Advice on research software

Posted by 22111
Aug 17, 2013 at 12:47 PM

We know there’s dedicated software for it, and we know it’s expensive. Since you post here, let’s assume you don’t want such a solution.

Then let’s clarify your needs, since there are several solutions but not necessarily for every demand.

If I understand your problem, you’ll have records in the form

header paragraph
some paragraph, coded a, c, d
some other paragraph, coded c, d, f
and many other paragraphs, coded d, f, m, p… in any combination

another record with its header
some paragraph, coded n
some other paragraph, coded a, n, t
and so on

Let’s assume, you’ll have 5,000 of such records.

Now you need “reports”, in the form A?:
“All records containing paragraphs that are coded a, or coded n, AND coded f, but not coded t”
So you need Boolean search in order to identify records containing paragraphs coded in a specific way.
Result would be a records list here.

But perhaps you also need “reports”, in the form B?:
“All paragraphs coded a, or coded n, AND coded f, but not coded t; together with an indication of their source”
So here you need a gathering function putting all your paragraphs (not records) in a list, meaning the respective paragraphs only (but not the other paragraphs in those records), but together with the respective “header” of the record containing each paragraph.

Do you need “report” A? And/or B? Others?
What forms of “reports” would be mandatory, which forms would just be “good to have”?