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Forsta has introduced extensions to the Standard Triple-S XML to facilitate internal Data Processing processes. If you wish an overview over the Standard definitions, go to the Website of the Triple-S Consortium.
The extensions can be identified in the Triple-S XML with the prefix confirmit:
A list of the introduced extensions is available in Appendix A (go to Appendix A: Introduced Extensions for more information).
Forsta accepts numbers, letters and underscore (_) in codes on Multi questions, but the Triple-S multiple variable type only accepts numeric codes. On Multi questions with non-numeric characters in the codes, the codes will be recoded into numeric characters for the Triple-S codes in the answer list (both in schema and data).
Note: If you only ever use numeric codes in Multi questions, you will avoid this issue.
However, when moving data between Forsta surveys, or out of Forsta for external changes and then back in to a Forsta survey again, the link to the original codes in the survey must be retained. Forsta has therefore made an extension to Triple-S. A multiple variable with non-numeric codes will then look as follows in the schema (template) file:
<variable ident="1" type="multiple">
<name>q1</name>
<label>Car brands</label>
<position start="100" finish="105" />
<values>
<value code="1" confirmit:precode="a">Ford</value>
<value code="2" confirmit:precode="b">Chrysler</value>
<value code="3" confirmit:precode="c">Volvo</value>
<value code="4" confirmit:precode="d">BMW</value>
<value code="5" confirmit:precode="e">Honda</value>
<value code="6" confirmit:precode="f">Toyota</value>
</values>
</variable>
You may choose not to include these tags in the file in case it causes issues for some importers. To do this, use the Triple-S XML (Standard) export box when exporting a template (go to Exporting a Template for more information).