Reducing the response texts
To reduce the size of specifications, Quantum allows you to truncate the response text specification to the least number of characters that will uniquely identify the response in question. qdiaxes uses this feature in generated specifications but allows you to define the minimum number of characters.
To show how this works, consider the following question:
Q1 Which of these statements best describes your opinion of the product?
1. I liked the product very much
2. I thought the product was satisfactory
3. I have no real feelings about the product
4. The product was not really to my taste
5. Nothing at all about the product pleases me |
If the –t option was set to a number greater than the longest response text, say 50, then the conditions generated would read:
c=Q1 & $I liked the product very much$
c=Q1 & $I thought the product was satisfactory$
c=Q1 & $I have no real feelings about the product$
c=Q1 & $The product was not really to my taste$
c=Q1 & $Nothing at all about the product pleases me$
If, however, the text was truncated to the minimum number of unique characters, in this case 3, then the conditions would read:
c=Q1 & $I l\$
c=Q1 & $I t\$
c=Q1 & $I h\$
c=Q1 & $The\$
c=Q1 & $Not\$
Note The \ character informs Quantum to ignore the remaining characters in the string.
But, by applying the default truncation length of 12, they would then read:
c=Q1 & $I liked the \$
c=Q1 & $I thought th\$
c=Q1 & $I have no re\$
c=Q1 & $The product \$
c=Q1 & $Nothing at a\$
You might prefer the texts to be shorter or longer. Either way, the –t option on the command line can accommodate your preference.
Note Note that response texts are never reduced below a minimum threshold; that is, either the limit set by the –t option, or a default of 12.
See also