Compatibility with other QSR software

NVivo 10 Windows

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 10 Windows allows users to open and work with projects from previous versions of QSR software: NVivo 9, NVivo 8, NVivo 7, NVivo 2, NVivo 1, N6 (NUD*IST 6), N5 and N4.

These previous versions can continue to operate on the same computer as NVivo 10 Windows. However if you no longer intend to use a previous version, we recommend that you uninstall it before installing NVivo 10 for windows.

NVivo provides backward compatibility—if a user with a later version of NVivo attempts to open a project in an earlier format (for example, a user opens an NVivo 9.2 project in NVivo 10 for Windows), the user is prompted to convert the project to the later format. The original project is not modified; instead a converted copy of the project is created.

NVivo does not provide forward compatibility—the user cannot open a project with a later format. For example, if a user wants to open an NVivo 10 for Windows project, they must have NVivo 10 for Windows (or later) installed.

Make sure that team members collaborating in a standalone project or a server project are using the same version (and service pack) of the NVivo software. Projects in NVivo 10 Windows format cannot be opened in NVivo 9. If team members are not using the same service pack, they may not be able to use the same features—for example, users with NVivo 10 Windows Service Pack 2 (or later) can work with YouTube videos collected with NCapture, but users with earlier versions of NVivo cannot use this feature.

Compatibility with NVivo for Mac

NVivo 10 for Mac projects have a different file format from those created in NVivo 10 for Windows:

  • NVivo 10 for Windows (.nvp)

  • NVivo 10 for Mac (.nvpx)

All conversion between formats must be done using NVivo 10 for Windows (Service Pack 5 or later).

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 10 Windows project (.nvp) in NVivo 10 for Mac software—they need to convert it to the NVivo 10 for Mac format first. They can do this using the 'copy project' feature in NVivo 10 for Windows (Service Pack 5 or later). They can also export selected items to a new NVivo 10 for Mac project.

Users can open an NVivo 10 for Mac project (.nvpx) in NVivo 10 Windows (Service Pack 5 or later) and it will be converted into the NVivo 10 for Windows format. They can also import the content from an NVivo for Mac project into an NVivo 10 Windows project or copy an NVivo 10 for Mac project to NVivo 10 for Windows format.

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 185 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.

  • Install the project converter from your NVivo 10 for Windows USB flash drive – double-click the ExtractConverter.exe file (in the Windows-Mac Project Converter folder).

The initial release of NVivo 10 for Mac has a subset of the features available in NVivo 10 for Windows. If users convert their NVivo 10 Windows 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 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 Server

NVivo Server 10 and NVivo Server 10 R2 enable multiple users to access and work on centrally stored NVivo 10 Windows projects. NVivo Server 10 is also capable of hosting NVivo 9.2, 9.1, and 9.0 projects.

NVivo 10 for Windows interoperates with NVivo Server 9.0 SP1. Users with NVivo 10 for Windows client software can connect to NVivo Server 9.0 SP1 and can:

  • create or open NVivo 10 for Windows projects on that server

  • copy NVivo 10 for Windows project to and from that server

  • convert an NVivo 9.0, 9.1, or 9.2 project on that server to an NVivo 10 for Windows 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 their NVivo 10 for Windows (or later) projects. Users on earlier versions of NVivo—for example NVivo 9.2—are not able to import material using NCapture.

NCapture 1.0 is included as part of the installation for NVivo 10 for Windows. 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 service pack of NVivo 10 for Windows is released. If you upgrade with a service pack of NVivo 10 for Windows, 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 NVivo 10 for Windows.