This dialog allows you to define an external data source (i.e. a database) for a sample list. It is accessed by clicking ... next to external data in the sample list properties dialog when defining or editing a sample list.
The following options are available:
ODBC data source: Select the data source from which you want to populate the sample list. Click new to define a new system DSN (data source). Please refer to your Microsoft Windows documentation for details on creating DSNs.
Table/view: Select the database table or view from which you want to populate the sample list. Click sampling to filter the records that are included in the sample list. When you click this button, the sampling window opens.
Unique ID: Use this option to specify which field uniquely identifies each individual in the database (e.g. it could be a customer number). When you specify a field, it is moved to the list of selected fields (fields in list) at the bottom right of the dialog , and its 'special' status is indicated by color. Note: It is essential that you specify a unique ID field if you want to use dynamic fields, or update the list with new data after it has been created, you must specify a unique ID.
Phone field: Use this option to specify which field contains the telephone number of each individual in the data source. When you specify a field, it is moved to the list of selected fields (fields in list) at the bottom right of the dialog , and its 'special' status is indicated by color. Note: you must specify either a phone field, an email field, or both.
Email field: Use this option to specify which field contains the email address of each individual in the data source. When you specify a field, it is moved to the list of selected fields (fields in list) at the bottom right of the dialog , and its 'special' status is indicated by color. Note: you must specify either a phone field, an email field, or both.
Appointment: Use this option to specify which field contains appointment dates and times, if you want to set up appointments from fields in your database. If you are setting up appointments in this way, this field is mandatory. For further information, see creating appointments from a sample list.
Agent: Use this option to specify which field contains agents assigned to appointments, if you want to set up appointments from fields in your database. If you are setting up appointments in this way, the appointment field (see above) is mandatory.
Message: Use this option to specify which field contains appointment message texts, if you want to set up appointments from fields in your database. If you are setting up appointments in this way, the appointment field (see above) is mandatory.
Importance: Use this option to specify which field contains the appointment importance level, if you want to set up appointments from fields in your database. If you are setting up appointments in this way, the appointment field (see above) is mandatory.
Extra fields: Select any other fields you want to include in the sample list. To do so, ensure they are in the right-hand list (fields in list). To copy a field to this list, select it in the right-hand list, and click the single right-facing arrow. The four arrow controls have the following effect:
: Copy all fields from the left-hand list into the right-hand list.
: Copy the selected field from the left-hand list to the right-hand list.
: Remove the selected field from the right-hand list (it will re-appear in the left-hand list).
: Remove all fields from the right-hand list (they will re-appear in the left-hand list).
You can right-click a field in the right-hand list, and set the field as a dynamic field, an exportation field, or both (except for the external unique ID field).
Exportation fields that appear in the interview are updated automatically according to the data provided by the respondent (for example, he/he might modify his/her address or telephone number; the data in the data source would be updated accordingly).
Dynamic fields can be updated during fieldwork with the current contents of the data source (this allows the sample list to be updated with any data that has changed since the sample list was created). This is achieved by right-clicking the sample list in the lists window and clicking update list with current external data...