RDL DOCS

User Guide for using Beyond 20/20 Browser

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to using the Beyond20/20 Browser with the 1996 Census of Canada Nation Series
2. The concepts in the Beyond2020 Browser:
3. Starting up the Beyond 20/20 browser
4. Selecting to work in either of the two Official Languages
5. Opening a table
6. Exploring a table
7. Display the Summaries
8. Working with the tables
     8.1 To modify the data output
     8.2 To reduce the size of a table
     8.3 To encase some dimensions
     8.4 To reduce a table by searching
9. Saving Data from a table
     9.1 Procedure:
     9.2 Exporting a table for input to a spreadsheet (Excel for example)
10. Producing a Graph
11. Additional References

1. Introduction to using the Beyond20/20 Browser with the 1996 Census of Canada Nation Series
   Statistics Canada distributes some of its tabular data from the 1996 Census of Population in the b2020 (IVT) format. The B2020 browser displays the data in a visual manner and allows for some limited manipulation of the data, of extracting data from the tables, and save the results in different formats.
   
   
2. The concepts in the Beyond2020 Browser:

   Table:	an integrated presentation of multiple variables of data: and textual descriptions
   Dimension:	describes an attribute of the table; Sex, Ethnic Origin, Geography are examples of dimensions or variables.
   Item	is an element of a dimension. E.g. male/female are items or values of the dimension Sex. French/Italian/Chinese are items of the dimension Ethnic Origin.
   Label:	a title or heading of an item. For example British Columbia is a label for it's provincial code: 59. .

   
   
3. Starting up the Beyond 20/20 browser
   Simply click on a table or click on the application itself.
   
   
4. Selecting to work in either of the two Official Languages
   From the icon menu click/toggle the right most icon (has red and blue lettering).
   
   
5. Opening a table
   Double-click on a table that has the ivation logo on it. This will start up the B2020 browser. The nation series tables can be found at:
   
   http://www.sfu.ca/rdl/dlib/data/survey/census/96census/96nation.html

   One can also open a table from other sources if they are in the ivt format.
   
   

   Exploring a table
   From the Nation Series select the subject;

   Ethnic Origin and Visible Minorities,
   Then select the table:

   Total Population by Ethnic Categories (36) and Sex (3), for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Census Metropolitan Areas, 1996 Census
   
   Illustration:
   
   
   

   Display the Summaries
   The summary fields contain some additional textual information (notes, commentaries) on the data.

   7.1	by selecting File/Summary you will get an explanation of the table
   7.2	by clicking on a blue highlighted dimension or by selecting Dimension/Summary you will get an explanation of the dimension
   7.3	Likewise, by choosing Item/Summary you get further information on the item

   Working with tables
   As the tables are often very large (sometimes more than 25 megs in size), it is desirable to modify/alter the table, that is to create a custom table, one containing only those features that you require, prior to saving/writing out the data

   8.1	To modify the data output Place the selection arrow/cursor on the dimension "GEOGRAPHY", then now pressing with the left button of the mouse click/hold, and drag the line down into the line that contains "Total Population", and let go. You may also swap the columns for the rows and vice-versa. You may also use the arrow aids to move around dimensions or items. Illustration:
   8.2	To reduce the size of a table: To select a row or column of data click on the heading of the row or column To select several rows or columns slide the cursor across the headings To select non-adjacent rows or columns press down the CTRL-KEY while you click on the headings Once the column or row has been selected, click the right mouse button and then select "show" or "hide". "Show" retains that row which was selected and hides the non-selected rows Illustration:
   8.3	Nesting table dimensions Encase means to nest or collapse one dimension inside another one. For example, starting from the original table, in order to sub-divide the Ethnic Categories according to geography, place the cursor on the dimension "Geography", then while holding down the left button of the mouse slide down just below and to the right of the box Ethnic Categories, so that a narrow double black/pink line appears, and let go of the button (Select a geographic area, and while it is highlighted scroll down using the right hand button on the side of the beyond 2020 window) Illustration:
   8.4	To reduce a table by searching for items within a dimension you can subset the number of items of a dimension (for example the number of geographic places or the number of ethnic categories) and display only those which you need Activate the dimension by clicking on the appropriate dimension. When the dimension is active it appears in yellow Click on the "search" icon. To search on text:. Once you are in the dialogue box, click on the field (code or English Desc). Enter text (a geographic place or an ethnic category) to search for and click OK. If your research is on a particular region, for example the city of Vancouver or the province of British Columbia Select the dimension geography (highlighted in yellow); In the menu bar of the dimension "Geography" make it scroll with either the right or left arrow, until you come to your desired location; then you can select the range or columns you desire as in step 8.2 (see above). You may also sort the data for an item (one variable at a time) in increasing/decreasing order.

   
   

   Saving Data from a table
   It is possible to output data from a complete table or your own custom table in several formats: IVT (the format of the B2020 browser), DBF, CSV, WKS, TXT.
   Caution: for large files you will not be able to exceed the capacity of the medium to which you are saving your files or the logical capacity of your software (excel, lotus).
   Note: It is best to reduce the amount of data in your display before copying out the data (for example encase the dimensions (see 8.3 above) or reduce the size of the table (sections 8.2 and 8.4).
   

   9.1

   Procedure: Click on file in the menu bar FILE/SAVE AS…/ chose a data out put format (for example CSV). In the area "File Name:' replace the * with the name you wish to call the file (8 characters maximum). Do not erase the extension .CSV in order that your application will be able to read the file(or any extension). In the area drives:, chose a:\ in order to save to your disk or c:\to your local drive. Then click OK to save the data.

   9.2

   Exporting a table for input to a spreadsheet (Excel for example) First option: Once you have your table finalized, from the menu bar click EDIT/COPY. The data is copied/stored in the clipboard, Then open Excel, do an edit/paste...the data is now pasted into your spreadsheet. Second option: Save your table results according to procedure 9.1 and save the table in the WKS worksheet format. In Lotus or Excel do an open file...and choose the file that you saved. N.B.: a file saved as .TXT format can be opened with any text editor.

   Producing a Graph:
   A graph of the data of an item (i.e. a variable) for example, SEX, may be produced: You will need to switch the data around in such a way that the variable SEX;

   • Appears in the line alongside the rows;
   • The "ethnic categories" appears in the columns;
   • The "Geography" dimension is found in the uppermost tile and un-highlighted (high and to the left).
   • NOTE: you will sometimes have to hide (see 8.2) data that would lead to duplicate counts:
     for example:
     • Total Population
     • 15-24 years
     • 25-44 years
     • 45-64 years
     
     illustration:
     
   • Select/highlight the ethnic category "French Origins", then click on the graph icon to produce a graph.
   • To see at the same time the graph and the data, click on the Tile icon.
   • Using the arrows on the window in the menu bar you can slide along to different categories, and thus changing the graph.
   • A graph may be copied to the clipboard for pasting into another application:
     
     

   illustration:
   
   
   

   Additional references
   

   11.1	B2020 has on-line help under the help menu/contents
   11.2	A brief guide to the Browser available at:
   11.3	From the Research Data Library Staff. - Contact Walter Piovesan