HyperRESEARCH uses the number of characters from the start of the file to mark where a code reference starts and ends. What this means is that if you make any changes to the number of characters, all code references after the change will be shifted. (For example, if you add five characters to the start of the file, all the code references in the file will be moved five characters. If you add ten characters halfway through the file, the code references in the first half will be unchanged, but those in the second half will be moved ten characters.)

Because of this, we recommend strongly that you make any necessary changes or edits before you begin coding a text source file. If you need to add header information (such as date and interviewer name) to a file after coding it, we suggest you add this information at the end, rather than the beginning. This will ensure that your previously-completed coding is not disturbed by the change.