Defining the Quota Values in Grid Mode

To define quota limits in Grid mode:

1. Type into the appropriate cells in the table, the required limits for those questions.
2. Click Save the save the changes.
3. Click Update to synchronize the quota values with the database.

For example, in the illustration below - , the user has specified that he/she wants a total of 25 males and 21 females in the "Under 18" age group. The Totals in blue italics (in this row, 46) are auto-populated sums from the individual quotas in the column or row. However these total fields are also editable, and you can specify a total for the row or column instead of for the individual cells. Manually specified totals are also displayed in black, as in the "68 or more" row.

Figure 1 - Combining subtotals and cell targets

To define a quota on the total:

1. Type a number into the appropriate Total field.

This value will be displayed in black to distinguish it from the auto-populated values in blue italics.

2. Save the changes.
3. Update the database (launch the survey).

You can use a combination of setting totals on rows or columns and defining specific cells, as in the example above. Here the quota limit on the age group "68 or more" is set to 14 regardless of gender. Note that actual counts for totals will only be displayed for totals and subtotals that have be given a specific target (black number). Actual counts will not be displayed for calculated totals and subtotals (blue numbers).

The calculated totals will only take quota cells into account, not subtotals. The total (lower right corner) in the table above is therefore 236 as the 14 specified for the "68 or more" age group are not included when the total is calculated. Note that only the black values input by the user are quota restrictions; the blue, calculated numbers for totals and subtotals are for information, they are not restrictions.

In the example below, where no specific limits are defined for respondents in the age group "68 or more", the survey may well result in more than 236 respondents. This is because any respondent in the "68 or more" age group will be allowed to complete the survey, and these will be in addition to the specified limits.

Figure 2 - Quota definition with holes

You can specify a total number for a column, a row or the entire table, and allow the system to distribute this total evenly across the applicable cells for you. To do this:

1. Enter the appropriate total number in the Total cell.
2. Right-click in the Total cell and select Distribute - .

In this case, a total of 250 has been specified for the entire table, then distributed. This has resulted in quotas of 25 for each cell. You can now go in and make further adjustments to individual rows, columns or cells if you wish.

Figure 3 - Distributing Quotas

Important
If you manually change the blue "Total" rows or columns for a single question, an "Any" row may automatically be added to the table. This row will not be visible in the Grid mode, but can be seen in the List mode. The row will cause a problem in the results if a "qt" or "qc" count is performed, because the respondent will always qualify for one of the answer choices AND the Any option.

Removing the Totals from Grid Mode

Remove the totals from the quota table as follows:

1. Right-click the question under the quota and select Properties - .

Opening Properties for the question inside the quota

The Properties page for the question opens towards the right side of the window - .

Figure 4 - The Properties page for the question inside the quota

1. In the Properties page, deselect Include Totals if you do not want the totals to be displayed in the quota table.

Note: This action will delete from the database any totals that have been specified for the table (black values that have been input into the Totals row by the user). If at a later date these total values are required, you must re-select the Include Totals box and then input the appropriate values again manually.

2. Save the changes.

A Confirmation box is displayed, asking you to confirm the deletion.

3. Click OK to confirm, Cancel to cancel the operation.

Hiding Unwanted Answer Alternatives

If some answer alternatives are not to be part of the quota definition, you can hide or mask them from the quota grid. This procedure can also be used to reduce the number of cells in the quota grid below the maximum allowed (go to Grid Mode for more information).

To select the answer alternatives you want to exclude from the quota table:

1. Right-click the question under the quota and select Properties.

The Properties page for the question opens towards the right side of the window.

2. Click the Exclude Codes button.

The Exclude Codes window opens - .



Figure 5 - Excluding codes/answers from the quota table

3. In the Selected Codes column, check the boxes beside those codes that you wish to exclude.
4. Click the >> button to move the selected codes to the Excluded column.
5. Click OK.
6. Save the changes.
7. Click Update to apply the changes to the database.

The excluded codes are hidden from the list in the table. To return them to the table, go to the Exclude Codes window, select them in the Excluded column and click the << button. Then click OK, Save and Update.