EasyCrosstabs

INSTRUCTION GUIDE

Table of Contents

Welcome to EasyCrosstabs! This guide will help you master all features of the platform.

INSTALLATION AND QUICK START

Visit the website indicated in your purchase email using Chrome (preferred) or Edge. Firefox and Safari will allow EasyCrosstabs to be used as a web app, but will not allow you to download as a desktop application. Note that Brave browser may block certain features or the application entirely due to strict security settings.

Enter your license key when prompted. Your license key can be found in your purchase confirmation email. Your license works for personal use on up to five personal devices.

Download as desktop application. In Chrome you will be automatically prompted to download EasyCrosstabs as a desktop application. In Edge, look for the download icon on the right side of the address bar (a monitor with a download arrow) and click it to download the desktop app.

Again, EasyCrosstabs can be used as a web application with other browsers such as Firefox and Safari, but the desktop app must be downloaded using Chrome or Edge.

Upload your data. Click "Upload CSV" and select your survey export file. The smart import wizard will open automatically, detecting header rows and pre-excluding metadata columns. Review and confirm before importing. Works with exports from Qualtrics, Displayr, Alchemer, Google Forms, and any platform that exports one response per row. Note: Survey Monkey exports use non-standard format and might require manual reformatting prior to upload.

Configure survey logic (if applicable). If your survey uses skip logic or display logic, switch to Topline view and configure Branch Logic and/or Show Logic before analyzing. This ensures base sizes are calculated correctly. Skip this step if your survey has no conditional routing.

Select your row variables — Click the "Row Variables" dropdown and check the questions you want to analyze.

Select your column variable — Click the "Column Variable" dropdown and choose the variable to cross by (e.g. age, region, employment type).

Your tables appear instantly — Toplines and crosstabs generate automatically. Each crosstab shows column percentages with base sizes.

Customize your analysis — Group response values, edit column labels, filter by any variable, hide rows or columns, add charts, and toggle chi-square significance testing.

Export your work — Check the tables you want and click Export to save as CSV or Excel. Charts can be saved individually as PNG.

Save your project — Click "Save Project" to preserve your variables, logic, groupings, and layout for next time.

PART 1: IMPORTING DATA

Uploading Your CSV

EasyCrosstabs works with standard CSV files exported from survey platforms like Qualtrics, Displayr, Alchemer, Google Forms, or any platform that exports one response per row. Note: SurveyMonkey exports use a non-standard format and might require manual reformatting prior to upload.

THE IMPORT WIZARD WILL:

● Detect where your data starts, automatically accounting for multi-row headers which are common in exports from Qualtrics and similar platforms

● Pre-exclude metadata columns such as respondent IDs, timestamps, and IP addresses

● Automatically detect and exclude numeric slider and continuous input questions (e.g. "Number of active devices", "Years in practice"). Any questions that have 13 or more unique numeric values are viewed by the import wizard as not suitable for crosstab analysis. However, they can be manually re-included in the wizard if needed, and support for numeric averages is planned for a future update.

● Allow you to manually include or exclude any column before importing

● Offer the option to combine column IDs with question text as display labels when multiple header rows are detected (this is selected by default so be sure to deselect if this is not desired)

● Remind you to configure any survey logic before proceeding

FILE FORMAT REQUIREMENTS:

● First row must contain column headers (question names/labels)

● Each subsequent row represents one respondent

● Columns represent questions or demographic variables

● Use commas to separate values

● Wrap values containing commas in quotes (e.g., "New York, NY")

EXAMPLE CSV FORMAT:

Age, Region, Satisfaction, Purchase Frequency

25-34, Northeast, Very Satisfied, Weekly

45-54, South, Satisfied, Monthly

18-24, West, Very Satisfied, Weekly

ACCEPTABLE DATA TYPES:

● Labeled responses (e.g., "Very Satisfied", "Northeast")

● Categories (e.g., "Male", "Female")

● Any categorical labeled data works

NOTE: Each option for multi-select questions are treated as separate cross-tabs. Multi-select questions where unselected options appear as blank cells are automatically detected. EasyCrosstabs adjusts the percentage denominator to reflect total qualified respondents rather than just those who selected the option.

TROUBLESHOOTING UPLOADS:

Problem: File won't upload

● → Ensure it's a .csv file (not .xlsx or .xls)

● → Open in a text editor to verify comma separation

● → Check that first row has headers

Problem: Import wizard detects wrong data start row

● → Use the +/− buttons in the import wizard to manually adjust where data begins

● → Qualtrics export data typically start at row 4, Google Forms at row 2

Problem: Rows and columns only show numbers

● → Most survey platforms offer both numeric and labeled exports

● → Ensure you've uploaded the labeled version of your survey results

Problem: Data looks scrambled

● → Check for encoding issues (UTF-8 recommended)

● → Ensure all commas in text are properly quoted

Problem: Missing columns

● → Verify CSV has headers in first row

● → Check for blank column names

Using Demo Data

WHAT'S INCLUDED:

The demo dataset contains 500 responses from a fictional ice cream preference survey with 8 variables:

● Age (5 categories)

● Region (4 categories)

● Favorite Flavor

● Ice Cream Purchase Frequency

● Preferred Shop Type

● Topping Preference

● Seasonal Preference

● Cone or Cup

HOW TO LOAD:

1. Click "🍦Try Demo" button on the home screen

2. Data loads automatically

PART 2: SETTING UP SURVEY LOGIC

When you upload a CSV, the import wizard will display a Survey Logic reminder. This is your prompt to pause and consider whether your survey requires Branch or Shown To configuration before proceeding.

Topline view shows simple frequency distributions for each question without crossing by a column variable. You can switch to it at any time using the 📊/📋 toggle button at the top of the toolbar or at the bottom left of your screen if you’ve already scrolled down. Survey logic is configured here because it requires reviewing each question individually before crosstab analysis begins.

If your survey includes skip logic or display logic, it’s critically important that you switch to Topline view to configure it before analyzing crosstabs. This ensures all calculations use the correct base of respondents.

EasyCrosstabs automatically detects multi-select questions where unselected options appear as blanks, and adjusts the percentage denominator accordingly. Survey logic configuration ensures the base used for that calculation is also correct, so both steps work together.

Some platforms, such as Forsta/Displayr, insert “NO TO: [unselected variable]” instead of a blank which should work in EasyCrosstabs without needing to set up survey logic.

TIP: Always check your totals against expected base sizes and spot check that percentages are calculated as expected.

Branch (Skip Logic)

Use Branch when respondents who selected a specific answer skipped subsequent questions.

Example: Respondents who answered "No" to Q4 skipped directly to Q7, missing Q5 and Q6.

How to set up:

Switch to Topline View
Find the question where the skip originated (e.g., Q4)
For the row value(s) that triggered the skip (e.g., "No", “Don’t know”), click ↳ Branch
Select the destination question (e.g., Q7)
Click Apply

All questions between the origin and destination will automatically have their base adjusted to exclude the branched respondents. A red indicator showing the number skipped will appear in the Total row.

Shown To (Display Logic)

Use Shown To when a question was only displayed to respondents who met specific criteria.

Example: Q20 was only shown to respondents who selected "Option A" or "Option B" in Q4.

How to set up:

Switch to Topline View
Find the question that had display logic (e.g., Q20)
Click ↱ Shown To in the question header
Select the source question (e.g., Q4)
Add checkmarks to indicate which values within the source question caused respondents to see this question
Click Apply

The base for this question will now reflect only the respondents who qualified. A red indicator will appear in the Total row confirming the adjusted base.

NOTE: EasyCrosstabs is not designed to resolve complex Display Logic (i.e., display values sourced from more than one question), but you can use the Filter Data option to approximate the base size as a workaround on a one-off basis.

TIP: Setting up Display Logic can be tedious for multi-select questions since each option is displayed as a separate table (e.g., if you have 8 multi-select options, you have 8 tables). To make this process easier, the Show Logic function will remember your most recent selection, allowing you to rapidly work through multi-select options.

Branch vs. Shown To:

Branch (↳)

Find on individual row value

Use when respondents were skipped ahead

Affects all questions between origin and destination

Removes skipped respondents

Shown To (↱)

Find on question header

Use when question was conditionally displayed

Affects only the selected question

Sets base to qualified respondents only

Tips

Set logic immediately after import. The import wizard will remind you, but it's worth making a habit because configuring logic after variables are selected can cause crosstab percentages to reflect incorrect bases until recalculated..
Shown To overrides Branch. If both could apply to a question, Shown To takes precedence since it explicitly defines who saw the question.
Look for the red indicator. When logic is applied, the Total row will display the adjusted base, helping you verify the setup is correct.
Logic persists with your project. When you save a project, all Branch and Shown To settings are saved and will reload automatically.

PART 3: CREATING CROSSTABS

Selecting Variables

ROW VARIABLES:

These are the questions you want to analyze. You can select multiple row variables, and each will generate its own crosstab table.

Example: Select "Purchase Frequency", "Topping Preference", and "Cone or Cup" to see how each varies across regions.

COLUMN VARIABLE (CROSS BY):

This is the variable you're analyzing across. It becomes the columns in your crosstab tables. You can only select ONE column variable at a time.

Common column variables:

● Demographics (Age, Region, Gender)

● Segments (Customer Type, Usage Level)

● Time periods (Month, Quarter, Year)

WHAT MAKES A GOOD CROSSTAB:

Good: Purchase Frequency (rows) x Region (columns)

● → Shows buying patterns across geographic areas

Good: Satisfaction (rows) x Customer Type (columns)

● → Reveals satisfaction differences by segment

TIP: Start with 2-3 row variables and one demographic column variable.

You can always add more later.

Understanding Your Results

READING THE TABLES:

Each crosstab table shows:

● Rows: Values from your row variable

● Columns: Values from your column variable

● Cells: Percentage of that column's respondents who gave that row answer

EXAMPLE:

Northeast South Midwest West

Weekly 35% 25% 30% 28%

Monthly 40% 45% 35% 38%

Rarely 25% 30% 35% 34%

INTERPRETATION:

"35% of Northeast respondents purchase weekly"

"45% of South respondents purchase monthly"

PERCENTAGES EXPLAINED:

EasyCrosstabs calculates column percentages by default:

● Each COLUMN adds up to 100% (not each row)

● Each cell = (count in that cell) / (total for that column)

● This answers: "Of the people in this column, what % gave this answer?"

ROW TOTALS:

The 'Total' column shows the count of respondents who gave that answer across all columns combined. For multi-select questions where unselected options appear as blanks, the Total row reflects the total number of qualified respondents (not just those who selected the option) since this is the correct denominator for percentage calculations.

Topline View

WHAT IS TOPLINE?

Topline shows simple frequency distributions for each variable, just counts and percentages for each response value, without crossing by another variable.

WHEN TO USE IT:

● Quick overview of your data

● Understanding response distributions before crosstabs

● Checking for data quality issues (e.g., low sample)

● Setting survey logic such as skip or show logic (see above section for more detail)

● Viewing and saving charts for individual questions

● Exporting topline data and/or charts

HOW TO USE:

1. Click the '📋 Show Topline' / '📊 Show Crosstabs' toggle at the top, just above the row variable menu

2. Click "Select All" row variables if you'd like to show full topline

3. Click '📊 Show Charts' on any question to generate a bar chart visualization

4. View frequency tables for all your selected row variables

5. Click "Export Topline" to save all frequencies in one CSV

EXPORTING TOPLINE DATA:

The topline export creates a CSV with:

● Each variable's frequency distribution

● Value, Count, and Percentage columns

● All variables in a single file for easy reference

Perfect for: Initial data exploration, appendices in reports, quick data checks

Note: Filter, grouping, and hide options are all available in Topline view. Any changes made using these features in Topline will reflect in Crosstabs view and vice versa

Missing Data

HANDLING MISSING OR NON-SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSES:

EasyCrosstabs automatically excludes blank responses from frequency counts and base sizes — respondents who skipped a question are not counted in that question's total. This is the correct behavior for most survey analysis.

However, if your data includes explicitly labeled non-responses such as "Don't know", "N/A", "Prefer not to say", or "Refused", these will appear as regular response rows. If these are not substantive answers you want to include in your analysis, use Hide Row to exclude them. Hidden rows are removed from both the frequency count and the base size, so all percentages recalculate correctly.

A note on labeled exports: survey platforms like Qualtrics export data with text labels rather than numeric codes. This means missing value codes like -99 will appear as their labeled equivalent. Always review your response options after import to identify any values that should be treated as missing.

PART 4: CUSTOMIZING YOUR ANALYSIS

Filtering Data

WHY FILTER?

Filtering lets you exclude certain respondents from ALL your crosstabs. Use it when you want to:

● Analyze only specific segments (e.g., only customers aged 25-44)

● Remove data quality issues (e.g., speeders, incomplete responses)

● Focus on relevant subgroups

HOW TO ADD FILTERS:

1. Click the 'Filter Data' button on the far left of the toolbar above your crosstabs

2. In the modal, click "Add New Filter

3. Select the column you want to filter by

4. Check the boxes for values you want to EXCLUDE

5. Click "Apply "

EXAMPLE:

To analyze only respondents aged 25-54:

1. Filter by "Age"

2. Check "18-24" and "55-64" (to exclude them)

3. Click “Apply”

Your crosstabs now show only 25-34, 35-44, and 45-54 respondents.

MANAGING MULTIPLE FILTERS:

● Add as many filters as needed

● Each filter shows how many respondents it removed

● Remove individual filters by clicking the X button

● Clear all filters with "Clear All" button

FILTERS IN EXPORTS:

When you export crosstabs or topline with active filters, the CSV includes a header noting what was excluded:

"FILTERED DATA EXPORT"

"Excluded: Age = '18-24', '55-64'"

"Analyzing 350 of 500 responses (150 filtered out)"

NOTE: When filters are active, a yellow left border appears on the Total row of every crosstab and topline table as a visual reminder that results reflect a filtered subset.

TIP: Use filters instead of creating separate datasets. Save filtered projects to switch between different analysis segments quickly.

Heatmap Mode

Heatmap mode applies color shading to crosstab cells based on percentage values, making it easier to spot patterns visually. Higher percentages appear in warmer colors, while lower percentages appear in cooler colors.

Enabling Heatmap Mode

Generate one or more crosstabs by selecting row and column variables
Click the Heatmap Mode button in the toolbar above your crosstabs
The button turns green when active, and all crosstab cells display color shading
Click the button again to toggle heatmap mode off

Reading the Heatmap

Warmer colors (pink/magenta): higher percentages relative to other cells in the same crosstab
Cooler colors (cyan/blue): lower percentages relative to other cells in the same crosstab
Colors are scaled within each crosstab independently, so the "hottest" cell in each table represents that table's highest percentage

Tips for Using Heatmap Mode

Heatmap mode is useful for quickly identifying standout responses across demographic groups
Use it alongside the Chi-Square test to visually confirm where significant differences lie
Works with both percentage-only view and count + percentage view

Performance Note

Enabling heatmap mode with many crosstabs displayed simultaneously may cause slower performance on some systems. If you experience lag, consider reducing the number of row variables selected or toggling heatmap mode off when not needed.

Grouping Responses

Grouping lets you combine similar response values into broader categories.

GROUPING ROWS VS. COLUMNS:

● "Group Columns" button: Groups values in your column variable

● "Group Rows" button (on each crosstab): Groups values in that row variable

WHEN TO USE GROUPING:

● Combine age ranges: "18-24" + "25-34" → "Under 35"

● Consolidate categories: "Very Satisfied" + "Satisfied" → "Positive"

● Simplify tables with too many rows

● Match reporting requirements (e.g., "Top 2 Box" scores)

HOW TO CREATE GROUPS:

1. Click "Group Columns" or "Group Rows" button

2. Click "+ Create New Group"

3. Enter a name for your group (e.g., "Under 35")

4. Check the boxes for values to include in this group

5. Click "Save Group"

6. Repeat to create additional groups

7. Click "Apply Groupings"

EXAMPLES:

Age Grouping:

● Group 1: "Young Adults" = 18-24 + 25-34

● Group 2: "Middle Age" = 35-44 + 45-54

● Group 3: "Seniors" = 55-64 + 65+

Satisfaction Grouping (Top 2 Box):

● Group 1: "Satisfied" = Very Satisfied + Satisfied

● Group 2: "Not Satisfied" = Neutral + Dissatisfied + Very Dissatisfied

CLEARING GROUPS:

Open the groups modal and click the red "Clear All" button to reset all groups. To remove specific groups, press the “X” next to the unwanted group and press “Apply Groups.”

TIP: Save your project after creating groups. They'll be preserved so you don't have to recreate them each time.

NETs Feature (Row Grouping Enhancement)

When creating groups, click the checkbox next to “Show original values with NETs” to display both the original values and the grouped values (i.e., NETs).

NOTES ON NETS:

When "Show all original values with NETs" is enabled,the table displays all original values first, then a heavy black separator line, then NET summary rows
NET rows have subtle gray background for visual distinction
Drag-and-drop is constrained: originals stay above separator, NETs stay below
Charts always show grouped values regardless of checkbox state
Exports include separator and NET labels when checkbox is checked
Hidden values are excluded from grouping modal and do not contribute to NET calculations

Hiding Values

Hiding temporarily removes specific values from totals without filtering them from the the full dataset.

HIDE ROWS:

1. On any row, click the 'Hide' button. The row will appear greyed out and struck through, excluded from totals and percentages but still visible for reference. Click 'Unhide' to restore it.

2. Hidden rows “disappear” from that table only. To hide globally, use the filter data option.

HIDE COLUMNS:

1. Click the 'Hide Columns' button just above the column variable dropdown on the upper right

2. Uncheck values you want to hide

3. Click "Done"

4. Those columns disappear from ALL crosstabs

WHEN TO USE HIDING VS. FILTERING:

Use Hiding when you want to:

● Declutter a specific table

● Quickly check the impact of removing a segment

● Temporarily removing a category for presentation

Use Filtering when you want to:

● Exclude respondents from analysis entirely

● See percentages or counts without those respondents

● Analyze a specific segment (e.g., view only Canadian responses from a global survey)

TIP: Consider hiding low-count categories (n<30) that show in red to focus on statistically meaningful differences.

Sorting & Reordering

DRAG-AND-DROP REORDERING:

● Grab the ⋮⋮ icon next to any row or column label

● Drag it up or down to reorder

● Release to set the new position

● Custom order applies to that variable in all tables

SORTING BY VALUES:

1. Click any column header to sort that crosstab by that column's percentages

2. Click again to reverse

3. Click a third time to return to default order

WHEN TO REORDER:

● Put most important categories first

● Arrange in logical order (e.g., age youngest to oldest)

● Group related categories together

● Match client reporting standards

CUSTOM ORDERS:

Your custom row/column orders save with your project, so they persist across sessions.

NOTES

Add a note to any topline or crosstab table to document insights, context, caveats, or methodology reminders.

HOW TO ADD A NOTE:

1. Click the '💬 Add Note' button on any table

2. Type your note in the text field

3. Click Save

4. The note appears below the table highlighted in yellow

WHEN TO USE:

● Flag low base sizes or data quality issues

● Note methodology caveats for client deliverables

● Add context for unusual results

● Remind yourself of logic or grouping decisions

Notes save with your project and are included in CSV exports below the relevant table. Edit or remove a note at any time by clicking the note or the '💬 Add Note' button again.

Findings log:

Once you've annotated your key findings, you will see the '💬Export Notes' button turn green. Pressing this button will export all notes across topline and crosstab tables.

The file contains three columns (Row Variable, Column Variable, and Note) ordered by row variable, with topline notes first followed by crosstab notes for each question. A dash in the Column Variable column indicates a topline finding. This creates a concise findings brief that maps directly back to your data sources.

PART 5: EXPORTING & SHARING

EasyCrosstabs offers three types of exports, each suited to a different purpose:

1. Export Crosstabs - a banner table with your selected row and column variables (you may also select Topline only)

2. Per-table export — a quick single-table export directly from any crosstab card

3. Export Notes — a findings log of all your saved annotations throughout the entire project

All exports are CSV files compatible with Excel, Google Sheets, and statistical tools like SPSS, R, and Python.

Export Crosstabs

The primary export feature, accessible from both Topline and Crosstab view via the 📥 Export Crosstabs button in the toolbar.

How it works:

Click 📥 Export Crosstabs in the right side of the toolbar
In the modal, Topline frequencies are pre-checked when opening from Topline view. The currently active column variable is pre-checked when opening from Crosstab view
Check any additional column variables you want to include
Click 📥 Export

What's included:

Your selected row variables as stubs down the left
Each selected column variable as a banner across the top
Topline frequencies as the first column group if selected
For each column variable: one section per answer option with Count and % columns, plus a Total n column
A Total row per question
Active filters noted at the top of the export
Hidden rows excluded from the export
Grouped values exported as their group name, with NETs shown if configured
Any saved notes for the selected tables appended as a Findings Log at the bottom

CSV structure (Count & Percentages enabled):

Row 1: Column variable label spanning all its columns
Row 2: Answer option labels, each spanning Count and % columns
Row 3: "Count" and "%" sub-headers under each answer option, "Count" under Total
Two blank separator columns between each column variable group

CSV structure (Percentages Only):

Row 1: Column variable label spanning all its columns
Row 2: Answer option labels with Total

File naming: [dataset]_crosstab_export_[date].csv

Per-Table Export

For a quick single-table export without opening the modal, click the 📥 icon button on any individual crosstab card. This exports just that one table as a standalone CSV in the same format as the single-table export.

File naming: [dataset]_[question]_x_[column variable]_[date].csv

Export Notes (Findings Log)

Click 💬 Export Notes in the toolbar to export all saved annotations across all topline and crosstab tables as a CSV findings log. The button is disabled when no notes have been saved.

What's included:

One row per note, ordered by row variable
Topline notes appear first for each question, followed by crosstab notes sorted by column variable
Three columns: Row Variable, Column Variable, Note
A dash in the Column Variable column indicates a topline finding

File naming: [dataset]_findings_log_[date].csv

Tip: Export Notes pairs well with Export Crosstabs. The findings log tells the story, the banner table provides the evidence.

Opening Exports in Excel / Google Sheets

Open Excel or Google Sheets
File → Open → select your exported CSV
Data loads as a spreadsheet
Format as needed (bold headers, freeze first column, add colors, etc.)

TIP: For the banner table format, freezing column A (the question/response labels) makes it easy to scroll across many column variables without losing context. Likewise, freezing the column variable rows makes it easy to scroll down across many row variables without losing context.

Chart Exports

Individual charts can be saved as PNG by clicking 📷 Save PNG within any open chart panel in Crosstab view, or 💾 Save PNG in Topline view. Charts export at 2x resolution for crisp output in presentations and reports.

File naming: Crosstab_[question].png / Topline_[question].png

Understanding Filtered Exports

If you have active filters, all exports include a header block:

"FILTERED DATA"
"Excluded: Age = '18-24'"
"Analyzing 450 of 500 responses (50 filtered out)"

This ensures anyone viewing the export knows exactly what data was included.

NOTE: Exporting Notes is covered in Part 4 above.

PART 6: PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Saving Projects

WHEN TO SAVE:

● After uploading and configuring your data

● After creating groups or custom orders

● After setting up filters

● Before closing your browser

● When switching to analyze different data

WHAT GETS SAVED:

✓ Your uploaded data (or demo data)

✓ Selected row and column variables

✓ All groupings

✓ Custom row/column orders

✓ Hidden values

✓ Active filters

✓ Branch logic and Show logic rules

✓ Table notes

✓ Display settings (decimals, dark mode)

✓ CSV filename

HOW TO SAVE:

1. Click "Save Project" button

2. Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Q1 Customer Survey")

3. Click OK

4. A confirmation appears. If a project with the same name already exists, you'll be prompted to overwrite or save as a new project.

TIP: Save different versions of your project using descriptive names like

"Ice_Cream_Survey_Filtered" or "Ice_Cream_Survey_Grouped" to easily return to a specific analysis.

Loading Projects

HOW TO LOAD:

1. Click "Projects" button

2. Browse your saved projects

3. Click "Load" next to the project you want

4. All data, settings, and configurations restore instantly

SWITCHING BETWEEN PROJECTS:

You can save multiple projects and switch between them:

● Different datasets

● Same data with different filters

● Various grouping schemes for different reports

PROJECT LIST SHOWS:

● Project name

● Date saved

● File size

Deleting Projects

TO DELETE A PROJECT:

1. Click "Projects" button

2. Click "Delete" next to the project

3. Confirm deletion

NOTE: Deleted projects cannot be recovered. Export important crosstabs before deleting.

Exporting & Opening Project Files

In addition to browser storage, you can save your project as an EasyCrosstabs Project File (.ect) — a portable file that lives on your computer and can be used across browsers and devices.

TO EXPORT A PROJECT FILE:

1. Click "Save Project"

2. Enter a project name as usual

3. Check "Also export as EasyCrosstabs Project File (.ect)"

4. Click Save — the project saves to your browser and downloads a .ect file to your computer

TO OPEN A PROJECT FILE:

1. Click "Projects"

2. Click "📂 Open Project File" in the bottom left of the modal

3. Select your .ect file

4. All data, settings, and configurations restore instantly

WHEN TO USE PROJECT FILES:

● Backing up important projects before clearing your browser

● Moving a project to another computer or browser

● Sharing an analysis with a colleague who uses EasyCrosstabs

● Long-term archival of completed projects

NOTE: Project files are plain text and can be opened in any text editor, though they are not intended to be edited manually. All your survey data is embedded in the file — treat .ect files with the same care as your original CSV data.

EasyCrosstab Project files include a version number and are designed to remain compatible with future updates. If you open a file created with an older version, EasyCrosstabs will load it with sensible defaults for any new features.

MANAGING STORAGE:

Projects are stored in your browser's local storage using compression. If you

need to free up space:

● Delete old/unused projects

● Export important analyses before deleting

● Consider exporting data to CSV for long-term archival

NOTE: Projects are stored in your browser's local storage. This means projects saved in Chrome will not appear in Firefox or Safari, and clearing your browser data will permanently delete all saved projects. Export important analyses to CSV regularly as a backup. Additional considerations:

Projects do not sync across devices or browsers
Clearing browser cache or storage will delete all saved projects
If you use multiple browsers, maintain separate project sets in each
For long-term storage, regularly export your crosstabs to CSV

PART 7: STATISTICAL TESTING

Statistical tests help you determine whether patterns in your crosstabs are meaningful or simply due to chance. EasyCrosstabs provides two complementary measures: the Chi-Square test for significance and Cramér's V for effect size.

Understanding the Tests

Chi-Square (χ²) measures whether there's a statistically significant relationship between your row and column variables. It answers the question: "Is this pattern real, or could it have occurred randomly?"

A p-value less than 0.05 indicates the relationship is likely significant and not due to random variation
A p-value of 0.05 or higher suggests the pattern could be due to chance

Cramér's V measures the strength of the association once significance is established. While Chi-Square tells you if a relationship exists, Cramér's V tells you how strong it is—and whether it's worth acting on.

Enabling Statistical Tests

Generate one or more crosstabs by selecting row and column variables
Click the Chi-Square (χ²) button in the toolbar above your crosstabs
The button turns green when active, and test results appear below each crosstab table
Hover over the ⓘ icon next to the button for a quick reference on interpreting results
Click the button again to toggle statistical tests off

Reading the Results

Results appear in a colored banner below each crosstab:

Green banner: Significant relationship detected (p < 0.05)
Gray banner: No significant relationship found

The results display:

χ²: The chi-square statistic
df: Degrees of freedom
p: The p-value (probability the relationship is due to chance)
Cramér's V: The effect size with association strength label

Example result:

Chi-square test: χ² = 24.31 | df = 6 | p = 0.0004 — ✓ Significant (Cramér's V = 0.28, actionable association)

Cramér's V Thresholds

EasyCrosstabs uses custom thresholds calibrated for market research data, where even minor effect sizes can form business insights:

Cramér's V

Association Strength

What It Means

< 0.1

Minimal association

Little to no practical relationship

0.1 – 0.2

Directional association

A notable trend; likely warrants further analysis

0.2 – 0.4

Actionable association

A clear pattern you can make decisions on

≥ 0.4

Robust association

A strong, reliable relationship

These thresholds differ slightly from traditional academic benchmarks, which were developed for behavioral science research. Market research data often shows subtler patterns that are nonetheless valuable for business decisions.

Working with Grouped Data

When you have row groupings applied, the Chi-Square test uses the grouped values to ensure statistical validity. This means:

The test evaluates your defined analytical categories (e.g., "Top 2 Box" rather than individual scale points)
Charts and statistical tests analyze the same grouped data
If the NETs checkbox is enabled, the table may show original values with NETs, but the test still uses the grouped view
This prevents double-counting and maintains accurate degrees of freedom

When grouped data is used, you'll see "Tests include grouped values" appended to the results.

Sample Size Limitations

Cramér's V should be interpreted with sample size in mind:

Small samples (under 100 respondents): V can be unstable and may overstate the strength of an association. A few respondents changing answers could shift the result substantially. Look for V values of 0.3 or higher before drawing conclusions from small samples.

Very large samples (1,000+ respondents): The Chi-Square test becomes highly sensitive and may flag very small differences as "significant." In these cases, pay closer attention to the Cramér's V value than the p-value. A statistically significant result with a "minimal association" (V < 0.1) may not be meaningful for business decisions.

As a rule of thumb: p-value tells you if a relationship exists; Cramér's V tells you if it matters.

Important Considerations

Low base sizes: Row totals of 30 or fewer respondents are flagged in red. Interpret these results with caution, as small cell sizes can produce unreliable statistics.
Correlation ≠ causation: A significant relationship doesn't prove one variable causes the other. Two variables may be related because of a third factor not included in your analysis.
Multiple comparisons: When running many crosstabs, some will show significance by chance alone (roughly 1 in 20 at p < 0.05). Consider this when interpreting results across many tables.
Filtered data: Chi-Square results reflect your active filters. If you have filters applied, the test is calculated on the filtered subset only, which is noted in the results banner.
Nominal data only: Chi-Square and Cramér's V are designed for nominal (unordered) categories like "Region" or "Product Type." For ordinal data like "Low/Medium/High" or Likert scales (Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree), other tests like Kendall's Tau may be more appropriate. EasyCrosstabs will still calculate results for ordinal data, so keep this limitation in mind.

Tips for Using Statistical Tests

Combine with Heatmap Mode: Enable both Chi-Square and Heatmap Mode to visually confirm where significant differences appear in your data
Prioritize your analysis: Use statistical results to identify which crosstabs deserve deeper investigation rather than treating all tables equally
Translate for stakeholders: The association strength labels (directional, actionable, robust) help translate statistical findings into business language that non-technical audiences can understand
Export your evidence: Statistical test results are included in exports, providing documentation for your methodology and findings

PART 8: ADVANCED FEATURES

Decimal Precision

Control how many decimal places appear in your percentages.

SETTINGS:

● 0 decimals: 24% (default, clean and simple)

● 1 decimal: 24.5% (added detail)

● 2 decimals: 24.46% (high precision)

TO CHANGE:

1. Click the decimals button on the upper right (defaults to "Whole Numbers")

2. Click once for one decimal and twice for two decimals

3. All tables update immediately

WHEN TO USE MORE PRECISION:

● Small sample sizes where 1% matters

● Academic or scientific reporting requirements

● Detecting subtle differences between segments

● Financial or compliance reporting

WHEN TO USE LESS PRECISION:

● Executive summaries or presentations

● Cleaner, easier-to-read tables

Counts & Percentages

View the number of responses for each value in addition to percentages.

TO SWITCH:

Click the "Percentages Only" button on the upper right (between the questions display and the decimals button) to toggle to "Counts & Percentages."

Dark Mode

Toggle between light and dark themes for comfortable viewing in different environments.

TO SWITCH:

Click the "Dark" or "Light" button in the top right corner.

DARK MODE BENEFITS:

● Reduces eye strain in low-light environments

● Better for long analysis sessions

● Easier on battery life (on OLED screens)

● Personal preference for some users

Chart Generation

Visualize your crosstabs with interactive charts.

HOW TO CREATE CHARTS:

1. Click "📊 Show Charts" on any topline or crosstab display

2. Choose chart type:

● Vertical Bar Chart: Compare values across categories

● Horizontal Bar Chart: Same comparison in horizontal orientation — better for longer label names

● Vertical Stacked Bar: See composition within each column group

● Horizontal Stacked Bar: Same composition view in horizontal orientation

● Heatmap (crosstabs only): Color gradient table for at-a-glance pattern spotting

● Topline is limited to vertical and horizontal bar charts

3. Chart appears above the table

CHART TYPES EXPLAINED:

Bar Chart:

● Each column gets its own colored bar

● Heights show percentages

● Easy to compare across groups

● Best for: Seeing differences between columns

Stacked Bar Chart:

● Each column is a single bar divided into segments

● Segments stack to 100%

● Shows composition

● Best for: Understanding proportions within each group

Heatmap:

● Selected crosstab is showing in a table with gradient color scheme

● Indicate lowest to highest values to quickly identify standout statistics

TIP: Use bar charts for comparison, stacked charts for composition analysis, and

heatmap for analysis at a glance.

NOTE: If a question is crossed against itself, the Show Charts button will be greyed out. Cross-variable charts are not meaningful when both axes represent the same variable.

Column Labels

Rename variables to make tables clearer and more professional.

WHY RENAME:

● Shorten long question text

● Use client-preferred terminology

● Make tables presentation-ready

● Clarify ambiguous variable names

HOW TO RENAME:

1. Click the pencil icon (✏️) next to any variable name

2. Enter new label

3. Press Save

4. New label appears in all tables

EXAMPLES:

Original: "Q3_How_satisfied_are_you_with_our_customer_service"

Renamed: "Customer Service Satisfaction"

Original: "dem_age_group"

Renamed: "Age"

Labels save with your project and persist across sessions.

TIP: Rename variables before exporting for client-ready deliverables.

TROUBLESHOOTING

ISSUE: CSV won't upload

● → Verify it's a .csv file (not .xlsx or .xls)

● → Check that first row contains headers

● → Open in text editor to confirm comma separation

● → Try re-saving from Excel as "CSV (Comma delimited)"

ISSUE: No crosstabs appear

● → Ensure you selected at least one row variable and one column variable

● → Check that data uploaded successfully (see row count)

● → Verify data contains actual values (not all blank)

ISSUE: A question I want to analyze was automatically excluded

● → The import wizard pre-excludes columns it identifies as metadata, high-cardinality identifiers, or numeric continuous inputs

● → Click the column header in the import wizard preview to manually re-include it before importing

● → If it's a numeric question with many unique values, consider grouping the values in your source file first (e.g. "1-25", "26-50") for more meaningful crosstab analysis

ISSUE: Percentages seem wrong

● → Remember: Each COLUMN adds to 100%, not each row

● → Check if filters are active (may be excluding respondents)

● → Verify no hidden values affecting calculations

● → Ensure that any relevant survey logic has been selected in the tool

ISSUE: License key not working

● → Copy key directly from purchase email (avoid typing)

● → Check for extra spaces before/after the key

● → Ensure you're connected to the internet (validation requires connection)

● → Contact support at support@easycrosstabs.com

ISSUE: Tables look jumbled or misaligned

● → Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari recommended)

● → Zoom to 100% (Ctrl+0 or Cmd+0)

● → Ensure browser is up to date

ISSUE: Can't find a saved project

● → Projects are stored per browser - check the browser you originally used

● → If you cleared browser data, projects may be lost

● → Always export important crosstabs as backup

ISSUE: Export includes filtered data I wanted to exclude

● → Filters are working - the export header shows what was excluded

● → The filtered respondents are removed from calculations

● → Header clarifies what data the export represents

ISSUE: License has reached its device limit

● → EasyCrosstab lisences are monitored for misuse, sharing, and piracy

● → Suspected use outside of end-use lisence agreement (see here) may cause disruption to service

● → If you're seeing this unexpectedly, contact support@easycrosstabs.com and we’ll resolve it.

GETTING HELP:

Email: support@easycrosstabs.com

Please include:

● Description of the issue

● What you were trying to do

● Browser and operating system

● Screenshots if helpful

We typically respond within 48 hours (Monday-Friday).

APPENDIX

System Requirements

SUPPORTED BROWSERS:

● Google Chrome

● Mozilla Firefox

● Safari

● Microsoft Edge

Notes: Internet Explorer is not supported. Brave browser might prevent the program from loading.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

● Any modern computer (Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook)

● 4GB RAM (8GB recommended for large datasets)

● Internet connection (for license validation only)

FILE SIZE LIMITS:

● CSV files up to 50MB

● Approximately 100,000 rows supported

● Performance depends on your device

WORKS OFFLINE:

EasyCrosstabs works offline as a web application downloaded via Chrome or Edge. Use of the web app required internet connection. With the desktop application, you only need internet for:

● Initial license activation

● Re-validation which may be required periodically or if significant system changes are detected

Privacy & Data Security

YOUR DATA STAYS LOCAL:

● All data processing happens in your browser

● Nothing is uploaded to our servers

● Your survey data never leaves your device

● We cannot see or access your data

LICENSE VALIDATION:

● Only your license key is sent to Gumroad for validation

● Other license validation measures are handled securely

● No personal information or survey data transmitted

● Connection is encrypted (HTTPS)

NOTE: If verification fails due to a network issue, a yellow warning banner will appear at the bottom of the screen. Your access will continue normally for up to 7 days. To clear the notice, simply open EasyCrosstabs while connected to the internet and it will verify automatically.

If you see a "License No Longer Valid" screen, your license may have been deactivated or reached its device limit. Your data has not been affected. Contact support@easycrosstabs.com and we’ll resolve it promptly.

STORED LOCALLY:

● Saved projects stored in your browser's local storage

● Only accessible on your device

● Not backed up to cloud

● Clearing browser data will delete projects

BEST PRACTICES:

● Back up important analyses as a CSV and as an .ect file

● Don't share your license key with others

● Delete projects when no longer needed

File Requirements (Detailed)

CSV FORMAT SPECIFICATIONS:

Encoding: UTF-8 (recommended) or ASCII

Line endings: Windows (CRLF), Mac (LF), or Unix (LF) all supported

Column separator: Comma (,)

Text qualifier: Double quotes (") when text contains commas

Header row: Required (first row)

VALID EXAMPLE:

Age, Region,Satisfaction

"25-34","Northeast","Very Satisfied"

"45-54","South, Central","Satisfied"

INVALID EXAMPLES:

Missing headers: 25-34,Northeast,Very Satisfied ← Missing header row

Wrong separator: Age;Region;Satisfaction ← Using semicolon instead of comma

HANDLING SPECIAL CHARACTERS:

● Commas in text: Wrap in quotes → "New York, NY"

● Quotes in text: Use double quotes → "They said ""yes"""

● Apostrophes: No special handling needed → It's fine

DATA PREPARATION TIPS:

1. Remove completely blank rows

2. Remove completely blank columns

3. Ensure consistent values (e.g., don't mix "Male" and "male")

4. Replace missing values with a consistent code (e.g., "No response")

5. Keep question text concise in headers (you can rename in EasyCrosstabs)

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

START SIMPLE:

Begin with 2-3 row variables and 1 column variable. Master the basics before adding complexity.

USE DEMO DATA:

Experiment with demo data to learn features without risking your real data.

SAVE OFTEN:

Save your project after major configuration changes.

NAME THOUGHTFULLY:

Use descriptive project names and column labels.

EXPORT FREQUENTLY:

Export important crosstabs to CSV as you work. Browser storage isn't permanent.

FILTER STRATEGICALLY:

Use filters to analyze subgroups rather than creating multiple datasets.

GROUP PURPOSEFULLY:

Create groups that match your reporting needs or client requirements.

CHECK YOUR MATH:

Verify percentages add up as expected. Each column should sum to 100%.

DOCUMENT FILTERS:

When sharing exports, note what filters were applied in your report text.

LEVERAGE TOPLINE:

Start with the topline view to understand your data before diving into crosstabs.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Can I use EasyCrosstabs with .xlsx, .sav. or other files that are not .csv format?

A: No, you must import your Excel file as a CSV file. CSV files are universal and available as an export format for all major survey platforms. If you’ve already downloaded as a .xlsx, you can save as a .csv, but you will lose any data you had on additonal tabs in your workbook (.csv only allows one tab).

Ensure you are using the labled rather than the numeric version.

Q: How many crosstabs can I create at once?

A: No limit. Select as many row variables as needed.

Q: How does EasyCrosstabs handle multi-select questions?

A: Each option in a multi-select is treated as its own individual crosstab. For survey data formats that leave blanks for unselected multi-select options, our smart algorithm determines how many options were and were not selected and incorporates and survey logic to provide accurate calculations.

Q: Can I change the column variable after calculating?

A: Yes, Just select a different column variable and values will update instantly.

Q: Do I need to be online to use EasyCrosstabs?

A: Only for initial license validation. After that, it works fully offline.

Q: Can I share my license?

A: No, licenses are single-user. Suspected license abuse will result in key revocation.

Q: Where are my saved projects stored?

A: In your browser's local storage on your device only.

Q: Can I use this on my phone or tablet?

A: It works on tablets. Phone screens are too small for comfortable analysis.

Q: What's the maximum file size?

A: Approximately 50MB or 100,000 rows, depending on your device.

Q: Can I edit data in EasyCrosstabs?

A: No, you must edit your data in Excel or your survey platform prior to uploading your CSV. However, you can change column labels within EasyCrosstabs in the Row Variable drop-down menu. You can change answer options using the grouping feature by creating groups of a single response and renaming it (e.g., group “1997-2012” as “Millennials"). These changes will reflect in EasyCrosstabs exports.

Q: How do I update to the latest version?

A: An email will be sent notifying you of updates. Your license key works with all updates. Future upgrades will be available for purchase.

EasyCrosstabs is an independent developer. Thank you for your support!

If you like our product, please refer a friend or colleague using your post-purchase discount code.

For support: support@easycrosstabs.com

Website: easycrosstabs.com

Purchase: buy.easycrosstabs.com

Version 1.0 - February 2026