What is the code manager

Who this article is for

This article is for ATLAS.ti Web and ATLAS.ti Desktop users who want to understand what the Code Manager does and how to use it to create, review, edit, organize, merge, comment on, and export codes during qualitative data analysis.

What is the Code Manager?

The Code Manager is the central place for managing codes in ATLAS.ti.

You can use it to:

• view all codes in a project
• create new codes
• edit code names
• change code colors
• write code comments or definitions
• review quotations linked to a code
• organize codes into groups, categories, folders, or subcodes
• merge overlapping codes
• delete codes
• export a codebook

In qualitative analysis, codes help you label important segments of data. The Code Manager helps you keep those codes organized and easier to review as your analysis develops.

How to use the code manager in ATLAS.ti Web

Step 1: Open the Code Manager

1. Open your ATLAS.ti Web project.
2. Click the codes icon in the left-hand menu.
3. Review the list of codes in your project.

Step 2: Create a new code

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Click the option to create a new code.
3. Enter the code name.
4. Confirm the new code.
5. Repeat this process for any additional codes.

Step 3: Review quotations linked to a code

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Click a code.
3. Click Details to open the sidebar.
4. Review the quotations associated with that code.
5. Open a quotation if you want to review it in context.

Use this to check whether the code is being applied consistently across your project.

Step 4: Rename a code

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Hover over the code you want to edit.
3. Click Details to open the sidebar.
4. Click the code name at the top of the sidebar.
5. Type the new code name.

Step 5: Change a code color

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Click the code you want to edit.
3. Click the color circle next to the code name.
4. Choose the desired color.

Use colors to visually distinguish code types, categories, themes, or analysis stages.

Step 6: Delete a code

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Tick the box to the left of each code you want to delete.
3. Click the three dots at the bottom of the screen.
4. Select Delete.
5. Confirm the deletion if prompted.

Step 7: Organize codes into groups

Code groups help you organize and filter codes. A code can belong to more than one group. 

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Hover over a code.
3. Click Details to open the sidebar.
4. Click Edit groups.
5. Select an existing group or create a new group.
6. To rename or delete groups, click Manage Groups.
7. Save your changes.

Step 8: Add multiple codes to a group

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Tick the boxes to the left of the codes you want to group.
3. Click the three dots at the bottom of the screen.
4. Select Add to group.
5. Choose the desired code group.

Step 9: Merge codes

Merge codes when two or more codes represent the same idea.

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Tick the boxes to the left of the codes you want to merge.
3. Click the three dots at the bottom of the screen.
4. Select Merge codes.
5. Enter the name of the new merged code.
6. Confirm the merge.

When you merge codes in ATLAS.ti Web, the audit trail is saved in the comment field of the merged code. 

Step 10: Write or edit a code comment

Code comments are useful for writing definitions, coding rules, inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria, or analytic notes.

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Hover over the code you want to edit.
3. Click Details to open the sidebar.
4. Click inside the comment space.
5. Write or edit the code comment.

Step 11: Export codes

You can export your codes as a codebook.

1. Go to the Code Manager.
2. Click the three dots in the top-right corner.
3. Select Download Codes as QDC or Download Codes as Excel.
4. Save the file to your computer.

Use QDC if you want to use the codebook in ATLAS.ti Desktop or another QDA software. Use Excel if you want a spreadsheet version of your code list and definitions. 

How to use the code manager in ATLAS.ti Desktop

ATLAS.ti Desktop includes ATLAS.ti Windows and ATLAS.ti Mac. In both versions, the Code Manager helps you create and modify codes, code data segments by drag and drop, set colors, retrieve coded data, organize codes in groups, merge and split codes, filter codes, review codes in networks, and create reports. 

Step 1: Open the Code Manager

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open your ATLAS.ti Windows project.
2. Open the Code Manager from the main interface.
3. Review the code list.

Step 2: Create a new code

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
2. Click New.
3. Select Code.
4. Enter the code name.
5. Confirm the new code.

Step 3: Apply a code using drag and drop

You can use the Code Manager for coding by dragging codes onto highlighted data segments. 

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open a document.
2. Highlight the data segment you want to code.
3. Open the Code Manager.
4. Drag a code from the Code Manager onto the highlighted segment.

Step 4: Review quotations linked to a code

A double-click on a code opens the linked quotations in the Quotation Reader. 

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
2. Double-click a code.
3. Review the linked quotations in the Quotation Reader.
4. Open a quotation to view it in context if needed.

Step 5: Rename a code

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
2. Select the code you want to rename.
3. Click Rename in the ribbon or use the context menu.
4. Enter the new code name.
5. Confirm the change.

Step 6: Add or edit a code comment

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
2. Select the code.
3. Right click and select Edit Comment.
4. Write or edit the code definition.
5. Save the comment.

Step 7: Change a code color

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
2. Select one or more codes.
3. Click Color.
4. Choose the desired color.

Step 8: Organize codes into groups

Code groups help you filter, organize, and compare related codes.

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
2. Select one or more codes.
3. Create a new code group or add the selected codes to an existing group.
4. Use the group filter area to view codes from selected groups.

Step 9: Organize codes into categories, subcodes, or folders

ATLAS.ti Desktop supports independent codes, category codes, subcodes, and folders. A category code is created when codes are moved underneath it, and the category retrieves quotations from its subcodes rather than being used to code quotations directly. 

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
   1. Drag and drop the code into an existing category, or
   2. Create or select a code that will become the category.
   3. Make sure the new category code is not linked to quotations.
2. Review the resulting hierarchy.
3. Use folders if you want to organize broader parts of the code system.

Step 10: Merge codes

Use merging when two or more codes represent the same concept.

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
2. Select the codes you want to merge.
3. Right click and select "Merge" or you can drag and drop the code
4. Choose the final code name.
5. Review the merged code and linked quotations.

Step 11: Open selected codes in a network

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
2. Select one or more codes.
3. Click Show in Network.
4. Review the selected codes and their links in the network.

Step 12: Create reports from codes

In ATLAS.ti Windows and Mac

1. Open the Code Manager.
2. Select Export
3. Open the report option.
4. Choose the report format.
5. Export or save the report.

Common issues and mistakes

• Creating too many similar codes
  • If several codes describe the same idea, merge them to keep your code list easier to manage.
• Forgetting to write code comments
  • Code comments help explain what each code means and when it should be applied. They are especially useful when creating a codebook or working in a team.
• Using code groups and categories for the same purpose
  • Code groups are useful for filtering and organizing codes. Categories and subcodes are used to create a hierarchical code system.
• Deleting codes too quickly
  • Deleting a code can remove an important part of your coding structure. Review the linked quotations before deleting a code.
• Not reviewing groundedness
  • Groundedness shows how many quotations are linked to a code. Use this information to identify codes that may be overused, underused, or ready for review.
• Not exporting the codebook
  • Export your codes when you need to share your codebook, document your analysis, or move code structures between projects or platforms.

When to contact support

Contact ATLAS.ti Support if:

• the Code Manager does not open
• codes are missing or not displaying as expected
• quotations do not appear when you select or double-click a code
• you cannot rename, delete, merge, or export codes
• code groups, categories, subcodes, or folders do not behave as expected
• code comments are not saving
• codebook export fails
• the Code Manager behaves differently from the documentation

When contacting support, include:

• your platform: Web, Windows, or Mac
• your ATLAS.ti version if using Desktop
• screenshots or error messages
• a short description of what you were trying to do
• whether the issue affects one code, several codes, or the whole project