Developer Documentation Library > Data Model > UNICOM Intelligence Data Model accessories > Metadata Model to Quantum > Defining card, column, and punch code specifications > Using the Data Map
 
Using the Data Map
You can use the data map feature to export the list of variables and any existing card, column, and punch code specifications to a .csv file, which you can open in Microsoft Excel. You can then use the features of Excel to amend the definitions. When you have finished, you can import the definitions back into Metadata Model to Quantum and save them in the questionnaire definition (.mdd) file. However, this should be done with caution and it is advisable to make a backup copy of the questionnaire definition (.mdd) file.
Setting up the data map
1 From the Metadata Model to Quantum menus, choose File > Export Data Map.
2 In the Save Data Map As dialog, enter the name and location of the .csv file, and then click OK.
3 When you are asked whether you would like to open the file in Microsoft Excel, select Yes.
4 Use the Excel features to define the card, column, and punch specifications.
Be careful to only change the card, column, and punch specifications and not the variable names or category texts.
5 Save the file.
Importing the Data Map
1 Open the questionnaire definition (.mdd) file in Metadata Model to Quantum.
2 From the Metadata Model to Quantum menus, choose File Import Data Map.
3 In the Open Data Map dialog, browse to the folder in which you saved the .csv file and select it, and then click OK.
4 If desired, save the questionnaire definition (.mdd) file.
If a variable in the data map is defined as being of one type, but the corresponding variable in the currently open document has a different data type, Metadata Model to Quantum reports the error at the end of the import attempt. For example, if the age variable is defined as numeric (long) in the .mdd file, and as categoric in the import data map, the import attempt continues until the whole of the import file has been read, after which the difference in data types is reported as an error.
Notes
Starting with UNICOM Intelligence 6 Patch 1, the Data Map includes columns for both CardCol and Value (Analysis). For more information, see Allocating card, column, and punch Codes manually.
Imported data maps, that are not encoded as Unicode. This might lead to mismatches in question or response names, resulting in missing cardcol allocations.
See also
Defining card, column, and punch code specifications