f4 Online Manual
In analysis mode, additional tabs open at the top of the screen and in the left-hand column the transcription functions are replaced by space for the code system.
To write a memo, select the desired text passage and click the memo button directly next to the mouse position. Alternatively: Ctrl/Cmd+M. A field will open under the selected text passage in which you can write your interpretations, paraphrases or comments. The assigned text passage is now highlighted in gray.
The memo can be shown or hidden using the memo symbol on the right-hand side. If you want to hide all memos, click on the memo symbol in the toolbar (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+M). You can delete a memo by clicking on the gray underline and then on the trash can next to the memo entry. Memos can later be coded and searched in the same way as other text content.
If you would like to record something about the entire text or a code, the yellow comment field below the text is the right place for this, e.g. for information, summaries/conclusions or interpretations. Each text and code has its own comment area, which opens automatically as soon as you call up the text or code. You can enlarge or reduce the area. Comments created in f4transcript are taken into account and entered during import.
A comment on a text or code can always be opened via the speech bubble that is displayed as soon as you hover the mouse over the corresponding element in the list of texts or list of codes.
Codes are a structuring aid for texts and memos. The code system is organized hierarchically. The number after the code indicates the number of assigned text passages.
You can create a main code by clicking on the plus in the code bar (Ctrl/Cmd+N). Create a subcode by clicking on the plus of the main code (mouseover).
Codes can have one of 24 easily distinguishable colors. You can change the color by clicking on the color bar in front of the code.
When creating a code, you can give it a name and create a code definition or thematic summary in the yellow comment field below the code. Each code has its own comment. This is opened automatically when you call up a code.
You can move codes using drag & drop. To merge codes (combine two codes), drag one code onto another – and exactly onto the word Fusion that appears. Code memos as well as code names and coded text passages are then merged.
You can code a text passage by marking it and then clicking on the appropriate code. Coded text passages are underlined with the code color, even multiple and multicolored. Clicking on the code underline opens an info field which shows which code has been assigned at this point in the text. Clicking on the recycle bin in the info field deletes the respective coding. Click on the name of the assigned code in the info field to mark the text passage. Now you can change the scope of the coding by moving the circular handles for the start or end point. Recoding is carried out with an existing marking by clicking on the new code in the code list.
To get a list of all coded text passages of a code, double-click on the desired code in the code list. The view then switches from the Text tab to the Selection tab and displays all coded text passages together with the source citation. Clicking on the source of a text passage opens a window with the quote in its original context.
In the Selection tab, you can filter specific text passages from the material. Click on the texts and codes that interest you. The selected codes and texts are displayed in the selection area. The selected elements can be removed again using the X symbol behind the texts or codes or the Clear selection button.
All matching text passages are listed under the field of selected texts and codes. You can read, summarize, export, recode or delete listed text passages (see “Code system” above). The “Code text passages” button can be used to assign all listed text passages together to a new code.
Three sub-tabs are available for selection. Selection A and B can each be used for different selections. The Comparison A/B tab shows both selections side by side at the same time. This allows you to read how the statements of two interviews or groups differ in relation to the same topic. Or you can display the statements on two topics side by side.
Note: As in all views, the comment field in the lower area is also available in the selection. All the comments that match your selection are listed here in different tabs. You can then record your findings, summaries or ideas for the appropriate code or text.
As soon as you have selected more than one code in the selection, three logical links are available to you:
In this tab you can combine individual texts into groups and write a joint comment on this group. This makes it easy to compare, for example, the statements of the “management” with those of the “middle management” group in the selection.
Click on the plus in the left-hand column to create a new group.
In the Group tab, you can add or remove texts from the groups created in this way. The comment for each text in the group is also displayed here. This will help you to characterize and describe the group in the group comment.
The Summary view allows you to list elements of a text or code and thus create a summary, bundling or interpretation in the comment field displayed below. Different representations are possible depending on the selection:
If you select a text, you can view all the coded passages in it. This will give you an overview of the passages you have marked in the order in which they occur and show you the thematic progression. Alternatively, you can display all memos of the text, e.g. to get an overview of all interpretations or paraphrases.
When viewing codes, there is a difference between main codes and subcodes. If a subcode is selected, all memos or all text passages can be displayed. This will help you when creating a summary or bundling motifs/concepts in the code comment. If a main code is selected, all subcode comments can be displayed. This allows you to systematically bundle the previously created summaries of the subcodes at the main level.
The Distribution view shows you the absolute frequency of coded text passages per text. The texts are listed in the rows, codes in the columns. The appropriate text and code name is automatically displayed in the gray info field as soon as you move the mouse over one of the numbers. The selection of the distribution matrix can be restricted by clicking on texts or codes. This allows you to reduce the display to specific codes and texts.
To check the text passages behind the numbers, simply click on a cell to display a list of all matching, coded text passages in the lower window. Double-click on a cell to switch to the Selection tab and display the selection there.
You can export the frequency list (e.g. for SPSS or Excel) and the citation list (profile matrix) as a CSV file by clicking on the export icon (4th icon from the left) and selecting Distribution as table ….
The Search tab allows you to quickly search through the material for specific terms. You can enter several search terms separated by a semicolon. By clicking on selected texts, codes or memos, the search can be restricted to these elements in a similar way to the Selection view.
You can now read the displayed references and code them manually. Alternatively, all search results can be automatically generated at once with the button Code search result to an (automatically) newly created code.
By expanding the options, you can set search parameters for the scope of the listed references, the word stem and the spelling.
