Compatibility with other QSR software

NVivo Windows Release 1

NVivo provides backward compatibility enabling users to open and work with projects from previous versions.

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Compatibility with previous versions of NVivo

NVivo Windows is backwards compatible, meaning that you can open projects created in earlier major versions in later major versions. When opening a project in a later major version, users are prompted to convert the project to the newer version's format. The original project file is copied and the copied file converted, leaving the original intact.

The current version of NVivo Windows (release 1.6 or later) allows users to open projects from: NVivo releases 1.0 to 1.5, NVivo 12, NVivo 11, and NVivo 10 (NVivo releases 1.0 to 1.5 effectively constitute a 'major version'—projects created in them can only be opened in NVivo release 1.6 or later if they are converted).

NVivo is not forward compatible—you cannot open a project created in a later version in an earlier version. For example, projects created in NVivo release 1.6 can only be opened in release 1.6 or later. You can install and run multiple versions of NVivo on the same computer at the same time.

If your project data consists of only Plain text (txt), Microsoft Word 97 - 2003 Document (doc), and Microsoft Word Document (docx) files (no PDFs, datasets, audio, or video) and you need to work on a project with different versions of NVivo, you can use the REFI-QDA (.qdpx) file format to exchange data. For information on using REFI-QDA format and its limitations for non-text data, see REFI-QDA Standard.

If the project contains data other than those listed above, all members of the project team need to be on the same version of the software.

NOTE: If you need to continue using the older software for other projects, more than one version can be installed on the same computer.

Compatibility with NVivo for Mac

NVivo Mac Release 1 projects have a different file format from those created in NVivo Windows Release 1:

  • NVivo Windows Release 1 (.nvp)

  • NVivo Mac Release 1 (.nvpx)

All conversion between formats must be done using NVivo Windows Release 1.

Project conversion can take a long time depending on the number of documents and PDFs and the amount of coding. We are working on compatible project file formats in the future that will not require conversion.

Users cannot open an NVivo Windows project (.nvp) in NVivo Mac software—they need to convert it to the NVivo Mac Release 1 format first. They can do this using the 'copy project' feature in NVivo Windows Release 1. They can also export selected items to a new NVivo Mac project.

Users can open an NVivo Mac Release 1 project (.nvpx) in NVivo Windows Release 1 and it will be converted into the NVivo Windows Release 1 format. Alternatively, they can also import the content from an NVivo for Mac project into an NVivo Windows Release 1 project.

The Windows-Mac Project Converter is downloaded and installed automatically the first time the user does a project conversion to or from NVivo for Mac format. The download is approximately 200 MB and may take a few minutes depending on the speed of the internet connection. Alternatively, you can download and install the project converter through an unattended command line installation.

 

NVivo for Mac has a different set of features than NVivo Windows. If users convert their NVivo Windows Release 1 project and access it on the Mac, they may not be able to work with all their project items. For a detailed comparison of the features available on both platforms, refer to the QSR website.

While it is possible to work with a project on both Windows and Mac (cross-platform), we recommend that users work with their projects on a single platform. We recommend that users working in teams use the same version of the software (and do not work cross-platform).

For information on cross-platform limitations and issues, refer to Work with your projects on Windows or Mac in the NVivo for Mac Help.

Compatibility with NVivo Collaboration Server

NVivo Collaboration Server enables multiple users to access and work on centrally stored NVivo Windows Release 1 projects. NVivo Collaboration Server is also capable of hosting NVivo 12, NVivo 11, and NVivo 10 projects.

NVivo Windows interoperates with NVivo Collaboration Server. Users with NVivo Windows Release 1 client software can connect to NVivo Collaboration Server and can:

  • create or open NVivo Windows Release 1 projects on that server

  • copy NVivo Windows Release 1 projects to and from that server

  • convert an NVivo 12 Windows project on that server to an NVivo Windows Release 1 project

All users, who are working together in a shared project, should be using the same version of the NVivo client.

Compatibility with NCapture

NCapture is a free web browser extension that enables users to gather material from the web. Users can collect web pages as well as content from social media sites—for example, Facebook and Twitter.

Each time a user captures a web page with NCapture, a new NCapture file (.nvcx) is created with content and metadata from the web page. Users can import NCapture files into theirprojects.

NCapture is included as part of the installation for NVivo Windows Release 1. You can also download and install NCapture separately.

NCapture is updated regularly to keep pace with changes to web browsers an social media sites. NCapture may also be updated when a new version of  NVivo Windows Release 1 is released. If you upgrade with a service pack of NVivo Windows Release 1, you should also update NCapture at the same time.

You do not need to have NVivo installed on the computer in order to use NCapture—for example, a user (who does not have NVivo) can use NCapture go gather web content and send the NCapture files (.nvcx) to another user who has.