editing its contents, merging it with another file, or
performing a de-duplication.
Import file
Allows you to create a new lst file from one of the following sources:
•
A Microsoft Excel workbook (xls)
•
A Microsoft Access database (mdb)
•
A comma-separated text file (csv)
•
Another lst file.
For more information, see creating a sample list.
Exit
Closes askialister. If you have any unsaved changes to the current list file,
you will be asked if you want to save them before askialister closes.
Tools menu
Merge
Allows you to merge the open sample list with another one.
Export
Allows you to export selected content from the open sample list.
View duplicates
Allows you to de-duplicate the open sample list.
Manage fields
Allows you to add, remove or edit fields in the open sample list.
Help menu
Contents
Opens the askialister help file, displaying the contents tree.
About
Displays the version number of your askialister installation.
Toolbar
The askialister toolbar contains the following icons:
Add new
Adds a new blank record to the end of the list file.
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Delete
Deletes the currently selected record (to select a record, simply click on
it).
Save
modifications
Saves any changes you have made when editing records.
Refresh
Updates the display, thus ensuring you are viewing the current contents of
the list file.
Move first
Selects the first record in the file, and scrolls the window so that record is
visible.
Move
previous
Selects the previous record in the file (the record before the currently
selected one), and scrolls the window so that record is visible.
Current
position
Displays the number of the currently selected record, and the total number
of records.
Move next
Selects the next record in the file (the record after the currently selected
one), and scrolls the window so that record is visible.
Move last
Selects the last record in the file, and scrolls the window so that record is
visible.
Field types
In an Askia sample list, each field has an assigned data type, which determines the data that the field can store.
These are determined by askialister (and can be over-ridden by the user) at the time the list file is created. If you
add a new field to your list file, you can decide the data type.
The available field types as as follows:
•
Long - numerical information; whole numbers only (e.g. 1234)
•
Double - numerical information; decimal numbers (e.g. 1234.56)
•
Boolean - information that indicates true or false (e.g. yes/no data)
•
Text - for text information up to 255 characters
•
Memo - for longer text information (up to 65,535 characters)
•
Date - for date and/or time information
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Support information
Askia's Customer Care service provides expert support, advice on using Askia products and help in solving
specific problems.
Askia has designed its support service to work most effectively when looking for assistance in the following
order:
1. Search the Assistant Help file on your computer.
2. Use the Internet at any time of the day to:
•
update your Askia product(s);
•
consult the AUA's Knowledge Base & Forum;
•
send an email to your local askia office.
3. Contact the Askia Customer Care Hotline by phone during regular office hours.
For help in solving a problem, contact your local Askia office using the appropriate phone number below:
Office :
Country :
Business hours :
Time zone
:
Email :
Telephone :
Paris
France
9:30-13:00 14:0019:00
GMT+1
[email protected]
+33 (0)1 44 836
832
London
Great
Britain
9:30-13:00 14:0019:00
GMT
[email protected]
+44 (0)207 689
5492
Brussels
Belgium
9:30-13:00 14:0019:00
GMT+1
[email protected]
+32 9 230 08 50
New York
USA
9:30-13:00 14:0019:00
GMT+5
[email protected]
+1 (718) 399 0039
When sending an email to your local Askia Office, a copy of your query will be automatically sent to our central
Customer Care Hotline based at Askia's Paris office, that is, all emails are carbon copied to: [email protected].
Our support procedures have been established to deliver our customers the help they need as quickly as
possible. Thus, your query will either be handled directly by your local office or by Askia's central Customer Care
Hotline.
Within the license period, Askia provides telephone support free of charge. However, standard phone company
charges apply. Remember, online support from Askia Customer Care is available for free via email.
After the license period, service support is available from Askia at an additional cost.
Note: support options and availability vary by product, country/region and language.
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