Allocate Software for 2000 Census Data

ALLOCATE Software for 2000 Census Data

Last updated on March 26, 2001

The Census Bureau is considering the ALLOCATE software to access 2000 Census data on CD-ROM or DVD. This guide points out a few of the features found on the test disk. A final decision on the software package and the first publication of Census data are expected in May 2001. The final version of the software could vary from the prototype.

Loading Program

Allocate can be easily loaded on any WINDOWS workstation. You have two options: running the program from your hard drive or running it from the disk. Even if you run the program from your hard drive, you will still need the disk to retrieve the data.

Your hard drive will contain several important files under: c:\Program Files\SRC\Portfolio. The Data folder includes data tied to the software. Data cannot be extracted separately from the software. The Help folder includes the license agreement, lists of variables, and any technical documentation.

It is best to print the user guide from your hard drive since the help files on the program itself are context sensitive. The help file will open up as an HTML document. The URL is: file:///C/Program Files/SRC/Portfolio/help/index.htm

Workspace

You can either choose your own workspace or ignore this first screen and click on NEXT for geography.

Choosing Geography

Geography is arranged in a tree format like the old American Factfinder, except that the levels of geography are more direct (e.g. CENSUS TRACT is handled directly rather than going through State-County or State-County-Place).

It is relatively easy to pick all places in a state or tracts in a county. You can also choose all of the block groups in an area, something that has not been possible with American Factfinder.

You can also create your own geographic areas.

Click on NEXT to go to the OUTPUT section.

Output

REPORT

In the OUTPUT section, REPORT means pre-chosen, pre-tabulated variables with word identifiers.

l. Choose Report Template (i.e. the group of variables)
2. Name the report.
3. Choose FILE-SAVE AS and FINISH. FILE-SAVE AS gives you a chance to rename your file, change form (HTM OR RTF), and change location (c:\temp or a:) FINISH allows you to view the new file immediately

The REPORT OUTPUT is converted to HTM or RTF. The headings are readable rather than coded.You cannot download a standardized report as XLS or CSV.

You CAN, however, download the HTM report as a text file. Then open it up in Excel using the FIXED mode and changing the column markers.

Index Base

This is a commercial marketing tool allowing professionals to choose areas meeting certain criteria within a radius. See the HELP files for more details.

File

The FILE option creates spreadsheet and dbf files. The subject variables can be mixed and matched. Headings are labelled with the variable number. A separate file is automatically created with a description of the variable.

1. First choose the geography. In this case, all of the block groups in all of the Sacramento City tracts. Note the ability to make sweeping choices unavailable through American Factfinder. Press the NEXT button.

2. Then choose the FILE option but not the SAVE as option. CREATE OUTPUT AS SUMMARY option means you will get one total for all of the geographic areas you've chosen (e.g. one figure for all males 5-9 in a combination of 10 block groups rather than a separate figure for each of the 10 block groups). Press NEXT.

Simple Variables

Then you choose either SIMPLE VARIABLES or CUSTOM VARIABLES. Shown, a simple variable using a tree. Highlight the variable in the lefthand column and then press SELECT so it appears in the righthand column. You can choose variables individually (selecting Male or Female separately) or you can select an entire folder (e.g. Sex) to get the same breakdowns.

You can also choose variables from different files.

Custom Variables

ALLOCATE also allows simple mathematical calculation using CUSTOM VARIABLES. Shown: females/females + males *100 for the percent of females in the total population.

Either double click on the variable or highlight it and click VAR. Click on operators to create the variable. Name the variable. Select it.

You can create your own variables separately but you can only place one of your custom variables back into a formula. In the example below, you can create teen girls and teen boys but you cannot go back and create teen girls + teen boys.

1. Double click on females-13, and then operator +, through females-19. Name variable teeng. SELECT.
2. Double click on males-13, and then operator +, through males-19. Name variable teenb. SELECT.

Finishing

When creating a file, click on OUTPUT. Use the SAVE AS command. Name the file and choose the drive. Choose the format. Spreadsheet formats are .csv and .xls. Data base formats are .dbf, .db, and .mdb HTML format is .htm Map formats are .mid, .mif and .shp Finally, type FINISH.

Opening the Output

After you have pressed the FINISH command, you will be prompted to open either the file or the description or both.

When a file is too wide to read or print but short in length, you can change the output in EXCEL.

1. Highlight the area you want to transpose.
2. EDIT/COPY.
3. Click on the first cell where you want the transposed copy to appear.
4. EDIT/PASTE SPECIAL. Then mark off TRANSPOSE.
5. Click on OK.

6. Delete the old part of the spreadsheet.

Grace York, Coordinator, Documents Center
University of Michigan Library
For Government Information Technology Committee
Government Documents Round Table of American Library Association
January 14, 2001
Send comments and suggestions to graceyor@umich.edu

http://www.lib.umich.edu/govdocs/census2/alloca3.htm

February 14, 2001 this page has been accessed