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How to Work with Multiple Data Files

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In Displayr, you have the ability to analyze multiple data files in the same Displayr document. The document can contain multiple data files at once. When a document has two or more data files, the following are available in Displayr:

  • Multiple data sets are listed on the Data Sets tree.
  • The ability to have tables and charts from different data files intermixed. 
  • The ability to have a table/crosstab that simultaneously shows data from two different data files (read on to find out how to achieve this.)
  • The ability to have a time series plot that simultaneously shows data from two different data files (read on to find out how to achieve this.)

Requirements

Two or more data sets that you want to load into the same Displayr document. 

  • To create crosstabs using questions from different data files, there must be a variable in both files which contains the same type of data (text, categorical, dates, etc.) and has some values which match from which to create a relationship between the two files. 
  • To create a time series chart using data from different data files, both files must contain a Date question with identical variable names and question names. 

Method

Adding Multiple Data Files

Once you have a document, click the Plus sign in the Data Sets section to add each of your data sets to your document 

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For more information on how to import data into Displayr, click here.

Crosstabbing Multiple Data Sources

Once you have a document with two data files, you have the ability to crosstab two questions from the separate data files. When you try and create crosstabs from questions in separate data files, you may be warned that you cannot crosstab questions from different data sources that do not have a relationship. To set up a relationship between the two data files,

  • Click one of the files in the Data Set tree
  • Select Edit Relationships from the Object Inspector (see Edit Data File Relationships for more details). 

Once the relationship is set up, the sample size of a table will represent the number of respondents in the matched data.

Charting a Time Series With Multiple Data Sources

Once you have a project with two data files, you have the ability to chart a time series that shows data from both data files.

The following prerequisites must be met:

  • There must be a Date question in both data files with:
    • The same Variable Name
    • The same Question Name
    • The same Question Type (Date)
  • If you wish to filter the Time Series chart, there must be a variable with the same Name and Label in both data files. The mceclip0.png box must be checked.
  • If you wish to weight the Time Series chart, there must be a variable with the same Name and Label in both data files. The mceclip1.png box must be checked

With the above prerequisites met, you may create a Time Series chart with multiple data sources by following these steps:

  1. Click Visualization > Time Series > Time Series with Dynamic Window.
  2. From the object inspector, go to Inputs > DATA SOURCE, and select the type of data source you wish to use to create the Time Series Graph.  
    • If you wish to use an existing table go to Input table and select the desired table from the drop-down menu.
    • If you wish to use variables go to Variables and first select the Date/Time structured variable, followed by the Numeric variable. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the variables from the Data Sets tree into the menu itself. 
    • To input the data manually, select Paste or type table. A new dialog box window will open where you can paste or type in your data. Note that the table must meet the requirements as described above. 

Using Weights and Filters

When you have two data files with no relationship between them, Displayr expects the filter or weight variable to have identical names/labels and will allow users to choose a filter and it automatically works out which data set’s filter to use.

However, if you have a data file relationship, Displayr expects the weight/filter to only appear in one of the files. This is because if they appear in both, you end up with unresolvable logical problems.

If you wish to filter the table, and the relationship is Many-to-many, there must be a filter variable with the same Name and Label in both data files.

Next

How to Edit Data File Relationships

 

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