DataFerrett Users' Guide

Chapter 7 - Ferrett Browse Variable Window

Selecting the Browse/Select Highlighted Variables button will opens the Ferrett Browse Variable window. Browse variable descriptions and values for all items that you selected in Step 1: Select Dataset & Variables tab. The Ferrett Browse Variable window is also called the Codebook.

In this window you select the variables that you want to be put into your databasket for tabulation or download.

The DataBasket will be discussed further in Chapter 9.

Ferrett Browse Variable Window Instructions:

The variables you have chosen in the Step 1: Select Dataset & Variables tab are listed at the top of the Ferrett Browse Variables window. Highlight them one at a time to read the variable description, question text, and possible answer categories (values) in the pane below. The Ferrett Browse Variable window default is to highlight the first variable listed.

The scroll box next to the Ferrett graphic shows the highlighted variable's long description. This may include the full question text, the universe and any related variables. The information contained here is dependent on what metadata was defined and included in the data supplied to the DataFerrett by the publisher and subject matter experts.

The next box shows the possible answer categories for the highlighted variable. The above example shows the values for a continuous range variable.

Check the Select checkbox to select the values for each variable.

You can check the Select All checkbox to include ALL the variables listed and the values.

The variable question, universe and other information the survey/data collector provides, are shown in the next area below the select area.

In the bottom values area of the window, you will be able to customize your variable's values, thus customizing your universe. When each variable is checked, the values are all selected, as well.

Subselecting values will restrict (customize) your universe. Values can be categorical or range variables. Categorical values can be subselected to restrict your universe as you choose. Range values will show the possible minimum and maximum values in editable boxes.

If we select the PEMARITL variable in the top box of the window, we see the following:

Notice the possible values are listed with their value code and label.  If we click the Select CPS PEMARITL ... box to select the variable, we then get the following:

Now notice that there are check boxes next to each possible value.  The default is that all values will be checked. If you don't want all the values for a variable, click the box next to the values that you don't want. Some variables will have hundreds of values (e.g., FIPS codes, ICD9 codes, etc). The button next to the select values box (Deselect all Values) will do just that, deselect all values. You can then go back and select just the ones that you want included into your databasket.

Select ALL Variables

Checking this box selects all of the variables that are listed in the top box of the window to be placed into your databasket. This is the quickest way to select multiple items when you know you want all variables and all values for all the items you selected from Step 1. You can check this box, then highlight a specific variable in the top box and then subselect values for that item.

If you have returned a variable with numerous possible values and only wish to select one or a few, you can deselect the values with the Deselect All Values button on the right. Then you can select the one or ones you need.

After you have selected all the variables that you want to put into your databasket,  click the OK button. You will receive a pop-up window that informs you how many variables you selected for your databasket.

Once you have added variables to your databasket you will see in the Step 1: Select Datasets and Variables window that dataset titles may be grayed out. This means that the variables you have chosen are not comparable to other datasets and are therefore unselectable.

See Chapter 8 for information about the DataBasket.

Now would be a good time to save your DataFerrett session. This can be done by selecting the disk icon on the toolbar or select File > Save As and place the file in an appropriate directory. The default will direct you to save in a folder called TheDataWeb. For more information on TheDataWeb see the website link What Is TheDataWeb.