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2008 Redistricting Data Prototype (P.L. 94-171) Summary File

CONTENTS

Getting Started

Using the Data Browser

Copy and Extract Output Options

More About the Data Files

Technical Support

PUBLIC LAW 94-171 AND THE 2010 CENSUS REDISTRICTING DATA PROGRAM

The objective of the Census Redistricting Data Program during 2008 was to produce a prototype of the 2010 data format that theCensus Bureau will provide to states to meet the requirements of Public Law (P.L.) 94-171. This law, enacted in 1975, directs theCensus Bureau to make special preparations to provide redistricting data needed by the 50 states.1 It specifies that within a yearfollowing Census Day, the Census Bureau must send the governor and legislative leadership in each state the data they need toredraw districts for the United States Congress and state legislature.

To meet this legal requirement, the Census Bureau set up a program that affords state officials an opportunity before eachdecennial census to define the small areas for which they wish to receive census population totals for redistricting purposes.Officials may receive data for voting districts (e.g., election precincts, wards) and state house and senate districts, in addition tostandard census geographic areas such as counties, cities, census tracts, and blocks. State participation in defining areas isvoluntary and nonpartisan.

For further information on P.L. 94-171 and the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program, data users should contact the CensusRedistricting Data Office on 301-763-4039.Census Redistricting Data Office

1For the 2010 Census, the Census Bureau will provide redistricting data for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and PuertoRico.

GETTING STARTED

The DVD automatically displays the Autoplay menu when you place it in your DVD reader. If it does not start automatically,

double-click the DVD icon displayed under My Computer on the Windows Desktop. Alternatively, the Autoplay menu can

be started by running the file LAUNCH.EXE from the DVD root directory.

To fully use this DVD, Microsoft® .NET Framework v2.0 or later and Adobe® Acrobat® or Acrobat® Reader® must be installed.The .NET Framework installer is located in the DOTNET directory on the disc and can also be installed by clicking the Install .NETFramework link from the Autoplay menu. The installation only takes a minute or two and usually does not require a systemrestart.

Adobe® Acrobat® or Acrobat® Reader® must be installed to view the 2008 Redistricting Data Prototype (Public Law 94-171)Summary File Technical Documentation PDF. Acrobat® Reader® is available free of charge from Adobe's Website and allows forviewing and printing of PDF documents.

The Autoplay menu offers the following selections:

http://www.census.gov/mailto:redistrictingdata@census.gov

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Install .NET FrameworkLaunches the Microsoft® .NET Framework v2.0 Installer. This software must be installed to use the Data Browser.

View DocumentationUsers have the option to view either the README.TXT file or display the 2008 Redistricting Data Prototype (Public Law 94-171) Summary File Technical Documentation PDF. Adobe® Acrobat® or Acrobat® Reader® must be installed prior toviewing the PDF documentation. The README.TXT file contains a listing of all of the files and directories on the DVD and detailed information concerning thestructure of the ACSII data file formatting.

How To Use This DVDOpens this document and guides users on how to use the features of the Data Browser.

Browse DVD Contents < FONT>Opens a Windows Explorer view of the DVD contents.2

Launch Data ApplicationLaunches the data application with the default dataset.

Exit This DVDCloses the Autoplay menu application.

2To find the ASCII files on the DVD, click Browse DVD Contents, open the Data folder, then open the ASCII_Files folder. Thecontents of the three files (ssgeo.ppl, ss00001.ppl, and ss00002.ppl) are described in the Technical Documentation. Note that"ss" represents the state code.

USING THE DATA BROWSER

Prior to using the Data Browser, Microsoft® .NET Framework v2.0 or later must be installed on your computer. To install thissoftware, either use the Autoplay menu installation method, described in the Getting Started section of this document, ornavigate to the DOTNET directory located on the DVD and run the file dotnetfx.exe.

To begin using the Data Browser software, click Launch Data Browser from the Autoplay menu or run the file HSFDR.EXEfrom the root directory of the disc.

The Data Browser has four main components, shown and labeled in the graphic below:

1. Geographic LevelSelect a Summary Level to display. Summary Level 050 County is shown selected in this example.

2. Geographic AreaDisplays geographic entities with the selected Summary Level and allows users to refine the selection.

3. Area Display and SelectionDisplays the selected area with its associated geographic identifiers. Use the scroll bar at the bottom of this window to viewfields to the left and right.

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4. Output OptionsSelect any of the 4 buttons to output data for the selected geography in an HTML report format.

Quick Table Output Example

San Joaquin County was the selected geography and the Quick Table button was selected to produce the following report:

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AreaSearch Function

The AreaSearch function found on the menu bar of the Data Browser can be used to search for named places within thedataset. Clicking the AreaSearch function will display the Area Name Search dialog for searching the dataset, shown below.

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COPY AND EXTRACT OPTIONS

Copy To File

Selecting the Copy To File option from the File menu will allow the user to save the selected data in one of 3 formats

1. Excel File (.csv) - comma-separated value file that can be imported into Microsoft Excel2. Text File (.txt) - ASCII file of the selected data3. XML File (.xml) - XML formatted file of the selected data

Simply name the output file and choose a location to save that file from the Save As dialog as shown below.

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Extract To File

Selecting the Extract To File option from the File menu will allow the user to export selected Geographic Fields or DataVariables to one of the following file types:

1. Excel File (.csv) - comma-separated value file that can be imported into Microsoft Excel2. HTML File (.html) - formats output into an HTML document3. Text File (.txt) - ASCII file of the selected data4. XML File (.xml) - XML formatted file of the selected data

The Extract Data Fields dialog has two lists of selectable items, Geographic Fields and Data Item Fields, controlled by a radiobutton towards the top of the dialog. You can switch between the two lists and select items from one or both to include inthe data extract. Highlight the item to be included in the extract and click the Add button to add it to the extract list belowthe items. Each item must be added to the extract list individually.

Geographic Fields

The default selection in the Extract Data Fields dialog allows the user to select particular Geographic Identifiers associatedwith the selected Geographic Area and save that custom list to a file.

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Data Variables

To select data fields to extract, first click the Data Item Fields radio button to change the view from Geographic Fields to theData Items. Next, select the desired Data Items for the current geography that you wish to extract. The figure below showsboth Geographic and Data Items included in the extract list.

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MORE ABOUT THE DATA FILES

Files in \Data\ ASCII Files in \Data\ASCII_Files\ Contents of the File

ssgeo.txt ssgeo.ppl Geographic Identifiers

ss00001.txt ss00001.ppl Tables P1 and P2

ss00002.txt ss00002.ppl Tables P3 and P4

Both versions of the data files contain a fixed length geographic header. The .txt files are presented in a fixed-length format, whilethe .ppl files are comma delimited.

For more information about the data files and structure, please refer to the 2008 Redistricting Data Prototype (Public Law 94-171)Summary File Documentation PDF file found on this disc.

Microsoft Access Users

Due to the FieldSize property limitations with Access, modifications to field types are required when importing the ssgeo.ppl,ss00001.ppl, and ss00002.ppl: (Note that "ss" represents the state code.)

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All fields classified as numeric (N) should be imported as Long Integers.AREALAND and AREAWATER should be imported as Text.

Failure to make these changes may result in missing data upon import.Please call the Census Redistricting Data Office at (301) 763-4039 if you have any questions.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

DVD and Software Issues Data Content and PolicyElectronic Products Development Branch Census Redistricting Data Office(301) 763-7710 Main (301) 763-4039(301) 763-8004 Alternate

Question & Answer Center

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Administrative and Customer Services Division, Electronic Products Development Branch

Census Bureau Links: Home · Search · Subjects A-Z · FAQs · Data Tools · Catalog · Census 2010 · Quality · Privacy Policy · Contact Us

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