Defining the new dictionary

 

In order to merge two dictionaries, the user has to firstly resolve all conflicts (e.g., entries with the same code but different labels) between the two. Conflicts are indicated by red font, the error icon on the right side of the row and “Unmatched” status. If the list is extensive, the user can decide to only show unmatched responses with the switcher at the bottom left corner of the modal.

 

 

A conflict between dictionary entries can be resolve in one of the three ways:

The user can click the context menu on the right side of every dictionary entry to copy them in both ways. With this, an entire entry (i.e. code, stat value, label, no answer and/or missing status) are copied from one dictionary to another. The user can also edit only a single value (e.g., just a label) by double-clicking on it or by going to the context menu. The user can also resolve all conflicts between dictionaries at once, in favor of current/original or alternate dictionaries, with the “Copy all responses from…”, which is available under the 3-dot menu on the right side over the table.

 

 

 

Only after all conflicts are resolved, the user can confirm the merge. The dictionary entries that were edited are indicated by the “Matched (edited)” status in the Status column. If one dictionary has an entry that was missing in the other, this entry gets the “Single entry” status and is copied automatically to the newly combined dictionary.

 

 

 

After clicking OK the user will be informed about the consequences of combining dictionaries. In the sub-modal a summary of changes will be listed (number of updated and added entries) and the number of datasets in which this change (i.e. this new combined dictionary) will be available will as well be displayed. If the user confirms this modal, the combination will take place.

 

The new dictionary will be available in the Data Import - after the merge, the question will only have the 3rd column (unless the further alternate dictionaries are available - then the next combination can be performed). The question will no longer be marked with an orange bar in Data Import and will be marked with the green bar in Query.

 

 

 

Differences with the “Mark as compatible with the alternate dictionary”

 

You can choose between the “Combined with an alternate dictionary” feature and the “Mark as compatible…” feature. The latter is different in such a way that it is effectively only hiding the differences between dictionaries in Halo Reports and not in Data Import. When dictionaries are “marked as compatible“, the same codes within them can still have different labels or stat values, but the question will be artificially marked with a green bar in Query. With the new “combine” feature the user actually changes dictionaries and creates new, common ones.