iSearch 2.7 and RFI portfolios vs. iCode feature comparison – iCode Support

Background

iCode was developed as a stand alone portfolio coding tool to improve OPA's portfolio platform, and to use alongside the new version of iSearch (3.0). The past portfolio tool which was integrated into iSearch 2.7 presented some concerns with not being able to have a fully static dataset, and over the years, OPA captured a number of other improvements and requested features, which have been implemented in iCode.

Most features available in the past portfolio tool versions have been retained in iCode to support feature parity. iCode also includes improvements to the user interface, visualizations, data flexibility, and coding functionality.

The chart below summarizes the major differences in the tools, as well as where the same features can be found.

	iSearch 2.7 portfolios and RFI tool	iCode	iCode User guide URL
Static portfolios	To make this, you needed to upload data to a portfolio; could not make from iSearch records so metrics may not unchanged in future	Truly static portfolio tool because of the stand alone platform	n/a
Data	Pulls from iSearch 2.7 and all metrics update automatically	Pulls from iSearch 3.0 and metrics will not update unless your portfolio is set to dynamic If you wish for metrics (not records) to only update like RCR, award status, add a search of system IDs and then check dynamic Adding multiple sources will save past fields chosen by default	More information in ported portfolios article: https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/53655702701595-iSearch-2-7-Portfolios-vs-iCode-projects-ported
Modules/ datasets	Needed to go to individual modules to find portfolio in iSearch	Everything is in one place, with dataset name as a future feature field to be added alongside Source	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/55192990326683-Landing-page
Visualizations	Manually create charts	Automatically available based on data included	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/52081018794011-Charts-view
Filters/Facets	Automatically set	Automatically chosen and you can make adjustments to field type to ensure certain fields are filters	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/52080994412443-Filters-view
Upload data	Under Manage Content	Under Upload Data button	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/53975275477531-Tutorial-Upload-data-coding-additional-data
Search Assistance	Not available	New feature to assist you in creating queries to search within project	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/52386338861595-Search-Assist-ance
Coding	Code all records and code results set buttons	Start coding button captures both use cases and adjusts accordingly	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/52322689102107-Tutorial-How-to-Code
Manage Portfolio	Go here to add coding fields, users, highlighting and more. Only Managers and Super Curators can access this	Under Settings in left panel. Go to Add Collaborators or other setting to set up coding, highlighting or modify the view for all users in portfolio. Only Managers can access this Settings will not be an option for Coders or Viewers	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/51431710432283-Settings-Overview
Manage Content	Go here to add records (spreadsheets, searches or coding) to portfolio Only Managers and Super Curators can access this	Under Settings in left panel. Go to Manage Content to adjust records. To upload additional data for existing records, use the Upload Data button instead which can be found in other views under the search bar Only Managers can access this Settings will not be an option for Coders or Viewers, so they will not be able to change records	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/51429472194331-Overview-Manage-Content
Coding	Managers or super curators needed to hide other coders' fields from others' views in record view to ensure coding was bling	New coding panel shows only your coding fields. Only Managers can toggle to Review to see all Coders responses in record view.	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/51431428492571-Setting-up-coding-fields-and-vocabularies
Sections	Automatically created for you if adding from iSearch; no other option to make custom sections	New feature allows users to make custom sections and reorder fields at any point. iSearch sections also to be brought over automatically from url search in future release.	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/51436597481883-Modify-View-Manage-Sections
Highlighting	Set up individually, no memory of past term highlighted or fields used. Complicated color picked during set up.	Fields chosen in past term set up to be highlighted are remembered for next terms added. Color picker is more straight forward.	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/53751684843803-Highlighting
Vocabularies	Complex and difficult to create. If you used a past one for a new project, you will have changed the vocab as a whole	Treats vocabs per project. You can copy any vocab you created in the past and add to this project to keep it/any edits unique to this project	https://support.icode.opa-tools.od.nih.gov/hc/en-us/articles/51431428492571-Setting-up-coding-fields-and-vocabularies
Modify displayable fields	To temporarily edit fields a coder is seeing in record view (applied to their session and them only)	Future feature	n/a
Copy curatable/ coding field	Copy a paste curatable field made in another project	Reviewing as a potential future feature; projects are stand alone in iCode, however	n/a
Masking	Used as a way to hide records in the portfolio because there was no way to delete records	Future feature; to remove data from records in the tool, you can reupload a file with the existing ID and remove field values or add an additional field to tag these ad Do not use	n/a
Copy portfolio	Option in portfolio list	Future feature	n/a

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