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You can set your preferences—for example, display or file location preferences—using NVivo's application options.
Application option settings are 'user specific'—your options may differ from those set by another user on the same computer.
Some application options apply whenever you work in NVivo—for example, your preferred user interface language. Other options do not affect existing projects, and apply only when you create a new project—for example, your preferred custom transcript fields (columns).
In this topic
Click the File tab, and then click Options.
The Application Options dialog box opens.
You can change the settings on any tab—refer to the topics below, for detailed information about the options on each tab.
Click OK.
The General tab allows you change your default NVivo user profile, and set a range of other options.
User
Name Displays the user name associated with your default NVivo user profile. Your default NVivo user profile is used to create your project user profile in standalone projects. Refer to Create, view or change user profiles for more information.
Initials Displays the initials associated with your default NVivo user profile. If you change the initials, it applies to any new projects you create. To change your initials in an existing project, refer to Create, view or change user profiles (Change the initials associated with my project user profile).
Prompt for user on launch Select this option to prompt users to provide their user name and initials every time they launch NVivo. This is useful for standalone projects, when more than one person accesses NVivo using the same computer and Windows user account. Refer to About teamwork in a standalone project for more information.
Performance
Optimize standalone projects for size This option displays the project size for which NVivo is currently optimized. This setting only applies when you are working with a standalone project. The best setting will depend on the size of your project and the specifications of your computer. You can select:
Small (Default)
Large Select this option if your project contains more than 500 sources
Display plain text for nodes with <0> or more sources Select this option to display large nodes in plain text. By default, nodes are displayed in rich text format. If large nodes are taking a long time to open in Detail View, select this option and set the number of sources.
References displayed in node reference view By default, all references are listed on the Reference tab in node Detail View and in the associated view of a framework matrix. To limit the number of references displayed per source, click Up to <> per source and then enter the number of references you want to show.
Update projects on network drives If you are working with a project stored on a network drive, the project file on the network is updated either when you save or when you close the project. You can select:
On save The network project is updated every time you save the project
On close (Default) The network project is only updated when you close your project. To avoid loss of data, make sure that you close your project before you turn off your computer.
Language
User interface The user interface language is the language used on the ribbon and dialogs within NVivo. NVivo 9.2 (or later) is available in English, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. A separate Japanese version of the software is also available. If you select a user interface language other than English, you should ensure that the language is installed on your computer—refer to Microsoft Windows online help for more information.
Text search language for new projects This option allows you to set the text search language for any new projects you create. If you want to change this setting in an existing project, refer to Set project properties. The text search language is used when you run Text Search or Word Frequency queries. You should select the text search language that matches the language of your source materials. If the language used in your sources is not available as a text search language, then you should select None. Refer to Set the text search language and stop words for more information.
Coding
Code whole words Select this option to code the whole word, when you select only part of a word. When this option is selected, if you accidentally select 'ick brown fox' instead of 'quick brown fox', the words 'quick brown fox' will be coded. By default, this option is selected.
Context/Spread/Proximity
Narrow Click this button to set the narrow reach settings for different types of source material—the default settings are:
Text—five words on either side of coded text in documents, PDFs, memos and externals
Media—0.05 seconds on either side the coded media in audio and video sources
Transcript—5 words on either side of coded text (within a cell) in an audio or video transcript
Image—5% around coded regions in pictures and PDF sources
Log—five words on either side of coded text (within a cell) in picture logs
Dataset—five words on either side of coded text (within a cell) in datasets
Broad Click this button to set the broad reach settings for different types of content—the default settings are:
Text—the paragraph surrounding coded text in documents, PDFs, memos and externals
Media—0.20 seconds on either side the coded media in audio and video sources
Transcript—the cell surrounding coded text in audio and video transcripts
Image—20% around coded regions in pictures and PDF sources
Log—the cell surrounding coded text in picture logs
Dataset—the cell surrounding coded text in datasets
Reports & Extracts
Add predefined reports to new projects Select this option to automatically add the predefined reports to any new projects you create. If you do not select this option, then new projects will contain no reports and you must create or import any reports that you require.
Add predefined extracts to new projects Select this option to automatically add the predefined extracts to any new projects you create. If you do not select this option, then new projects will contain no extracts and you must create or import any extracts that you require.
Help
You can choose which version of the NVivo Help topics you want to see, you can select:
Use online help when connected to the Internet (Default) Select this option to access to the online version of the Help, when you are connected to the Internet. When you are not connected to the Internet (or if you were not connected to the Internet when you launched NVivo), you will see the offline version of the Help that is installed on your computer.
Always use offline help Select this option to access the offline version of the Help that is installed on your computer.
Clear Recent Project List Click this button to clear the My Recent Projects list on the NVivo Welcome screen.
Privacy
Participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program By selecting this option, you can help to improve the features, quality, and performance of NVivo. Clear this check box, if you do not want to participate. For more information, refer to Participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program.
The Connections tab displays all the application connections that have been set up. The 'Standalone' connection (if present) is used to connect to standalone projects—you cannot remove this connection. All other connections in the list are server connections, which allow you to connect to server projects.
You can use the Add, Modify or Remove buttons to add, modify or remove server connections—refer to Set up server connections for more information.
Application Connections
Name Displays your name for the connection. When creating a new connection, you can enter any name that is meaningful to you—for example staff projects server.
Host Displays the name that identifies the NVivo Server on your network. When creating a new connection, you can enter:
A server name, for example “myserver'
A fully qualified domain name, for example 'myserver.abccompany.com'
An IP address
Connect As Displays the authentication method used when you connect to the server. When creating a new connection, you can select:
Current Windows User Use your current Windows user account to connect to the server.
Specified Windows User Use a specified user account to connect to the server (you must also enter the Account Name).
Account Name When connecting as a Specified Windows User, this column displays the user account name that will be used to connect to the server. You will be prompted for your password when you connect to the server to access a project.
Default Select this option, to make this connection the default. If you mostly work with server projects, you can set your server connection as the default connection, so that server projects are preselected when you open projects.
The Notifications tab allows you to set your preferences for system messages and software updates.
Messages
Enable project save reminders every ( ) minutes Select this option to get regular save reminders when you work in standalone projects. By default you are reminded to save your project every 15 minutes—you can increase or decrease the frequency of reminders by changing the value in the minutes box.
Enable deletion confirmation messages Select this option, if you want to be prompted to confirm, when you delete a project item in NVivo. By default, this option is selected.
Updates
Check for software updates NVivo can automatically check for software updates, which may include enhancements, or fixes for known issues. You can select:
Every 7 days (Default)
Never Select this option if you do not want NVivo to automatically check for software updates. You can still manually check for software updates—refer to Software updates for more information.
The Display tab allows you to set a range of display preferences, including your preferences for displaying coding stripes, viewing nodes and laying out models.
Detail View Defaults
Window This option controls whether Detail View windows are docked or undocked by default. You can select:
Docked (Default) Detail View windows are docked to the workspace.
Floating Detail View windows are free-floating.
Node display This option controls which node tab is visible when you open a node in Detail View. You can select:
Reference View (Default) This option displays the Reference View tab when you open a node, showing all the references coded at the node.
Summary View This option displays the Summary View tab when you open a node, showing a list of all the sources coded at the node.
Highlight coding This option controls whether or not coding is automatically highlighted when you open a source or node in Detail View. You can select:
None (Default) Coding in sources and nodes is not automatically highlighted when you open the item.
All nodes Coding in sources and nodes is automatically highlighted when you open the item.
Node user view This option controls whether a filter (by user) is applied when you open a node. You can select:
All Users (Default) Coding references created by all users are displayed when you open a node.
Current User Only coding references created by the current user are displayed when you open a node.
Word Frequency query display This option controls which tab is visible when you view the results of a Word Frequency Query. You can select:
Summary View (Default) This option displays the Summary tab, listing the most frequently occurring words and a count of how often they occur.
Tag Cloud View This option displays the Tag Cloud tab, showing, by default, 100 words alphabetically in varying font sizes, where frequently occurring words are in larger fonts.
Tree Map View This option displays the Tree Map tab, showing the results in a series of rectangles, where more frequently occurring words are in larger rectangles.
Cluster Analysis View This option displays the Cluster Analysis tab, showing, by default, a horizontal dendrogram, where words that co-occur are clustered together.
Text Search query preview display This option controls which tab is visible when you view the results of a Text Search Query. You can select:
Summary View (Default) This option displays the Summary tab, listing the sources in which the word or phrase occurs.
Reference View This option displays the Reference tab, showing the word or phrase in a narrow context.
Word Tree View This option displays the Word Tree tab, showing the results as a tree with branches representing the various contexts in which the word or phrase occurs.
See also links tab Select this option to automatically display the See Also Links tab, when you open a source or a node. By default, this option is not selected.
Annotations tab Select this option to automatically display the Annotations tab, when you open a source or a node. By default, this option is not selected.
Relationships tab Select this option to automatically display the Relationships tab, when you open a source or a node. By default, this option is not selected.
Automatic column sizing Select this option to automatically adjust the width of columns in List View to fit the contents of the column. By default, this option is selected. Do not select this option, if you prefer to manually set the width of columns in List View.
Media waveforms Select this option to automatically display the media waveform behind the timeline, when you open an audio or video source. The waveform provides a visual display of the sound patterns in a media file. By default, this option is selected.
Framework Matrix Associated View Defaults
Content This option controls the content that is displayed by default in the associated view of a framework matrix. You can select:
Row Coding (Default) Show content coded at the row node—the rows in a framework matrix should be case nodes (for example, nodes that represent the people you interviewed). When you click in a row, the associated view shows everything that has been coded to a particular case.
Cell Coding Show content coded at both the row (case) and column node—the columns in a framework matrix should be your theme nodes. When you click in a cell, the associated view shows everything coded to both the case and theme.
Summary Links Show content coded at the row that is linked to text in the summary. When you click in a cell, only content linked to text in the current cell is displayed. This can be useful, when you are reviewing a framework matrix and want to see the supporting source content.
Highlight This option controls the default highlighting of content in the associated view of a framework matrix. You can select:
None No highlighting.
Column Coding Highlight content that is coded at the column node—this option is useful when you are showing row coding in the associated view, and want to be able to identify any content that is also coded at the column node.
Summary Links Highlight content that is linked to the current matrix cell.
Summary Links from Position (Default) Highlight content that is linked to your current position (or selection) in a matrix cell.
Display This option controls the position of the associated view of a framework matrix. You can select:
Right (Default) The associated view is shown to the right of the matrix.
Bottom The associated view is shown below the matrix.
Hide The associated view is not shown.
Coding Stripes
Coding stripes display This option controls the way coding stripes are displayed when you open a source or node. You can select:
None (Default) Coding stripes are not automatically displayed when you open a source or node.
Nodes Most Coding Item Coding stripes for nodes that most frequently code the item (of all the nodes coding the item) are automatically displayed when you open a source or node.
Nodes Least Coding Item Coding stripes for the nodes that least frequently code the item (of all the nodes coding the item) are automatically displayed when you open a source or node.
Nodes Recently Coding Item Coding stripes for the nodes that most recently code the item (of all the nodes coding the item) are automatically displayed when you open a source or node.
Items Last Selected Coding stripes for the nodes that were last selected for viewing are automatically displayed when you open a source or node. This option can be useful when you want to check coding at the same nodes across multiple sources.
Coding Density Only The coding density bar is automatically displayed when you open a source or node.
Maximum number of stripes This option controls the number of coding stripes that are displayed when you choose Nodes Most Coding Item, Nodes Least Coding Item, Nodes Recently Coding Item or Items Last Selected. The default setting for this option is 7—you can select any value between 7 and 200.
Format
Text date format This option displays the date/time format which is used when you insert the current date and time into a source. You can select:
Local Format (Default) Select this option to use universal time (UTC) converted to your local time zone.
Universal Format Select this option to use UTC (coordinated universal time). UTC is the reference time zone from which all other time zones around the world are calculated—it is the successor of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Color Scheme
Default color scheme This option controls which colors used by default when you view coding stripes or create charts. You can select:
Automatic (Default) Select this option to use random system generated colors
Item colors Select this option to apply the colors that you have assigned to your sources, nodes, relationships, attribute values, or users. Items with no color are displayed in white.
The Labels tab allows you to view or change labels used within NVivo.
Defaults for new projects
These options apply only when you create new projects. If you want to change these options in an existing project, refer to Set project properties.
"Unassigned" attribute value label This option displays the label that will be used for the system-created 'Unassigned' attribute value in any new projects that you create. If you prefer to use another term (for example, 'Blank'), you can change the label—you must choose a term that is unique among attribute values.
"Not Applicable" attribute value label This option displays the label that will be used for the system-created 'Not Applicable' attribute value in any projects that you create. If you prefer to use another term (for example, 'Irrelevant'), you can change the label—you must choose a term that is unique among attribute values.
"Associated" relationship type label This option displays the label that will be used for the system-created 'Associated' relationship type in any new projects that you create. If you prefer to use another label (for example, 'Related'), you can change the label.
Other options on this tab
Boolean value labels This option controls the way that all boolean values in classification attributes and datasets are displayed. This setting applies to any project you open. You can select:
Yes/No (Default)
True/False
On/Off
0/1
The File Locations tab allows you to view or change the default storage locations, such as the default location of files you want to import. These settings apply to any project you open.
By default, all file locations are set to your My Documents folder.
Default location of projects This option displays the default storage location for standalone projects. Click Browse to define a new default location for standalone projects.
Default location of externals This option displays the default storage location of files (such as images, sound or video files) that are linked to externals. Click Browse to define a new default location for these files.
Default location to import This option displays the default storage location for files that you want to import. Click Browse to define a new default location for items that you import.
Default location to export This option displays the default storage location for exported project content—for example, exported sources, nodes or models. Click Browse to define a new default location for exported items.
The Paragraph Styles tab allows you to set the paragraph styles for any new project that you create. If you want to change the paragraph styles in existing projects, refer to Set project properties.
Available paragraph styles are listed on the left. The properties of a selected style are listed on the right (Name, Font, Size, Color, Bold, Italic, and Underline), and the preview area shows what the paragraph style will look like.
NVivo provides system-defined styles—Heading 1 to Heading 9, Normal, Title and Plain Text. You cannot remove these styles but you can modify their properties—for example, change the font size or color.
You can also create your own custom styles.
Click New Style to add a new custom style.
Click Remove to remove the selected paragraph style. You cannot remove system-defined paragraph style.
Reset Style Click this button to reset the selected paragraph style to its default setting. You cannot reset custom paragraph styles.
Reset System Styles Click this button to reset all system-defined paragraph styles to default settings for font, size, color, bold, italic and underline.
The Models tab allows you to set the model styles for any new project that you create and set the default layout and connector length. If you want to change the model styles in existing projects, refer to Set project properties.
Model Styles
Available model styles are listed on the left. The properties of a selected style are listed on the right (name, text style, line style and fill color). You can see how a model style will look in the Preview box.
NVivo provides a system-defined model style—the Default style. You cannot remove this style but you can modify its properties—for example, change the font size or fill color.
You can also create your own custom styles.
Click New Style to add a new custom style.
Click Remove to remove a selected model style. You cannot remove the Default style.
Reset Style Click this button to reset the Default style to the default setting for text style, line style and fill color.
Model Layout
Default model layout This option displays the layout that is used by default when you create a new model. You can select:
Circular Select this option to arrange models in a circular layout
Directed Select this option to arrange items in force-directed layout—this is the calculated 'best fit' for the physical space (all edges are of more or less equal length and there are as few crossing edges as possible). This layout is often used for three dimensional models.
Hierarchical (Default) Select this option to arrange items in a hierarchy (tree structure).
Orthogonal Select this option to arrange items at right-angles
Minimum connector length () units This option displays the default minimum length for model connectors. The default value is 20 units. You can select any value between 20 and 200.
The Audio/Video tab allows you to set options that apply to audio and video sources. .
Settings
These settings apply to any project you open.
Player skip interval () seconds This option displays the number of seconds the media player skips when you skip backwards or forwards while playing the media file. This option applies to any project you open. The default skip interval is 5 seconds. You can select any value between 1 and 99.
Skip back on play in transcribe mode Select this option if you want the media player to skip back when you play after pausing when you are in transcribe mode—the player skips back by the Player skip interval. This option applies to any project you open. By default, this option is not selected.
Defaults for new projects
These options apply only when you create new projects. If you want to change these options in an existing project, refer to Set project properties.
Embed media in project if file size less than () MB for standalone/server projects This option displays your media storage preferences for new standalone and server projects. Select this option if you want to automatically embed media files in your projects. By default, media files less than 20MB are embedded. The maximum sizes for embedded media files are:
40MB - standalone projects
100MB - server projects.
Refer to Store audio and video files for more information.
Custom Transcript Fields
Use this area of the dialog box to specify your custom transcript field (column) preferences for any new projects you create. By default, new projects contain only the Timespan and Content fields.
Click the Audio or Video tab, and then set your preferences for custom transcript fields in audio or video sources in new projects:
Click the New button, to add a custom transcript field.
Click the Remove button, to remove a selected custom transcript field.
Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to reorder the custom transcript fields—the order from top to bottom represents the order the fields are displayed from left to right.
The Datasets tab allows you to change the appearance of text in dataset. These settings apply to datasets in any project you open.
Cell Text
You can change the settings for Font, Size, Color, Bold, Italic, and Underline. The Preview area shows what the cell text will look like.
Reset Style Click this button to reset the dataset cell text style to its default settings.