Importing images
You can import images into MAXQDA in various ways, for example,
- drag and drop files from the Windows Explorer or macOS Finder directly into the documents window,
- click on the plus icon in the documents window, or
- click on the Images icon on the Import tab.
For general information on importing and organizing files, see Import and Group your Data.
Working with images
When working with images, there are a few aspects to consider that are described in this section.
Saving image documents outside MAXQDA projects
By default, all image files smaller than 5 MB are saved in the project file upon import. Image files larger than 5 MB are not saved in the MAXQDA project itself, but rather in the folder for externally saved files, and only a reference to the externally saved data is created. You can customize the maximum file size as well as the location for externally saved files in MAXQDA's global preferences, which you can access via the preferences symbol in the lower left corner of MAXQDA's main window.
For detailed information, see External Files.
Re-linking a missing image file
If an externally stored image file is moved or renamed outside of MAXQDA, the link to it is broken. To re-link the file, right-click the document in the documents window, select Properties, and go to the Storage section. When the file cannot be found, MAXQDA displays "No image file found" and shows a Link new image file area; drag the new file there, or click the + button to browse for it.
Rotating and zooming into images
As soon as an image document is displayed in the Document Browser, several icons for viewing the image will appear in the toolbar. You can zoom in or out of the image, as well as rotate it clockwise (images imported from digital cameras and mobile phones should be automatically rotated correctly by MAXQDA if the correct information has been saved in the image).
Coding image segments
In image documents, borders can be drawn around the selected area with the mouse, which can be subsequently coded like text segments, meaning they can be dragged and dropped into a code. The "Near" function for image segments always returns no results, for example, in the Complex Coding Query and in the Code Relations Browser.
