The OSU CHRR CAPI software supports a rapid transition from the data collection to a fully documented data file. An important objective of the system is to provide the data-user with high quality, clearly documented data. The OSU CHRR CAPI emphasis is not only on automating the process of data collection but also on improving the usable end-product in a cost-effective fashion that integrates all tasks leading to data file creation. This section details the transition from the field interview to the central data file and its preparation for data dissemination.

Post-processing is a function that takes raw data from case interviews and organizes it into useable, user-defined output files.

When the data come into the central office the data file is run through a post-processing system that first decompresses it and then converts it into an ASCII format file. The post-processor program uses the Survey program records as a blueprint to interpret the incoming data file. It also creates log files from the incoming data to be printed for quality control. This program also tabulates summary measures of interview quality (refusals, don't knows, number of questions asked, interview length) and any other specialized diagnostics. These real-time diagnostics can help track interviewer performance and help guide timely feedback to the field. The Manager program generates SPSS control statements, including variable and value labels, that read the data file.

To install post-processing, you must determine whether you are: 1. installing it for the first time or 2. re-installing it again as an upgrade or just a second time.

1. To install it for the first time, make sure the CHRR CAPI CD-ROM is inserted in your CD-ROM reader. Open the drive of the CD-ROM reader and open the CHRR_Software directory, if applicable. Continue to open folders until you find the Post_processing directory. In the Post_processing directory, you will find Setup.exe. Double-click on it.
2. If you are installing an upgrade of the software you will use a file with a name similar to Post_processingN_nnx.exe. Find it and double-click on it. It is a self-extracting file that will by default unzip into the directory C:\Windows\Temp. You may specify another temporary directory. After the self-extracting file unzips into the temporary directory, find the file entitled Setup.exe and double click on it.

When you click on Setup.exe the standard Windows setup shield will appear and lead you through the installation steps. The default installation directory is C:\Post-processing, but you may change the path by pressing the Change Folder button.

To accept the folder and begin installation, press the PC-image button, 'install all files for CHRR Post-Processing...'

Installation may be aborted at this time by pressing the Exit Setup button and return to the Windows desktop.

Installation will create the necessary files in the [drive:\directory] path specified in the Folder field.

A sample post-processing folder (directory) will look like the one shown in the figure "Installation Directory." The folder contains the files necessary to run the Post-processing program. The files important to the user are:

• Post_Processing.exe,
• Instrument_data.ini,
• Set_data.ini,
• PostProcessing_xx.doc, and
• Updates.txt.

A brief explanation of the files important to the user is outlined below.

To begin post-processing double click on the Post-processing.exe file or use a shortcut to it.

When post-processing begins the Main Menu window will appear from which the user must make a number of selections. The minimal selection a user may make is to select one of the Post-Processing Sets from the drop-down () menu.

In order to select a set, it must be available from the drop-down menu. If there are none available, a supervisor or design team may wish to define and set up standard output formats. The minimal number of 'standard' sets that must be available is one.

To define a new Post-Processing Set, see "Defining a New Set."

To create a new Post-Processing Set from an already defined one, see "Copying to a New Set."

To select a Post-Processing Set, use the drop-down () menu and click on an existing template set. The name of the set selected will appear in the box and the default set definitions will be loaded from the Set_data.ini file. To verify if the default definitions are suitable for a selected set, click on the other tabs on the Main Menu: Reports, Advanced, Instruments.

To obtain help, click on Help.

Set_data.ini

The Set_data.ini file defines a series of default formats, called 'sets.' The sets defined are listed in the Post-Processing Sets drop-down menu on the post processing main menu screen. (See figure above.) A set is an aggregate of output files that are associated with one or more instruments. When a set is selected and post-processing is run the associated output files are created.

The structure of the Set_data.ini file is:

[METHOD SETS] a list of all defined sets. Each template set is specified by name and associated to a keyword SET1=, SET2=, SET3=…

[INDIVIDUAL SET] a definition for each set listed in METHOD SETS. The definition of an individual set associates which instruments are to be used and then simply lists predefined parameters, each one representing an output report produced during data post-processing. If a parameter is selected for production, it is equated to '1'. If its production is suppressed, it is equated to '0'.

The parameters that comprise the set's definition are:

INSTRUMENTS COMPRESSION TEXTLOG RAWDATA SECTION TIMING

SIZEINFO MAXANSWER SOUNDTEST CLEAN CUMULATIVE DUPLICATES

Each of these parameters can be set from the Post-processing main menu.

New template sets may be designed by the supervisor and made available to the user. See, "Defining a New Set." This file is automatically updated each time a new output template is created or defined. An existing template set may be 'copied', altered, and saved as a new template set. See "Copying to a New Set."

A supervisor or administrator may create new Post-Processing Set definitions and make them available in the drop-down menu. A password is required. Defining a new set allows the administrator the options of changing report field widths for each instrument being post-processed. (Begin = 0 and End = 0 means suppress the field.) It also allows the supervisor to define Options for the set. These options include adding or removing an instrument from the set, specifying the trip flags, starting question, output file tag, and the use of long- or short-name format for the file name. These options are not available when a new definition is created by 'copying'. (See, "Copying to a New Set.")

To create a new definition, select the Advanced tab and press the Modify Fields button. The password dialogue box will appear. Use 'Blue Bananas' without the quotes and press OK.

This opens the Modify Instrument Fields window in which the user can refine the field display of the post-processing output files.

The Answer, Log, Timing, and Section tabs correspond to the reports available from the Reports tab on the main menu. When one of the tabs is pressed the layout of the report file is displayed. (Answer tab = Raw ASCII, Log tab = Text Log File, Timing tab = Question Timing, and Section tab = Section Timing.) To change the widths, use the scroll arrows or highlight a field and type in the value. The actual parameters created or changed are listed in the Instrument_data.ini file.

The Options tab provides access to Trip Flags, Start Question, Output File Tab, and Cumulative Format. These parameters are listed in the Instrument_data.ini file.

Use the Clear button to clear all values under all the tabs. This also clears any instrument selected. You may begin here to create an instrument 'from scratch.'

When an instrument is selected and a field width or any other field is modified the Apply button will activate (turn blue) and if pressed, the process of naming a new instrument will be started.

Copying to a New Set

The user may create a new set at any time by selecting a template set, altering it, and giving it a new name. However, the limitation is that this new set will use the report formats established for the original Post-Processing Set specified. These report formats are specified as parameters in Instrument_Data.ini.

Most all other fields may be altered, including Source, Destination and Instrument (Survey) directories.

When a field in a pre-existing post-processing set is changed, the resulting composition is considered a new template set. When this is the case, the APPLY button appears activated (turns blue).

When APPLY is pressed the process of naming and saving a new template is started. Once saved the new options should be available from the drop-down () menu Post-Processing Sets.

The Instrument_data.ini file defines the data input files to post-process. A user with a password edits this file in the interactive interface. See the "Advanced Tab". It may be altered 'on-the-fly' by using the "Copying to a New Set" method.

Each instrument is listed by keyword along with the instrument's name.

Default paths (Source, Destination, and Survey) that were defined during post-processing setup under the Instruments tab (Source, Destination, Instrument) are specified for each instrument

Individual instruments are then defined in terms general-flag parameters (Options tab) and output file types XXX. whose formats are specified by field (fieldXXXX=) and field size (n,n).

The Options tab provides access to Trip Flags, Start Question, Output File Tab, and Cumulative Format. (ADVANCED/Modify Instrument fields.)

The Answer, Log, Timing, and Section tabs all define report types and the column names and width of their print fields. (To change the widths, use the scroll arrows or highlight a field and type in the value. ADVANCED/ Modify Instrument fields.)