🆕 What is new

Differences to Causal Map 2

Causal Map 3 has a more user-friendly interface with many new features that will make your user experience faster, smoother and more enjoyable.

If you have an existing file in Causal Map 2 you can transfer it to Causal Map 3 like this

Click on the button with the down arrow to download from Causal Map 2:

Then save the Excel file on your computer.

Go to Causal Map 3, click on the button with the single paper drawing to create a new file:

Then upload your Excel file into the new file you just created. You just need to click on the black button with the arrow up, select the file you want to upload from your computer and click on the green Upload button

Should I use Causal Map 2 or Causal Map 3?

Causal Map 2 will remain available for the foreseeable future but we recommend all users transition to the new Causal Map 3.

If you want to analyse existing files, both apps are free. If you want to create new files and code more than 50 causal links within them, you will need a subscription.

Pricing and payment are the same, your subscription allows you to use either or both apps.

AI assistance is only available in Causal Map 3, by invitation only.

Compatibility with Causal Map 2

You can roundtrip from CM2 <-> CM3 and CM3 <-> CM3 by exporting an Excel file and then importing it again.

Some standout new features

Causal Map 3 is a completely new app with lots of familiar features and lots of new features. The basic workflow should still be pretty much the same.

You can do AI-powered coding and clustering. At the moment this is only available in our private beta programme.

A lot faster (e.g. switching between files) and hopefully more stable and fixable.

Main differences: Filters

There is now no Advanced Editor (and no need for one). You can do everything you need with point and click.

Filters are split into

Statement Filters

Transforms Filters

Formatting for the map (and tables)

These filters apply in this order: first we select statements, then apply transformations to the coding within them, e.g. selecting the top ten links, then finally we format the map.

There are now only about 10 transforms filters to choose from. We have rationalised and simplified all of them and the way they work together. In particular, the important Path Tracing filter has been completely rewritten.

Main differences: Statement panel

You can now view and code more than one statement at once, for instance you can view and code all at once all the statements from people under 21 or all the answers to a particular question.

You should find it easier to find and navigate between the statements you want.

Main differences: uploading and adding data

You should find it easier to upload new and additional data, and to tweak existing data.

Main differences: Factor Editor

The old Advanced Factor Editor has been replaced by a completely new “Manage Labels” tab. This is easier to use and is more powerful in most use cases.

You can choose multiple factors, see the links they are in, the quotes linked to them and edit or delete multiple labels at once.

Other improvements

Authentication is improved. There is an email check on signup and 2-factor authentication can be enabled.

User interface

Fullscreen buttons for maps and tables

Improved dropdowns:

you can delete things in chooser dropdowns with the little X
you can delete multiple things in chooser dropdowns by multiple selecting then pressing delete
you can permanently delete all links or a selection of links by choosing a filtered view in the links table

the maps now give all of the description you need to understand how to read it and how it was filtered

Simpler logic

Factors and links

You probably won’t notice, but in Causal Map 3 we don’t store information about factors separately at all. All information about factors is just whatever is implied by the links. So if there is a link “lost job —> more stress” then this implies the existence of the factors lost job and more stress. If there are no links mentioning “lost job” then there is no such factor either.

This tweak makes it easier to implement the filters and the rest of the Causal Map app.

Statements and sources

Normally you don’t have to think about Statement IDs, as they are created automatically when you import files, but here is some info on the new specification: statement IDs are unique, permanent and no longer have to be serial numbers 1, 2, 3 etc. They are usually of the form source_id | statement code (though they don’t have to be: they can be any series of unique codes).

Source and statements are shown always in strict alphabetical order, so 11 comes after 1.

this means you can “insert” statements by providing an appropriate statement id, you don’t have to only add new statements at the end.

if you want numerical statement codes, and want these listed in the expected order, number them like this: 001, 002, 003 etc. rather than 1, 2, 3 etc.

The statement_code part may be a serial number or anything at all.

Coding and highlighting; Overlapping selections

You can now code any stretches of text whether they overlap or not.

Breaking changes from Causal Map 2

Causal Map 3 is still new so you may find missing details. If you do, let us know.

There are no factor memos

You can’t use ellipses to shorten a quote

… but you can still use square brackets to include comments or other material within a quote.