Quick Guide for Using the Census 2000 DVD

Steps

Start the software

Pick Geography

Output tab - (choose file formats)

Simple Variables

Finish

Example - Find the total population for each census tract in Baltimore City (forth coming).

Tips For producing a more readable Excel Spreadsheet
 
(This Quick Guide ignores Workspace tab and Custom Variables - these tabs are for advanced users)
 
 1. Click on the icon Census 2000 Data engine

• Software is on workstations #1 and #2 on A-level.
• Do not need to insert the CD - contents fully loaded on these workstations.

2. Pick geography tab

Tip:

Look for the lowest geography you need - ex. blocks, census tracts, etc.   See the attached spreadsheet if you need help understanding which  geographies to choose.

• Click on the + to expand options (Recommend that you expand at least once to determine that this is the geography level you are seeking)
• Continue expanding until you reach the desired level of geography
• Click in a box to make a selection
  • Take all the geographies for that level with just one click - placing a checkmark in the first box in the hierarchy, box with the - sign. Shaded checks will indicate your selections
    (Ex. Expand code 140 Census by tract expanding until you see   Baltimore City. Click Baltimore City to take all the census tracts for Baltimore City)
    or
    make specific selections ex. Tract 903
  • Pull down File Clear Selection if you change your mind

3. Click Next or Output

• Output Mode should be file

Tip

File will allow patron to save in  formats such as Excel, dbase, cvs(comma)
Reports are predefined variables, most folks will want to create Excel files.

• Click save as to indicate where the file will be saved Indicate file name   Choose the correct file format & Save

4. Click Next or Simple Variables

• Choose the folder containing the type of variables you need

Choose the folder containing the type of variables you need

• You may select the entire folder or click + to expand and select single variables
• Highlight the variable you want, then click select to move the variable(s) to the Output Variable box.
• The counter will indicate how many variables/fields have been selected.*
• Delete will remove variables from your list

Tips: Four folders containing variables

• Geographic Indicators - choose those useful for your spread sheet
  Ex. Blocks in Baltimore -
  Choose Geographic indicators: Blocks, Block Groups, tracts, county identifiers as columns
  • H - Housing tables
  • P - Population tables
  • PCT - Population tables down to the Census tracts level only.  Detailed age & Race.
• See note at the end about handling files when you select more than 256 variables/fields.

5. Click finish

For Excel files:
Enter the name for your worksheet Output file in Excel should open  Description file should open in wordpad.
For other formats:
Complete the questions on how to handle the completed file

Be certain to open/save the text file  containing the field descriptions as well

How to bring the description labels into your Excel Output file

Description Labels will make your spreadsheet more readable.

• In the Excel Output File:
  Insert a blank row where you want the labels to appear
• In the Excel Description File:
  • Open the description file in Excel
  • Complete the text wizard steps as follows:
    • Select delimited
    • Select comma (it is ok to leave tab checked)
    • Select finish
    • Highlight the column containing the labels and copy
• In the Excel Output file
  • Make certain the cursor is where the labels will begin
  • Edit, Paste Special, Click transpose, Click ok

Note: Excel & dbase formats will truncate your data at 256 columns. If you have more than 256 variables/columns but less than 256 geographies, (Ex. there are 203 census tracts in Baltimore city), try the following.

• Save 256 variables at a time and create separate worksheets for Excel
   
     Or
• Save the file in .cvs format  Sharon & ViJay can bring that format into SPSS, transpose the columns and rows and save the file in Excel.

If you want one spreadsheet and have  more than 256 variables and geographies, (ex. there are 1218 census tracts in Maryland) save the data as .cvs. The patron will have to know how to bring the file into their own statistical software.