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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Jun 20.
Published in final edited form as: Nurs Res. 1996 Nov-Dec;45(6):370–372. doi: 10.1097/00006199-199611000-00015

Table I.

Procedure for accessing the dig2 program and VAS data entry.

A. Connecting the digitizer to a computer:

  1. Attach the digitizer cursor to the digitizer tablet by plugging the puck cursor to the tablet connection labeled cursor/stylus”.

  2. Connect the digitizer tablet to a personal DOS computer (with pre-installed dig2 program) with the supplied power cable. The connector fits onto a 9 pin male port of the computer.

  3. Push the small black switch next to the connection labeled /O/PWR” to turn on the power and to activate the digitizer tablet.

B. Accessing dig2 program and creating a dig2 file:

  1. In DOS change to the directory where the dig2 software was pre-installed on the C drive. Access the dig2 software program by typing: :\> cd dig symbol 191 \f “Symbol” \s 12 graphic file with name nihms439070t1.jpg} “ and then :\dig> dig2 filename symbol 191 \f “Symbol” \s 12 graphic file with name nihms439070t1.jpg}“ (symbol 191 \f “Symbol” \s 12 graphic file with name nihms439070t1.jpg} = enter; the filename should not exceed eight characters).

  2. In dig2 main menu, choose “Option 1: Edit variable control file to create the variables.”

    # Enter the variable name as indicated on the screen.

    # Format variable by typing fa.b (a = the number of digits plus one; b = the number of digits after the decimal point; i.e., f6.2 means the score is 3 digits before the decimal point, one decimal point, and two digits after the decimal point, such as 100.00).

    # Enable the digitizer for the variable by typing ” in the indicated place.

    # Set the minimum and maximum data value (i.e., 0 as minimum and 100 as maximum).

    Create next variable by typing ctrl-A”. Repeat the same steps marked as #.

C. Scoring and entering data:

  1. Organize the data sheets by subject identification number (SID).

  2. In main menu, choose “Option 2: Enter/Edit data.”

    Enter the SID as requested. Place the data sheet on the active area of the tablet. Place the intersection of the cursor cross-hairs on the left end of the VAS line that is defined as no pain or zero. Push the green button to activate the measurement. Move the cursor without moving the data sheet. Place the hair line on the left edge of the line marked by the respondent. Push the same green button to signal the end of the measurement. The score will be shown in the parentheses ( ) corresponding to the variable. Continue to measure other variables for the same SID. Make sure the score corresponds to the appropriate variable, especially in a file with several variables. After finishing all variables for the subject, esc and go to the main menu.

  3. Repeat step2 for scoring VASs from another subject.

D. Converting the dig2 database to SPSS/PC, ASCI, or DIF database:

  1. In main menu, choose Option 3: Write data to formatted file. Then, select the data output option, such as ASCI columns. The database automatically will be written to the selected database (i.e., filename.asc file for ASCI database).

E. Writing ASCI database to Crunch4 database:

  1. In Crunch4 program control menu, select build. Build a new file for output file with variable attributes defined. Return to the control menu.

  2. In the control menu, choose datarw to read data from ASCI database. In datarw option 2: Input file, enter the ASCI file name to be read. Then choose option 4: Variables to be read/written. Fill out the number of beginning line, ending line, and decimal point to indicate column position of variable in the ASCI database. After finishing all of the steps, choose “Option 1: Begin reading data.” The Crunch4 database will be created for further data analysis.