Stage 4 · PresentingTutorial 15 of 21 · 10 minutes · Written

Make a figure in Build mode

Turn a figure style into a finished figure, set its colours and export it for a thesis, article or poster. Build mode is in beta.

Open the live demoDownload the template
  • What you needA loaded project, ideally with theme colours chosen.
  • How longAbout ten minutes.
  • At the endA figure exported for your chapter, article or slide, and a saved layout to come back to.

Step by step

The same steps as the video, written out so you can follow at your own pace.

Steps
  1. Choose Build
  2. Pick a starting layout
  3. Set the colours
  4. Shape the figure
  5. Export and save

Choose Build

Select Build as the Parent mode in the left sidebar, or choose it on Start a project, and load your files.

Pick a starting layout

Choose the Figure style closest to the figure you have in mind: Node network, Hierarchy or File tree.

Set the colours

Open the Colours control and choose one of the five palettes, such as Themescape harbour, which is colour blind safe, or set your own theme colours.

Tip: You can also add hex codes to the colour column of the Framework tab, theme rows only.

Shape the figure

In Work mode, move elements, change node and branch shapes, and add arrowheads, influence signs, frames and notes.

Export and save

Export figure opens Figure export with your built figure. Choose a referencing style, a width and a file type: PNG or JPG at 300 or 600 dpi, or a vector PDF. Use Save layout to keep the figure in your layout file for later.

Tip: Quotes are never included in exported figures. A note you wrote in Build must not quote a participant unless your ethics approval allows it.

Your path

Every tutorial in order. This one is marked, and the ones you finish fill in.

  1. Getting started

    From the template or an NVivo project to your first map, and saving it as files you keep.

    0 of 3 done
    1. Load your first fileMake a copy of the template, code a few rows, and open them in the viewer to see your first map.Getting started10 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Save your progress and carry on laterThemescape keeps no copy of your project. Save your work as files on your computer and load them next time.Getting started5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Import a project from NVivo, MAXQDA or ATLAS.tiExport your NVivo, MAXQDA or ATLAS.ti project in the REFI-QDA format and import it, so your coding opens as a map without retyping.Getting started8 minutesOpen the tutorial

  2. Exploring

    Reading the map in its three views, opening themes in the reader and searching your project.

    0 of 3 done
    1. Move between the three viewsThe node network, the hierarchy and the file tree show the same coding. Learn what each one shows and when to reach for it.Exploring6 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Read a theme's definition and quotesSelect any theme or code to read its working definition, the participants behind it and its quotes, without leaving the map.Exploring5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Search across codes, themes and quotesFind the theme, code or line of quote text you remember, and go straight to it on the map.Exploring4 minutesOpen the tutorial

  3. Refining

    Definitions, favourite quotes and connections in Work mode, and restructuring themes in the spreadsheet.

    0 of 7 done
    1. Edit definitions and favourite quotes in Work modeRewrite working definitions beside the quotes they account for, star your strongest evidence, and save the changes as files.Refining8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Record connections between themesDraw the links you see between themes, codes and sub-codes, each marked Empirical or Theoretical, with a note on why.Refining7 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Merge, split and rename themesRestructure your analysis in the spreadsheet, where the coding lives, then load the files again to see the new shape.Refining8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    4. Arrange the map with Custom placementPut themes and codes where they make sense to you, in each view, and keep the arrangement in your layout file.Refining5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    5. Load a published model and check the mappingMap your coded data into a published model or framework, and check how it maps before you open the model.Refining8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    6. Change relationships and keep a reflexive logIn Model mode's Work mode, add relationships found in your data, adjust the published ones, and record why in the reflexive log.Refining8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    7. Try arrangements of a modelMove a model's top level parts to new rows and columns, save the arrangement under a name, and compare it with others.Refining5 minutesOpen the tutorial

  4. Presenting

    Present mode, figures from Build mode and taking your changes back to the spreadsheet.

    0 of 5 done
    1. Present to a supervisor or a panelHide the tools and walk through your themes, bringing your favourite quotes forward as you talk.Presenting5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Make a figure in Build modeTurn a figure style into a finished figure, set its colours and export it for a thesis, article or poster. Build mode is in beta.Presenting10 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Bring your changes back into your spreadsheetTake the definitions, favourites and connections you refined in Themescape back into your coding workbook, in the same format.Presenting6 minutesOpen the tutorial
    4. Choose a starting layout and arrange a figureStart a Build mode figure from one of the figure styles, then move, shape, align and group its parts. Build mode is in beta.Presenting8 minutesOpen the tutorial
    5. Undo, Reset, Fit and Show hidden in Build modeHide what a figure does not need, undo a step, start again from the starting layout, and fit the figure to the screen.Presenting5 minutesOpen the tutorial

  5. Guided analysis

    For Student plans: working through Braun and Clarke's Phases 3 to 5 in Themescape for students.

    0 of 3 done
    1. Start guided analysis, and come backOn a Student plan, take your project into guided analysis in Themescape for students, save your progress, and return to the main viewer.Guided analysis5 minutesOpen the tutorial
    2. Generate and review themes in guided analysisPhase 3 sorts your codes into piles of candidate themes. Phase 4 reviews each candidate against its quotes and the whole dataset.Guided analysis10 minutesOpen the tutorial
    3. Refine, define and name themes in guided analysisPhase 5 gives each theme a name, a central organising concept and a definition, sets the order of your write up and confirms each theme.Guided analysis8 minutesOpen the tutorial

Your data stays with you

Themescape reads your data in the browser. The host never receives it.

  • Read locally

    Transcripts and quotes are read locally and never leave the machine.

  • Nothing to submit

    No file submission or permanent storage is required.

  • Quotes untouched

    Verbatim quotes are never altered, with a separate refined column for presentation wording.

  • Sheets is opt in

    The Google Sheets mode is opt in, for non-sensitive data only.

Read about privacy and data
Your file. Your browser. Your screen. Nothing travels to Themescape.

Common questions

Short answers to what researchers ask most. The FAQ page has the rest.

See all questions

Can I make a figure for my thesis or a paper?

Yes. Choose Export, then Figure for publication, or Export figure in Build mode's tools. Pick what to show, a referencing style (APA 7th, MLA 9th or Chicago 18th), a width and a file type: PNG or JPG at 300 or 600 dpi, or a vector PDF that stays sharp at any size. Quotes are never included in figures, and a figure should carry no names that could identify a participant.

Which formats can I export?

Figures export as PNG or JPG at 300 or 600 dpi, or as a vector PDF, from Figure export. The Export panel also saves your project as the template's CSV files, writes your definitions as CSV or as a table for Word, and your connections as CSV.

What does beta mean for Build mode?

Build mode works, and it is still being tested, so its controls may change. Feedback on it is welcome through the contact page.

See your own themes come to life

Try the live demo or start a 7 day free trial. Your data is read in your browser and never leaves your computer.

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