TOCO User Guide

Theory of Change Online

Revised August 2014

Home Page

The$homepage$has$your$le$browser$at$le3$and$menus$and$bu6ons$across$the$top.$$The$File$and$
Edit$menu$func=ons$are$all$reviewed$in$the$following$pages$of$this$guide.$The$guide$is$available$
from$the$Help$menu.
Your$ToC$les$are$listed$in$the$browser$in$chronological$order.$The$browser$gives$you$created$
date$and$updated$date.$Users$with$access$to$mul=ple$ToC$les$can$use$the$search$window$to$
search$for$les$either$by$=tle$or$TOCO$user$name.
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My TOCs File Browser
Files$are$searchable$by$le$=tle$or$by$user$name
Use$the$refresh$bu6on$to$reset$the$browser$a3er$a$search
Browser$lists$=tles,$user$name,$dates$of$le$crea=on$and$last$save.
The$<<$icon$at$the$top$of$the$browser,$to$the$right$of$the$search$window,$allows$you$to$slide$the$
browser$out$of$view$when$a$ToC$le$is$open.
To$delete$a$le,$select$the$le$name,$rightJclick,$and$select$delete$ToC$from$the$menu.

Buttons
Use$this$bu6on$to$create$a$new$theory$of$change$le$(TOC).$$This$brings$up$a$short$
wizard$with$three$dialogue$boxes:$
1. Give$a$name$for$the$le.
2. Choose$portrait$or$landscape$page$setup$for$your$map$(theory$of$change$
outcomes$framework$diagram).$
3. Enter$the$LongJterm$Outcome$(if$you$dont$have$one$yet$enter$a$placeholder$
such$as$LTO$and$change$it$when$youre$ready.

The$help$bu6on$brings$up$the$guide$you$are$reading.

This$bu6on$takes$you$to$the$website$of$the$Center$for$Theory$of$Change,$
www.theoryofchange.org.$

The$training$bu6on$is$inac=ve$at$present.$The$Center$for$Theory$of$Change$oers$
training$in$Theory$of$Change$through$its$partner,$ActKnowledge.$Contact$the$
center$with$queries$about$training$opportuni=es:$info@theoryofchange.org.$

Logging$out$closes$your$session.$You$will$be$asked$to$save$the$ac=ve$TOCO$le.$
Unless$you$save$them,$any$other$open$les$will$be$closed$without$saving.

Zooming$in/out$is$very$useful$in$TOCO.$You$can$use$these$bu6ons$or$use$mouse$or$
keypad$zooming.

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File Menu
$$There$is$no$autoJ
New$starts$a$new$ToC$le. save$func=onality$in$
Save$saves$the$ac=ve$le.$ TOCO$so$remember$to$
save$your$les$
Save$As$makes$a$copy$of$the$ToC$le$you$ frequently$while$you$
are$working$in.$You$must$give$a$name$to$ work!
the$new$le.$This$func=on$allows$you$to$
maintain$dierent$versions$of$a$single$
project.
Use$Save$to$PDF$to$print$your$work$or$send$TOCs$via$email.$$You$may$have$to$disable$a$popup$
blocker$on$your$browser$for$TOCO$to$create$the$PDF.
Close$closes$the$ac=ve$le;$you$will$be$asked$to$save.
Logout$closes$your$session.$You$will$be$asked$to$save$the$ac=ve$TOC$le.$Any$other$open$les$
will$be$closed$without$saving.

Edit Menu
Use$Add$Outcome$to$create$a$new$outcome$box$on$the$
canvas.$$An$outcome$object$will$appear$on$the$canvas$
and$the$Outcome$Editor$panel$will$appear$at$le3.$You$
enter$the$text$of$the$outcome$in$the$editor$panel.
Add$Comment$creates$a$blank$comment$on$the$canvas$
signed$with$your$username.$$You$can$enter$text$directly$
in$the$comment$box.$Then$rightJclick$to$move$the$
comment$where$you$want$it,$or$to$delete$it.$The$
comments$feature$is$intended$to$facilitate$collabora=ve$
work.
Add$Text$Box$creates$an$empty$text$box$in$which$you$can$
enter$text$for$any$purpose.$RightJclick$to$move$and$
delete$the$box.$
Add$ToC$Title$creates$a$=tle$object$that$rst$appears$in$
the$upper$le3$corner$of$the$canvas.$Move$it$to$where$you$
want$it$using$rightJclick.$RightJclick$again$to$return$to$
edit$mode$so$that$you$can$enter$text,$such$as$the$=tle$of$the$ToC$and$the$date$of$crea=on$or$
last$revision.$DoubleJclick$in$the$=tle$object$to$open$up$an$edi=ng$panel$that$allows$you$to$
change$fonts,$font$color,$and$size.
Edit$Narra=ve$opens$the$ToC$Basics$Editor$panel,$where$you$can$enter$and$edit$narra=ve$text.
Edit$Assump=ons$opens$the$ToC$Basics$Editor$panel,$where$you$can$enter$and$edit$assump=ons.

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Add$Color$Legend$opens$a$legend$object$on$the$canvas,$where$you$can$show$what$the$outcome$
color$scheme$means.$The$legend$object$rst$appears$in$the$upper$le3$corner$of$the$canvas.$
Most$likely$you$will$want$to$move$it$toward$the$edge$of$your$outcomes$graphic.
Show/Hide$Comments$allows$you$to$have$a$version$of$the$canvas$in$which$comments$do$not$
appear.
Add/Remove$Accountability$Ceiling$adds$or$removes$a$dashed$line$which$can$be$moved$up$or$
down$on$the$canvas.
Straight$Connectors$changes$all$the$connec=ng$arrows$between$outcome$boxes$to$straight$
lines.
RightJangled$connectors$is$the$default$sehng.$Click$on$this$to$return$from$straightJline$
connectors$to$the$default$orthogonal,$or$rightJangled,$connectors.
Cut/Copy/Paste.$These$func=ons$are$not$yet$opera=onal.

Drawing Canvas
The$canvas$is$where$you$create$the$ToC$graphic$of$outcomes$connected$to$one$another$in$
causal$pathways.$The$canvas$opens$up$when$you$open$an$exis=ng$TOCO$le$by$clicking$on$the$
=tle$in$your$le$browser,$or$when$you$create$a$new$TOCO$le.
Many$opera=ons$on$the$drawing$canvas$are$available$on$the$Edit$menu.$These$func=ons$
include$crea=ng$new$outcomes,$comments,$text$boxes,$=tles,$color$legend,$and$the$dashed$
accountability$line.$Here$too$are$items$for$edi=ng$assump=ons$and$the$ToC$narra=ve,$and$
for$switching$from$rightJangled$to$straightJline$connectors.

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Other operations can be performed directly on the canvas. Each outcome box has four control
icons on it, which you see when you roll over the outcome with the cursor. Popup instructions
appear when you roll over the first three icons.

Drag & drop: Outcomes$may$be$moved$around$on$the$canvas$using$the$cursor.$$You$can$move$

mul=ple$outcomes$at$once$too.
To move multiple outcomes, hold$down$the$shi3$key$and$click$on$all$the$outcomes$you$
want$to$move.$$The$selected$outcomes$will$be$par=ally$screened$from$view.$$Then$press$the$
control$key,$hold$the$cursor$down$on$the$outcomes$to$be$moved,$and$move$them.$When$
nished,$click$again$and$the$outcomes$will$be$deJselected.$
For$Apple$MacIntosh$computers,$hold$down$the$command$key$instead$of$the$control$
key$to$move$selected$objects.
TOCO$has$popup$instruc=ons$for$moving$mul=ple$objects$which$you$see$as$you$roll$over$
outcomes$with$the$cursor.
Right-click on$objects$to$perform$various$opera=ons,$as$follows:
To$delete$an$outcome,$text$box,$connector,$or$comment,$rightJclick$and$select$delete$from$
the$menu.
Although$outcomes$may$be$moved$without$special$commands,$$moving$other$objects$requires$
rightJclicking$and$selec=ng$the$move$menu$item.$These$include$textboxes, the title box,
comments,$and$the$color$legend.$$Once$you$select$move$you$can$drag$the$object$where$you$
want$it.
To$add$a$precondi=on$to$an$outcome$with$a$new$connector$between$the$two,$rightJclick$and$
select$add$a$precondi=on.$
Keypad/Mouse Navigation:
There$are$two$ways$to$move$around$the$canvas:$
grab$the$ver=cal$or$horizontal$scroll$bar$and$move
click$on$the$canvas$(i.e.,$somewhere$on$the$background$grid$rather$than$on$any$objects),$
hold$the$cursor$down,$and$drag$the$canvas$to$the$loca=on$you$want.
Crea=ng$and$edi=ng$the$TOC$map$requires$frequent$adjustments$of$the$canvas$size.$There$are$
two$ways$to$zoom$in$and$out:
Use$the$zoom$in/zoom$out$bu6ons$to$the$le3$of$the$le$menu.
Or,$use$your$mouse$or$keypad.

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Outcome Editor
Open$the$Outcome$Editor$by$doubleJclicking$on$any$outcome$on$the$canvas.
Basics Tab
The$Basics$tab$is$for$managing$outcomes.$The$outcome$expressionJJ
the$text$that$appears$in$the$outcome$box$object$on$the$canvasJJis$
entered$in$he$Title$eld$of$the$Basics$tabJJas$shown$at$le3.$You$
also$will$see$a$Descrip=on$eld$which$can$be$used$to$dene$what$
you$mean$by$the$outcome.$$
Clicking$in$the$Color$eld$brings$up$a$choice$of$colors$for$the$
outcome$box$ll.
Clicking$the$Done$bu6on$at$the$bo6om$of$the$panel$closes$the$panel.

Indicators Tab
Clicking$on$the$Indicators$tab$brings$up$the$elds$shown$at$
right.$The$indicator$editor$is$designed$to$help$users$develop$
their$indicators$by$asking$ques=ons$about$the$nature$of$the$
indicator,$its$targets,$and$the$=ming.$$
What$will$change?$is$the$indicator$itself.
Who?$refers$to$the$popula=on$among$whom$you$expect$
to$observe$change.
How$many?$refers$to$the$the$minimum$number$or$
percentage$of$that$popula=on$who$must$show$change$in$
order$to$have$achieved$the$outcome.
How$much?$means$how$much$or$to$what$level$the$
change$must$be$observed.
By$when?$is$the$=me$horizon.
The$+$bu6on$at$the$bo6om$allows$you$to$add$addi=onal$
indicators$for$that$outcome.
At$the$top$of$the$indicator$panel$is$a$simple$progress$tracking$
tool:$Clicking$on$yellow$means$in$progress;$on$red$means$
needs$a6en=on;$on$green$means$achieved.

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Connector Editor
Use$the$Connector$Editor$to$enter$and$manage$
ra=onales$and$interven=ons.$Open$the$Connector$
Editor$by$doubleJclicking$on$any$connector$where$you$
want$to$dene$a$ra=onale$or$one$or$more$
interven=ons.$A$ra#onale$is$the$given$reason$why$a$
par=cular$outcome$is$believed$to$be$a$precondi=on$to$
another$outcome.$An$interven#on$is$an$ac=vity$
thought$necessary$to$produce$an$outcome.$Both$
ra=onales$and$interven=ons$are$represented$with$
codes$on$the$connector$to$which$they$belong.$$
Use$the$Ra#onale$tab$to$enter$and$edit$text$on$
ra=onales.$$Once$you$have$entered$text$on$the$
ra=onale$in$the$editor,$the$R$symbol$will$
appear$on$the$connector.
Use$the$Interven#ons$tab$to$enter$and$edit$text$
on$interven=ons.$$The$+$bu6on$at$the$bo6om$of$
the$interven=ons$tab$allows$you$to$add$mul=ple$
interven=ons.$Once$you$have$entered$text$
describing$the$interven=on$in$the$editor,$a$
unique$number$will$appear$on$the$connector.

ToC Basics Editor

Open$the$ToC$Basics$Editor$on$the$Edit$menu.$Use$it$for$recording$and$edi=ng$the$ToC$Narra=ve$
and$assump=ons.$$
To$add$a$Narra#ve,$click$on$the$Edit$menu$and$select$Narra=ve.$$The$ToC$Basics$Editor$will$
slide$into$view.$$Enter$narra=ve$text$in$the$edi=ng$eld.
To$add$an$Assump#on,3select$Assump=ons$on$the$Edit$menu.$The$Editor$panel$will$slide$into$
view$with$the$Underlying$Assump=ons$tab$open.$Here$you$can$enter/edit$text$on$
assump=ons.$To$add$another$assump=on,$click$on$the$add$assump=on$bu6on$at$the$bo6om$
of$the$edi=ng$panel.$

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Grouped Outcomes

You$can$group$outcomes$together.$$To$do$this,$$create$a$new$outcome.$$Using$the$
sizing$handle$in$the$lower$right$corner$of$the$outcome$object,$shape$the$outcome$box$so$
that$its$big$enough$to$surround$the$outcomes$you$want$to$group$together.$$Then$drag$the$
new$outcome$box$over$the$group$andJJpresto!JJit$collects$the$group.$$Click$on$each$of$the$
child$outcomes$to$anchor$them$within$the$parent$box.
The$=tle$of$the$group$box$slides$up$toward$the$top$edge$of$the$box.$$You$can$give$a$
name$to$the$group$using$the$Outcome$Editor$panel$just$as$you$would$for$any$individual$
outcome.
The$group$box$is$layered$underneath$the$individual$precondi=ons$in$the$group$so$that$
they$show$up.
You$may$want$to$make$color$choices$that$allow$the$individual$boxes$to$stand$out$
against$the$background,$as$in$this$example.

Color$can$be$
used$to$
dis=nguish$
dierent$
groupings$from$
one$another,$as$in$
this$example.

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Printing
The$Save$to$PDF$menu$item$on$the$File$
menu$allows$you$to$save$your$current$ToC$
as$a$PDF,$or$portable$document$format.$$
Your$browser$may$block$the$popup$
window$that$asks$if$you$want$to$download$
the$PDF.$$If$you$see$a$blocker$message,$
allow$the$popup$to$appear.$
The$PDF$will$contain$your$map$(i.e.,$
outcomes$framework)$and$forma6ed$text$
of$everything$you$have$entered$into$the$
TOCO$data$base,$including$outcomes$and$
outcome$descrip=ons,$indicators,$
interven=ons,$ra=onales,$assump=ons,$
and$project$narra=ve.$$From$the$PDF$you$
can$copy$and$paste$the$map$into$a$Word$
or$PowerPoint$or$other$convenient$
program.$$$$
$$The$PDF$generates$the$whole$canvas$
even$if$your$ToC$graphic$occupies$only$a$
small$part$of$the$canvas.$To$make$a$legible$
print$you$have$to$crop$the$unused$por=ons$
of$the$canvas.$
This$is$easy$to$do$in$the$Apple$Preview$
program,$which$is$the$so3ware$in$which$
your$PDF$opens$up$a3er$downloading$it$
onto$your$hard$drive.$
There$must$be$a$way$to$do$it$with$
WindowsJbased$so3ware$but$we$dont$
know$the$way!$We$do$know$that$you$can$
select$the$ac=ve$part$of$the$canvas$and$
copy$it$as$a$graphic$object$into$a$Microso3$
Oce$document$or$other$convenient$
so3ware.

The Center for Theory of Change is a non-profit organization

established to promote quality standards and best practice for the
development and implementation of Theory of Change, with a particular
focus on its use and application in the areas of international
development, sustainability, education, human rights, and social change.

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