QualCoder 3.5

[ccbogel]

Early release of 3.5

This an early release of 3.5 to have all current updates and fixes in place, as there is potentially a major change coming in the next version, with introduction of artificial intelligence and GPT4 identification of coded text. (Still in development thanks to Kai Droge).

A binary (double-click to run) for Windows is available at the end of the release page for:
QualCoder-3.5.exe md5 checksum: 3faa37a813bf3944b2409c424077ee19

On first use of the exe, Windows will ask you to allow to run QualCoder. This is because it is from an unknown publisher. It costs a lot of money to get a trusted publisher certificate - so that will not be possible for the foreseeable future.

A binary (double click to run) is available for Ubuntu 22.04. The md5 checksum is:

For install from source code, download the zip file below and use the instructions on the main GitHub QualCoder page, or the wiki to install on your operating system.

Report codes

Removed [VIEW] in the header of all the code segments in results. It has been replaced with character positions for coded text segments. e.g. [150-188]

Added context menu option - Change code to another code.

Replaced cogs button with Play button triangle. Repositioned and made larger button. Replace word 'search' with 'Run report'.

NEW Report - Code text exact matches

Added a new report that reports on exacted text matches in each file, where multi0le codes have been applied to the exact same text. This report is perhaps particularly useful for those people who use codes as variables to perform analyses.

Code text

Export html now includes tooltips when hovering over coded sections. Some character set display issues for some characters, e.g. Euro symbol.
Export text is a new option. this exports a text file with coded segment marked with text inn parentheses like this:
Regular text {{code name{{the tagged text portion}}code name}} regular text.

Stating character position: click in the displayed text and press ! to show the numeric position in the text. Press $ to shift all coded segments after the clicked position by up to to +/- 500 characters.

Charts - Word cloud

The word cloud has been changed with 'home grown' code. That is, I made my own word cloud code in python. This was mainly to prevent errors with packaging the PyPi Wordcloud into pyinstaller.

Error fixes

• Zero division error in compare coders. Occurs under a specific circumstance - a code has been created but never assigned to data. Fixed.

• Creating a Case Attribute from the Cases screen. An error occurs. A work around is to create the Attribute from the Manage Attributes screen. Fixed.

• Wordcloud function does not use coded text within selected category. Fixed.

---

This discussion was created from the release QualCoder 3.5.

[lkrs200]

Thank you for coding this alternative to paid programs!

I have a problem importing html files, it doesnt work at all. maybe i'm doing sth wrong idk...
When importing file in the manage tab it says:

Traceback:
File "qualcommander\manage_files.py", line 1356, in import_files
File "qualcoder\manage_files.py", line 1591, in load_file_text
File "encodings\cp1252.py", line 23, in decode

UnicodeDecodeError: 'charmap' codec can't decode byte 0x9d in position 707: character maps to

[ccbogel]

Hi. Thanks for reporting that error. That means that some characters in the html cannot be read when the file is opened and it is crashing instead of working around the problem.
I have hopefully fixed the latest 3.6 code to deal with this.
If you are using QC 3.5 I would suggest Copy the html file (open it in a web browser and select all) and Paste into notepad first, and save that notepad file. Then import the notepad file. Hope this helps.
If it still does not work - you could then try the same approach but instead of copy and paste into Notepad - you could try copy and paste into Word. But I think Notepad would be the better first step to try.

[Frangbg65]

Hi, I am trying to instal QualCoder on a M2 Mac, I am not particularly confident with using the terminal, I have followed all the steps indicated in the instructions, but when I try to run it, the program doesn't open, I always get this: /Users/franciscoferrer/anaconda3/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pydub/utils.py:170: RuntimeWarning: Couldn't find ffmpeg or avconv - defaulting to ffmpeg, but may not work
warn("Couldn't find ffmpeg or avconv - defaulting to ffmpeg, but may not work", RuntimeWarning)
qt.qpa.plugin: Could not find the Qt platform plugin "cocoa" in ""
This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem.

Can you help?

Thanks

[ccbogel]

Hello Franciso, I do not have a mac computer, so I cannot give heaps of help. You can ignore the warning about ffmpeg. QualCoder will run without it. It looks like you have used the terminal well. The cocoa plugin is the problem. I see several solutions, from google, which may or may not work. As I am not familiar with macOS, I am not much help. c++ - Qt could not find the platform plugin cocoa - Stack Overflow<https://stackoverflow.com/questions/54297627/qt-could-not-find-the-platform-plugin-cocoa> The solution here is to run this line in the terminal, it is an older answer from 2019, it look simple to do, so its worth a try: pip3 install opencv-python-headless python 3.x - qt.qpa.plugin: Could not find the Qt platform plugin "cocoa" in "" - Stack Overflow<https://stackoverflow.com/questions/76898551/qt-qpa-plugin-could-not-find-the-qt-platform-plugin-cocoa-in> This solution requires you to find and export a QT_PLUNIN_PATH It looks more complicated to try. Do you know any mac users who are programmers? with regards Colin

…

________________________________ From: Francisco Ferrer ***@***.***> Sent: Monday, 11 March 2024 6:46 PM To: ccbogel/QualCoder ***@***.***> Cc: QualCoder Developer ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [ccbogel/QualCoder] QualCoder 3.5 (Discussion #876) Hi, I am trying to instal QualCoder on a M2 Mac, I am not particularly confident with using the terminal, I have followed all the steps indicated in the instructions, but when I try to run it, the program doesn't open, I always get this: /Users/franciscoferrer/anaconda3/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pydub/utils.py:170: RuntimeWarning: Couldn't find ffmpeg or avconv - defaulting to ffmpeg, but may not work warn("Couldn't find ffmpeg or avconv - defaulting to ffmpeg, but may not work", RuntimeWarning) qt.qpa.plugin: Could not find the Qt platform plugin "cocoa" in "" This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem. Can you help? Thanks — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#876 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABMQPDRLCCQXDB4IGUIPIELYXVONHAVCNFSM6AAAAABBAKMHN2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43SRDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHM4DONBRHA4DK>. You are receiving this because you authored the thread.

[Frangbg65]

Hi Colin, Much appreciated for getting back to me. I have actually tried your first solution, it didn’t work. I am to a programmer, so the second solution looks too complicated for me. I’ll keep looking. I just wanted to use QualCoder on my thesis interviews, but I can’t spend so much time just trying to run the application. Thank you anyway. Regards Francisco

…

On 11 Mar 2024, at 9:19 AM, QualCoder Developer ***@***.***> wrote: Hello Franciso, I do not have a mac computer, so I cannot give heaps of help. You can ignore the warning about ffmpeg. QualCoder will run without it. It looks like you have used the terminal well. The cocoa plugin is the problem. I see several solutions, from google, which may or may not work. As I am not familiar with macOS, I am not much help. c++ - Qt could not find the platform plugin cocoa - Stack Overflow<https://stackoverflow.com/questions/54297627/qt-could-not-find-the-platform-plugin-cocoa> The solution here is to run this line in the terminal, it is an older answer from 2019, it look simple to do, so its worth a try: pip3 install opencv-python-headless python 3.x - qt.qpa.plugin: Could not find the Qt platform plugin "cocoa" in "" - Stack Overflow<https://stackoverflow.com/questions/76898551/qt-qpa-plugin-could-not-find-the-qt-platform-plugin-cocoa-in> This solution requires you to find and export a QT_PLUNIN_PATH It looks more complicated to try. Do you know any mac users who are programmers? with regards Colin ________________________________ From: Francisco Ferrer ***@***.***> Sent: Monday, 11 March 2024 6:46 PM To: ccbogel/QualCoder ***@***.***> Cc: QualCoder Developer ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [ccbogel/QualCoder] QualCoder 3.5 (Discussion #876) Hi, I am trying to instal QualCoder on a M2 Mac, I am not particularly confident with using the terminal, I have followed all the steps indicated in the instructions, but when I try to run it, the program doesn't open, I always get this: /Users/franciscoferrer/anaconda3/lib/python3.11/site-packages/pydub/utils.py:170: RuntimeWarning: Couldn't find ffmpeg or avconv - defaulting to ffmpeg, but may not work warn("Couldn't find ffmpeg or avconv - defaulting to ffmpeg, but may not work", RuntimeWarning) qt.qpa.plugin: Could not find the Qt platform plugin "cocoa" in "" This application failed to start because no Qt platform plugin could be initialized. Reinstalling the application may fix this problem. Can you help? Thanks — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#876 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABMQPDRLCCQXDB4IGUIPIELYXVONHAVCNFSM6AAAAABBAKMHN2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43SRDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHM4DONBRHA4DK>. You are receiving this because you authored the thread. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#876 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A4JCTCSZXCVREDJQHOBY7SLYXVSKDAVCNFSM6AAAAABBAKMHN2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43SRDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHM4DONBSGIYDE>. You are receiving this because you commented.

[kaixxx]

Hi Francisco

You can try my version of QualCoder. A friend of mine created an installer for macOS which may solve your problem (no promises, but worth a try): https://github.com/kaixxx/QualCoder/tree/ai_integration
This is an experimental version with some additional AI-based funtionality. But you can just ignore the AI-stuff and use it as normal QualCoder.

[Frangbg65]

Hi Kaixxx, Thank you, I have tried, but it still asking for stage that I Donn’t know what it is as I’m not a developer. Thank you anyway. I think I’ll have to give QualCoder a miss. Regards Francisco

…

On 11 Mar 2024, at 10:16 AM, kaixxx ***@***.***> wrote: Hi Francisco You can try my version of QualCoder. A friend of mine created an installer for macOS which may solve your problem (no promises, but worth a try): https://github.com/kaixxx/QualCoder/tree/ai_integration This is an experimental version with some additional AI-based funtionality. But you can just ignore the AI-stuff and use it as normal QualCoder. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#876 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/A4JCTCVIRTUJHMXLKINKVU3YXVY7RAVCNFSM6AAAAABBAKMHN2VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43SRDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHM4DONBSHEYDM>. You are receiving this because you commented.

[kaixxx]

Have you used the installer "QualCoderAI_MAC_arm64.dmg"?

What do you mean by "asking for stage"?
I understand that this might be too much hassle for you current project. But I would like to understand the problem so we can try to solve it for the future.

[KiwiAllan]

HI. I'm trying to install Qualcoder 3.5 into my Intel-based Macbook Pro, with Python 3.13.

All OK, until I get to 'python3 /applications/QualCoder-3.5/qualcoder/main.py', and that ends up with the error code seen in the attached file. Are there any suggestions about how to resolve this?

Gratefully for any way forward.

Allan

[ccbogel]

Hi. There seems to be a problem with the pydub module. My recommendation is to download the latest code zip (Green Code button on the main page). Then install again as you did before. but there will be no need to install pydub nor SpeechRecognition.
I have just now removed pydub and SpeechRecognition and the associated functionality from QualCoder. It is not needed anyway, as many other online and software can convert speech to text.

[KiwiAllan]

This is prompt and helpful. But I can't find 'a green code button on the main page'.

Is the appropriate page: https://github.com/ccbogel/QualCoder/releases/tag/3.5? (which has the source file downoad in the Assets section). Or another page? Thanks for clarifying.

[KiwiAllan]

Superb, thanks.

[KiwiAllan]

To run 3.6., what modifications do I need to make to this command (used for 3.5): python3 /applications/QualCoder-3.5/qualcoder/main.py

Gratefully.

[KiwiAllan]

... as simply changing '3.5' to '3.6' isn't recognised ('No such file or directory'). )-:

[ccbogel]

The downloaded folder via the Green button from GitHub would be called:
QualCoder-master
so the command should be:
python3 /applications/QualCoder-master/__main__.py

OR potentially from the same QualCoder-master folder:

python3 -m qualcoder

[KiwiAllan]

Unfortunately neither of these options work. The first gives me the 'No such file or directory' message; and the second the error message in the attached screenshot.

.

[KiwiAllan]

For your interest and further suggestions... when I have run 'pip install -r requirements.txt' , it goes through well, except near the end where I get two error messages, as in the attached files.

[kaixxx]

@colin: Do you understand the dependencies conflict in the screenshot above? I don't get it...
The only thing that catches my eye is that pip is trying to install very old versions of sentence-transformer. It's downloading 0.2.0, then even 0.1.0. Why? The current version is 3.2.1 and that's what I have on my system.

[KiwiAllan]

@KiwiAllan OK Here it is - this should work fine. It is the zipped qualcoder 3.5 (I added the suffix mod to show it has been modified). This removes the speech to text option, and in doing so, removes the need for the error-prone pydub module. Regards 3.6 versus 3.5 comment. The main database (containing your coding and plain text representations of text files) is the same between the 2 versions - so interoperable. And some errors/glitches have been fixed from 3.5. (Conversely, as we work on 3.6 new errors can occur - but that is the programmers life).

QualCoder-3.5-mod.zip

Yehah! 3.5 works! Thanks so much, Colin and Kai. Allan

[ccbogel]

@kaixxx there is this:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/71083239/unable-to-install-sentence-transformers-getting-error

I think it is trying procedurally to find a version that does not conflict, from the newest one in its list and working backwards. I presume pip was upgraded to the latest pip, prior to this lot of requirements install being done? Because, if not, then that could be a cause of not having the latest and compatible modules ..?

[ccbogel]

@KiwiAllan Great. It was an easy fix, once I understood the cause.

[KiwiAllan]

p.s. I think Kai and I enjoy helping and promoting QualCoder. I think as academics and being involved with research projects - finding and fixing these types of issues are a satisfying problem-solving activity.

I also appreciate that you have tried the 3.6 version, yet to be released - and found errors - as it uncovering errors helps make the software more robust.

I am curious to know how you became aware of QualCoder and - despite your initial macOS frustrations - what your colleagues and yourself think of it.

I have been, and still am even though a little long in the tooth, involved in academia (Christian theological education institutions predominantly), and appreciate collegiality expressed in all sorts of ways. Your generous, competent input over the last day has been another wonderful experience of that.

Living in Queensland, I am managing an Asia-wide qualitative research project and we need a way of undertaking the data coding and analysis. Looking around at what's available, Qualcoder came up on the list. Having a colleague who understands how it operates has led us to adopt it as our QDA platform. It will be interesting to see how things go. He's on a PC and has had no trouble installing and using it), while I'm on a Mac.

Warm regards. Allan.

[ccbogel]

@kaixxx There is this older post: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/71083239/unable-to-install-sentence-transformers-getting-error

Another thing:
installing the packages in a specific order. Sometimes, the order of installation can affect the resolution of dependencies. Could try installing LangChain first, then ChromaDB, and finally sentence-transformers.

[KiwiAllan]

A further query, if you don't mind. Is there a way to put a shortcut on my desktop to open Qualcoder, without going through Terminal everytime?

[KiwiAllan]

'Then run this bit of code, which might take a few minutes:
pyinstaller -w -n "QualCoder-3.5-mod" --onefile qualcoder/main.py'

That installer worked, thanks, Colin. Then this line worked for quite a while until getting this purple/red batch of text:

[ccbogel]

ok - so it needs an image file. I though only Windows needed that.

Run again, from the same location, but like this:

pyinstaller -w -n "QualCoder-3.5-mod" --icon=QC_Logo.ico --onefile qualcoder/__main__.py

[KiwiAllan]

Thanks. Is it safe to remove the contents of the directory as shown in this screen shot?

[ccbogel]

yes, because it will be replaced with the hopefully ready-to-go newer one with the image icon in it

[KiwiAllan]

yes, because it will be replaced with the hopefully ready-to-go newer one with the image icon in it

Superb, thanks Colin. All good to go!

[kaixxx]

@KiwiAllan: Nice to hear that version 3.5 now works for you.
It would be great, however, if you could still help us to iron out the errors in the installation process of the new version (3.6) on Mac. If you find a little bit of time, could you try to install torch with pip install torch, and then install the requirements again (pip -r install requirements.txt)?

(I will be offline for the next couple of hours, it's late over here in Europe...)

[KiwiAllan]

Happy to do so, Kai. However, I can't install torch.

[kaixxx]

Thank you, I think I understand now what the root of the issue is: You are running python 3.13 which is not yet fully supported by many python libraries, torch included. If you want to run QualCoder 3.6, you must go back to python 3.11. There is one library in particular which doesn't work with newer versions of python atm. I will check in the readme if we could make this requirement a bit clearer.
QualCoder 3.5 doesn't use this library, so it may be fine with python 3.13.

[ccbogel]

Ahh. that makes sense

[KiwiAllan]

I'm glad I have helped to make that discovery, Kai. As I now have 3.5 working, I will skip trying to get 3.6 up and running. Cheers.

[kaixxx]

That's fine, thank you, @KiwiAllan.

[pepaganini]

Hello everyone,

It is a good surprise to have found QualCoder and to be using in my own research and also with some students who have been working with me.

After reading manuals and watched tutorials (which I appreaciate for the contributions), I wasn't able to find the solution for a problem I've been through. Everytime I try to generate a chart, it opens a new chrome tab (that's ok). But then this tab keeps running until returns that the page has not found. Also, QualCoder stops running.

For those who needs more info to help: Windows 11 and QualCoder-3.5.exe . Other features are running well.

Cheers from Brazil.

Paulo

[ccbogel]

Hello Paulo.

Thank you for your comment.

Yes, on some computers I have had trouble with charts opening and on other computers it works perfectly. It will open charts in the default web browser (that is how the plotly library works). One suggestion is to change the default web browser to something different and see if that will work.
Apparently plotly work best in current, Chrome, Firefox or Safari web browsers.

Potentially a really large dataset might also be a problem, but otherwise, I am not sure what else to suggest,

https://www.juliasos.com/viz/plotly-not-plotting-in-browser/#:~:text=If%20Plotly%20is%20properly%20installed%20and%20configured%2C%20but,an%20up-to-date%20version%20of%20one%20of%20these%20browsers.

regards Colin

[pepaganini]

Dear,
Thank you again for the explanation about QualCoder.
One more question that come to my mind is how can I revert when I merge two or more codes?
Thanks!

[ccbogel]

Ahh - you cannot revert. But you could open a recent backed up project. Providing you have not done a lot of extra work afterwards.