The WebDesigner is a feature of Web CAPI SYSTEM, a suite of software programs designed and written by the Center for Human Resource Research (CHRR). It is available over the Internet using client/server architecture. This new on-line feature, the WebDesigner, allows users (clients) to connect to the central database (server) in order to design, author, and test survey questionnaires on-line. The Web CAPI System also features the WebTranslator which allows users to translate survey questionnaires into multiple lanugauges on-line from remote locations.
The following topics make up this document, Getting Started with the WebDesigner. You may skip some of the topics if they do not pertain to your PC or your situation. For example, the Project Design link takes you to a new window in which the environmental variables such as project architecture, hardware, software, and browser requirements are explained. If you are already familiar with the environmental variables of your PC, you may wish to skip the first topic.
Project Design also provides download links to the J2SE™ Runtime Environment software that you will need to run the WebDesigner, in particular, a link to download the software if your PC is not running a Windows XP Operating System. If you already have J2SE™ Runtime Environment 5.0 or higher installed on your PC, you may wish to skip the second topic as well.
To begin the WebDesigner, you must click on WebDesigner as shown in the image below. If you have never clicked on WebDesigner before, a few additional steps will take place: a JAR file, (or Java ARchive) will be downloaded. The JAR file bundles many Java files and directories into one file for easy distribution and permits the WebDesigner program to function properly.
When you click on WebDesigner for the first time, you will see some pop-up windows similar to the following two images: the
The JAR file display for the WebDesigner
Every time the JAR file is updated it will automatically be downloaded again.
Once the JAR file is downloaded, an image entitled "Downloading Application." will open automatically and decompress the files in the JAR and begin the setup for the WebDesigner software.
Do not click on the Cancel button in the above image even if the blue progress bar appears to be finished. Wait until the image disappears. Clicking on the Cancel button will nullify the download.
Once the file setup for the WebDesigner is complete and the above image disappears, the following login window will appear from which you can log in to the WebDesigner. When you or your organization purchases the rights to use the WebCAPI software, you should receive your Username and Password to enter into the login fields.
After successfully logging in, the software will begin loading data from the server to your PC, the client, as shown below.
When the data have loaded, a WebDesigner screen similar to the following will appear.
The WebDesigner allows users (clients) to connect to the central database (server) in order to design, author, and test survey questionnaires on-line. You will need to click on the + signs in the left panel to make your screen look like the image below.
The WebDesigner screen is divided into panels: the left panel is a "tree" structure in which you can locate Cohorts (groups or rounds of instruments), Instruments (surveys or questionnaires), the Sections (questions, lists, rosters, etc.) of the various surveys. The right panel is divided into three frames, in which contain the Question Name and Text (upper left); the special attributes of the question's type (upper right) and the "conditional branches" coresponding to the question's response-logic.
You are now ready to begin using the WebDesigner. For detailed help on how to begin using the WebDesigner, click here or use the Help link on the main page.
Center for Human Resource Research
921 Chatham Lane, Suite 100
Columbus, OH 43221-2418
Phone 614-442-7300
Email mailto:usersvc@chrr.osu.edu
Technical issues
Alla Koneva
Phone 614-442-7345
koneva@chrr.osu.edu
Problems/Comments about this page: contact WebMaster
The following terms will be used throughout the training session. If you are not familiar with these terms now, please take the time to become familiar with them as soon as possible.
CAPI Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing.
CAPI Designer — Former name of the survey application used by interviewers and respondents. Created by the Center for Human Resource Research (CHRR). See, WebDesigner.
CAPI Translator — Former name of a feature of the CAPI Designer which allows translators to translate question text created with the CAPI Designer. See, WebTranslator.
CHRR (Center for Human Resource Research) — A division of the Social Sciences Department at OSU (The Ohio State University) responsible for research in human capital.
Cohort — A group of Rounds and Instruments — also a Cohort study, a form of longitudinal study used in social science.
Instrument — A survey or questionnaire.
Interviewer — The person conducting the survey.
Picks (or picklists) — A list from which an interviewer or respondent can choose a 'category' or response to each question, such as "yes" or "no". ("Select one" question type.) In some cases the interviewer or respondent can choose mulitple responses from the list. ("Select all that apply" question types.)
Question or (qtxt) — The questions that display in the survey for the interviewer to read.
Round — A group of instruments in a longitudinal survey. We may create a new instrument modify it slightly these instruments are included under the same round node) (Marge, I do not get the jist of this explanation for Round!)
Roster — A table of information. A roster is a set of data elements (cells) that are organized, defined and stored as horizontal (rows) and vertical (columns). Each row is a separate entity such as a person in a household, and each column is an attribute of the entity, such as a name, gender, age, etc. A roster has a specified number of columns or fields, but can have any number of records or rows.
Respondent — The person selected to answer the questions in a survey.
Section — a group of questions in a survey with a similar theme. For example, household questions, education questions, employment questions, etc.
Symbol — An agent used to insert variable information into a question's text, a variable. The syntax for a symbol is: {SymbolName}. Note the use of curly braces ( {...} ). For example, in this question,
{ChildsName} is a symbol and it is used to insert the name(s) of each child into the question. Notice the apostrophe 's' ('s) at the end of the symbol. In English, this is how the possessive (genitive) form is rendered. Wherever you see curly brackets with text inside, you should not translate it. Just copy the curly brackets and the text within into your translation. You may have to render the genitive form in the translation differently. For example, the above question in French might be rendered as:
WebDesigner
— The name of the survey application used by interviewers and respondents, since its migration to a Web application. Created by the Center for Human Resource Research (CHRR).WebTranslator
— The name of a feature of the WebDesigner which allows translators to translate question text from a remote location outside of the CHRR network. Created by the Center for Human Resource Research (CHRR).
1) Nothing happened when I clicked on the WebDesigner Link or I got the error message below.
Diagnosis: You may not have Java Runtime Environment 5 or higher.
Solution(s):
Internet Explorer
This should not be a problem, it will open automatically and install itself.
Firebird
Other Operating Systems
Click on http://java.com/en/download/ to download the latest JRE.
2) I got a "Connection Refused" message.
Diagnosis: The servers at CHRR are down.
Solution: Please contact us immediately or email your immediate supervisor.
We will contact you when our servers are up and running again.