Data Model > Available DSCs > Quantum DSC > Writing to a Quantum file > Card, column, and punch definitions
 
Card, column, and punch definitions
The card, column, and punch layout used by Quantum DSC is defined in the questionnaire definition. You can use the UNICOM Intelligence Data Model accessory, Metadata Model to Quantum, to set up the card, column, and punch information in the questionnaire definition.
Note Setting the DataFormat custom property is not supported in Metadata Model to Quantum. To set DataFormat, use Metadata Model Explorer or a script.
The details of the layout are held in the questionnaire definition as custom properties in the CardCol user context on the Document, VariableInstance, and ElementInstance objects. From UNICOM Intelligence Data Model 2.5, the custom properties are read from the DataSourceProperties collections on these objects rather than the Properties collections as previously. This makes it easier to use the same card and column definitions across multiple versions of the questionnaire definition when variables and categories are added and deleted in different versions. And because the DataSourceProperties collections inherit from the Properties collections, Quantum DSC can "see" card and column definitions written to the Properties collections by older tools.
However, note that DataSourceProperties are specific to a particular DataSource object within the MDM document, and they are only visible when the same DataSource object is set as the current DataSource in the MDM document. For further information, see Working with card and column definitions.
See also
Document definitions
Variable Instance definitions
Element Instance definitions
Writing to a Quantum file