How to Merge Data Sets Using Q

Introduction

This article describes how to merge two data sets. The post contains steps required to add new cases (respondents) into an existing data set, and how to add new variables (questions) into an existing data set.

Note that it is possible to merge cases directly in Displayr without using Q.  See How to Merge Data Sets with Different Cases/Records via the Displayr Cloud Drive for more on this.

Requirements

• A Displayr document with a data set.
• Q Professional or Q Reader (a free version of Q Research Software with limited functionality). To install Q Reader, click here. Please note, a Windows machine is required to install.
• Method 2 (add new variables) only: Both data sets should contain a variable which has unique values for each respondent. This variable will be used to match the respondents. 

Method 1 - add new cases 

1. Open your Displayr Document.
2. Select Publish > Export Data > Download Document (.QPack).
3. Open the QPack in Q by double-clicking it, or else opening Q and going to File > Open > Existing Project and then selecting the file.
4. In Q, go to Tools > Merge Data Files > Add New Cases.
5. Click Browse and locate the Donor data file. In case of conflicts, specify whether the current file or the donor file should take precedence. For example, if variables have the same name in both files but different value labels, which do you want to prefer. By default, the donor file has precedence.
6. Click Merge Files. Differences between the files will be noted on the right. Click Accept if you are willing to accept all conflicts.  
7. Click Save and specify the name of the merged file. 
8. For more detailed instructions see here.

Method 2 - add new variables 

1. Download and open the QPack file using Q. See Method 1, steps 1 through 3.
2. In Q, go to Tools > Merge Data File > Add Variables.
3. Click Browse and locate the Donor data file. 
4. Click Merge Files. You will be transferred to the Merge Data Files - Add New Variables window. 
5. Select the variable(s) to be used to match cases between the two files
6. Click Save and specify the name of the file.
7. For more detailed instructions see here.

See Also

How to Stack Data from Displayr Using Q

How to Export Data Sets to SPSS or CSV Format from Displayr

How to Export Specific Raw Data Variables to Excel