FAQs : Our Products

There is currently only one version of the FrameWork software. However, there are different types of FrameWork ‘licence’ available to purchase. These are based on research sectors. The only difference is price and duration of the licences, the software and functionality remains the same in all cases.

The sectors are:

• Commercial (e.g. market research agencies/privately owned companies/freelance researchers)

• Government / Public sector bodies (e.g. central, regional and local Government bodies / PCTs etc)

• Educational and not-for-profit organisations (e.g. universities/colleges, charities and other not-for-profit organisations)

• Students (full / part time students at FE/HE colleges or universities).

If you find you are not included in any of these categories, or feel you have mitigating circumstances which may class you as suitable for a reduced priced licence, please do not hesitate to contact us at framework@natcen.ac.uk. We will assess all cases individually.

There are 3 options:

1. If you are purchasing a single user licence you can visit out online shop at www.framework-natcen.co.uk and purchase software online using a credit or debit card.

2. You can contact the FrameWork team directly to organise the issuing of an invoice or payment by cheque. Call the FrameWork team on 020 7549 9562.

3. If you would like to purchase a network version of the software, you can email framework@natcen.ac.uk or call 020 7549 9562 to arrange a free consultation.

Setting up FrameWork on a network requires a consultation as each case tends to be different due to the specific set up of your organisation’s current network. A unique solution will be based on your organisation’s current network system, type of server, number of users and amount of data you wish to store.

Also the support for running FrameWork on your network will be based on the level of support you feel you require, in addition to the number of users you have and whether remote access to your system is allowed. There are various options and levels of support available to ensure you get the best support contract for your business.

There are a several circumstances in which you would need to renew your licence:

1. If you have been using a 30-day trial and want to continue using the software after it expires, then you will need to renew your licence to either a full single-user licence or become a registered student user.

2. If you are a registered student user and your 12-month licence expires. You will then need to re-register for another student licence (if you are still eligible).

3. If you were a student user but your 12-month licence has expired and you are no longer eligible for a student licence, you will need to renew from your student licence to full single-user licence.

In all of these cases the software will automatically inform you when your current licence will expire and explain how to renew.

As you will already have installed the software on your computer you will not need to re-install the software when you renew your licence. The FrameWork team will simply send your a new release key file to extend your licence. This way any work you have imported into the program will not be lost.

Trial users: If you have used your 30-day trial and do not wish to upgrade to a full single-user or student licence you do not need to take any action. You trial software will automatically terminate after the 30-days and if you think you will not want to purchase the software in the future you can simply un-install the files from your computer.

Student users: If you have been using a student licence and you do not wish to upgrade, the software will automatically terminate and you need not take any further action. If you think you will not want to purchase the software in the future you can simply un-install the files from your computer.

This is not a problem. The software will terminate after the 30-day trial period (or after 12-months if you have a student licence), however, if you do not uninstall the software, and keep note of your Program-ID, you can simply contact us or visit the online shop and upgrade the licence at any point in the future. This way you will not need to reinstall the program and all your past work will remain saved in the program.

If you do uninstall the software but then decide to upgrade later, simply contact us or visit the online shop to purchase a new licence. You will however have to install the software again using the installation disk.

We offer a special 12-month student licence which is only available for individuals in full or part-time education. The licence will run for 12 consecutive months.

In order for us to ensure all student licences are being used by eligible individuals only we have to collect evidence to prove your student status.

We require a completed Student Verification form and a scanned copy of your student identification to be e-mailed to frameworkstudents@natcen.ac.uk or faxed to 020 7250 1524. Please note: NUS cards are not acceptable as proof of student status.

This will be logged by the FrameWork team and you will be e-mailed a unique student code in return. You will need this to complete your transaction on the online shop (payment by invoice and cheque is also possible; just contact the FrameWork team to arrange).

If you have any further questions about the student licence or the evidence of your student status please e-mail frameworkstudents@natcen.ac.uk

Ultimately the core functionality of the FrameWork software is the same for all users. However, a single user licence allows you to only use the software on your own computer. You would use the software independently of others but you would be able to transfer data to other single users using the import/export function. Unlike those using the network version of the software, multiple single users are not able to access the same data at the same time.

A network licence allows you and your colleagues to work on the same shared dataset across a secure network. Data can be shared and accessed by all users simultaneously (as long as permitted by the security functions set by the Project Administrator).

When a licence terminates you will no longer be able to log-on to the program, so you will be able to access your imported data or view queries you may have run.

We can offer academics and universities/HE and FE colleges’ further discounts on multiple single licences or the networked software if they can demonstrate that FrameWork has been adopted as a core CAQDAS tool in their teaching programmes or for their department/faculty use. Again we reserve the right to request evidence of the adoption of the software.

If you would like further information please contact one of our advisors on 020 7549 9562 or e-mail framework@natcen.ac.uk

At this point in time there is no plan to release a new version of FrameWork. We will continue to provide updates to the version 1 software, as we currently do, to all full and student licence holders.