Bulk Loader

The Bulk Loader allows for all survey results to be uploaded simultaneously. To use the Bulk Loader, iTRACE requires that data be uploaded in a very specific format to ensure results can be read by the software. Links to template files are available in the box to the right. Upload files must be in .CSV format.

Coding

A codebook (.xls, 82Kb) has been created to allow for standardised coding of survey responses. The codebook provides response codes (numbers) for each available response in the Household Information Form (HIF) and Personal Travel Diary (PTD). For non-standardised responses, the codebook also provides details on how the response should be formatted. The codebook is available in the downloads box above.

The HIF and PTD must be entered into a CSV file to be compatible with the Bulk Loader. Template files are available for download from the downloads box above.

Nearly all questions on the survey forms are closed questions that can be analysed and entered into iTRACE with the use of the codebook. The main exceptions to this are the question on trip time and the question on trip destination.

The codebook details which questions are mandatory. A response must be provided for all mandatory questions.

File naming

The file name should be made up of the following elements, separated by underscore characters. The file name should be all uppercase, and without spaces.

Based on these specifications, the file name should follow the following format:

{Questionnaire_Type}_{Development_Name}_{Survey_Date}_{File_Version}_

{Interface_Version}_{Date}.CSV.

For a Household Information Form for the Westpoint development, surveyed on 23rd March 2011, the file name should be:

HIF_WESTPOINT_20110323_0001_0100_20110401.CSV

Uploading results

The coded CSV files should be uploaded via the Bulk Loader in iTRACE. If you have any issues uploading your results via the Bulk Loader, please see the list of frequent issues.

When the Actual Response Rate is equal to or greater than the Required Response Rate you can close the Residential Audit by submitting the survey 'For Review'. Once again the borough officer will review and either accept it (in which case the audit & survey is complete) or set it back to 'In Progress'. In either case the borough officer will be in contact to discuss the reason for their decision.