If the results of a Coding Query don’t match your expectations, the first thing you should always do is reset the retrieval functions by clicking Reset Coding Query in the “MAXQDA standard” toolbar.
This function takes you back to the standard OR retrieval settings, removes any weight filters, and undoes all activations in the “Document System” and “Code System.” If you are still having problems after resetting and starting again, go to the menu entry Project > Preferences (Windows) or MAXQDA 12 > Preferences (Mac) drop-down menu and check the box next to Reset user settings. You will then be prompted to restart MAXQDA, which will have all of its original settings after the restart.
A selection of other quickly-remedied problems is listed in the following table:
Problem | Solution |
In Windows, DOC/X documents can't be imported. | A Microsoft Office Installation for Windows 2003 or later is needed for this function. Please save your file as a RTF file and import it again. |
A document can’t be imported. | Are you sure that it is not open in another program? Open it in your word processor, save it as an RTF file, close it, and try importing it into MAXQDA again. |
Your imported document isn't shown. | To view the document, you need to double-click on it in the “Document System.” It will then appear in the “Document Browser.” |
You want to import a document into a document group, but MAXQDA says that the document can’t be imported. | It could be that the document is still being used by another program (e.g. Word). Make sure to close the document in these other programs and then try again.
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Your documents aren’t shown in the “Document System.” | It could be that you’ve chosen to collapse certain document groups. Click on the + symbol in front of a document group to view the documents in it. |
No segments are shown in the “Retrieved Segments” window even though you’ve activated documents and codes. | Make sure you haven’t accidentally chosen an advanced retrieval function (e.g. Near or Followed by). Check to make sure you haven’t accidentally turned on a weight filter. Both of these things can be checked in the status bar at the bottom of the MAXQDA window. |
Some of your codes aren’t shown in the “Code System.” | It could be that you’ve collapsed certain codes, hiding their subcodes. Click on the + symbol to show subcodes for a code. |
You accidentally coded a segment incorrectly. | Click on the Undo button in the “Code” toolbar. A list of recent coding actions will appear, with the most recent action at the top. To undo your most recent coding, click on the first string in the list. Or: Right-click on the coding stripe and choose Delete. |
