Lab 3 Data Sources: Locating, Importing, Manipulating URBPL 5/6010: Urban Research University of Utah Pam Perlich Revised 9/10/2006.

Lab 3Data Sources:

Locating, Importing, Manipulating

URBPL 5/6010: Urban ResearchUniversity of Utah

Pam PerlichRevised 9/10/2006

ObjectivesPasting from other programsImporting from other programs

TextHTMLPictureDatabase

Federal statistical agency web sites

Files for Lab 3CopyData.docCopyData.txtTextColumns.xls Database.mdb

Link Data to Other Programs CopyData.doc

Open the word fileSelect the text to be copiedOpen Excel – Explore different paste options

PastePaste special

TextMS word objectMS word object paste link

Change text in original document and it will update in the spreadsheet as well.

Picture

Go to a website and copy a graphicPaste this into Excel

Importing Delimited Text Data

CopyData.txt

Open CopyData.txt in a text editor and examine contentsData => Import (as delimited)Files can be comma, quote, comma and quote, or tab delimitedDelimiters interpret and format the data

Importing Fixed Width Data

www.census.govSelect People & Households Historical Census Data Item 17: Urban and Rural Populations: 1900 to 1990Save this file to your computer (urpop0090.txt)Examine the file in a text editorImport it to Excel

Note: the title lines are not important. Just import the data to create a clean data set. It is a fixed width file.

Changing Text to Columns TextColumns.xls

Open the fileSelect the cell that contain dataData =>Text to columnsFixed widthSpecify dividing columnsFinish

Import Database Files Database.mdb

Open ExcelData => Import External Data => Import DataPoint to the database fileExamine the “properties” choicesImport to a new worksheetExplore the record based nature of a database file

Web FilesImport from a web page

Data => import external data => new web queryNavigate to www.bls.gov

Select any page of data and import

Alternative methodsTry to copy a data table from the web site and paste into ExcelSave data as HTML file then import it to Excel

Many organizations are building much better data downloading functionality into their websites.

File ExportExplore the file save as optionsTry a few of these to test the results.

Federal Statistical Agencies

Bureau of the CensusBureau of Labor StatisticsBureau of Economic Analysis

American Factfinder

www.census.govAmerican Factfinder

Click on “About the Data” and review the contents

Types of tables – Quick tables, geographic comparison tables, etc.Data sets – Decennial census, ACS, etc.

Select each top level menu and examine contents – Population finder, fact sheet, etc.

Select Decennial

Census

List all tables

AFF Features – Project 2Data sets Decennial Census Census 2000 SF1 List all tablesStudy the types – Quick tables, geographic comparison table, detailed tables (population and household)Select P37: Group Quarters Population by Group Quarters Type Next

Select Geo within Geo

Select “All Places”

Then “Add”

Then “Show Result”

AFF: Custom Tables & Geo within Geo

Select data sets to return to data menuSelect SF1 Custom TablesSelect “Geo within Geo”Show me all the “Places” within a “County” Select geography of your choiceSelect P1 – Population; P37 – Population in Group Quarters; P16 – Population in HouseholdsSelect which data elements you need Show results.Explore the filtering optionGet you data into Excel and format it

AFF: Explore Other Available Data Sets and Functions

Click “FAQ”Click “How to Use it”

Spend some time reviewing this

If students have specific research issues, have the lab assemble the data.