Sequence card image data

This option allows you to create a unique value (sequence number) for the contents of a field and to produce a frequency listing of the field values. The sequence number is referred to as the code on the Sequence card image data dialog box.

The Sequence card image data dialog box is split into 4 sections:

• Input file
• Code/Frequency listing file
• Output file and code placement options
• Code options

Input file

• Browse lets you select the Input file to use. A dialog box is displayed to allow selection of the file. You can also specify the file name by entering the full path name into the Input file field.
• Key position specifies the card number and starting and ending position of the key field – default is card 1, position 1 to 6.
• Card # position specifies the starting and ending position of the card number field – default is position 79 and 80.
• Data to sequence location specifies the card number and starting and ending position of the data that is being sequenced. If the data being sequenced is "Favorite Color", you would specify where this data is located (for example, card 1, starting at position 7 and ending at position 19).

Code/Frequency listing file

Save as lets you select the Code/Frequency listing file name to use. A dialog box is displayed to allow selection of the file. You can also specify the file name by entering the full path name into the Code/Frequency listing file field.

Output file

Save as lets you select the output file name to use. A dialog box is displayed to allow selection of the file. You can also specify the file name by entering the full path name into the Output file field.

Merge options

There are 2 options for merging sequence codes into the Output file:

• Merge sequence codes to card number and position <start> to <end>
• Fail merge if any cards missing

Merge codes to:

Specify the card number and starting and ending position for the placement of the code in the Output file - default is card 1, position 74 to 78.

Fail merge if any cards missing

The code will not be merged into the output file if all respondents do not have the same number of cards. If Fail merge if any cards missing is NOT selected, you must select one of the following 2 options:

• Fill missing cards with card #
• Fill missing cards with card # and key

Fill missing cards with card #

When a card is missing for a respondent and you have NOT selected the option to Fail merge if any cards missing, selecting Fill missing cards with card # will write an output record for this respondent generating only the card # of the missing card in the field specified as card # on your Input file.

Fill missing cards with card # and key

When a card is missing for a respondent and you have NOT selected the option to Fail merge if any cards missing, selecting Fill missing cards with card # and key will write an output record for this respondent generating the card # and the key of the missing card in the fields specified as card # and key on your Input file.

Code options

There are 3 Code options that can be specified:

• Starting code (sequence number)
• Code width
• Zero fill codes

Starting code

Allows you to select the Starting code (sequence number) - default is 1.

Code width

Allows you to select the length of the code by specifying Code width - default is 5.

Zero fill codes

This option allows you to specify whether or not to zero fill the field selected for the Code if the sequence number assigned to that record does not fill the width specified in the Code width field.

Run

Selecting the Run button will check for any entry errors and process the input files creating a new output file. When processing is finished your entries will remain intact. This allows for changes and the process easily repeated.

Close

Selecting the Close button will clear all fields and return to the WCSortMerge dialog box.