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Format

Codebook Exchange Format

Summary

Name
Codebook Exchange Format
Identifiers
PUID: fmt/2026
Format type
Text (Structured)
Description
Codebook Exchange Format (.qdc) is a file format for sharing codes so that they can easily be read by different types of Qualitative Data Analysis software. Files contain an xml header followed by the names of coding categories (name=), and a description (<Description>) of what data goes into that category. They don’t contain the coded data itself. Qdc files help researchers share and interpret information consistently and reliably, and identify patterns in their data.
File extensions
qdc
Source
Cabinet Office / Cabinet Office

Internal signatures

Codebook Exchange Format

Note
BOF; Offset: 0-3; Magic Bytes: '<CodeBook xmlns="urn:QDA-XML:codebook:1:0"' and EOF; Offset:0-3; Magic Bytes: '</CodeBook>'

Byte sequences

Min Frag Length
Absolute from BOF
Offset
38
Max offset
50
Byte Sequence
3C436F6465426F6F6B20786D6C6E733D2275726E3A5144412D584D4C3A636F6465626F6F6B3A313A3022
Endianness
None
Min Frag Length
Absolute from EOF
Offset
0
Max offset
3
Byte Sequence
3C2F436F6465426F6F6B3E
Endianness
None

Changelog

  • Added in V120

    Release date
    25 February 2025

    Codebook Exchange Format: Signature researched and samples provided by Cabinet Office (UK).

    Codebook Exchange Format: Full entry added. Submitted by Cabinet Office (UK).