MICROANALYST USER GUIDE

Microanalyst lets you create queries which return summaries like the STF files or create subsets of records. The instructions are provided for the novice user and are easy to follow when looking at the software on the screen. Please print this page and bring it with you to the CDC. The CDC also has detailed user manuals and help files of Microanalyst.

Before you start:

1. Obtain the required CD from the CDC with the data set(s) of interest.
2. The software is already installed on the CDC Computer. Insert the CD in the drive.
3. Go to C:\Programfiles\Microanalyst\ and double click on the microanalyst icon.
4. In the dialog box click on Open new project and click OK. The Project Manager window opens.

1. Click New
2. Select the data module from the list provided. (ensure that the dataset you select is available on the CD you are using) Click OK
3. In the summary wizard check Person or Household Records depending on the variable of interest.
4. Check/Uncheck the Use weights box (checking weights the numbers to represent the entire population)
5. Click next and select the states of interest. There is a select all option for the entire US.
6. Click next and choose the variables of interest. Clicking on the variable brings up a description. Variable descriptions are also available at the CDC.
7. From the variables available list those that are sent over to the selected list shall be summarized. You can custom create ranges for variables by clicking on the ranges box at the bottom of the available list. To further modify the range click on it in the variables selected list and make necessary changes.
8. Click next. The option to cross tabulate the selected variable or create expression statistics is presented. If interested in cross tab click next and select variables to crosstabulate with as selected earlier.
9. If interested in expression statistics check that option and click next. Create the expression for the desired statistics.
10. Click Next and the filter option is offered. You need to create boolean expressions to filter the records. The simplest option is by selecting the variable from the list on the left and the operator and then the value from the list on the right. Repeat this process using AND or OR operators between expressions till all restrictions are in place.
11. Click next and choose a name and an optional description for the summary.
12. To edit the summary once it is displayed you can select it from the summaries box and click on design. The query wizard reopens with all the settings previously chosen already in place. Make the changes needed and run again. To save in different location give a different name in the last step.
13. The summaries are not automatically stored so please save it onto your disk using the Save as option in the File Menu before you exit.
14. Return the CD to the CDC.

1. Select records from the Project manager dialog box.
2. Click New
3. Select the data module from the list provided. (ensure that the dataset you select is available on the CD you are using) Click OK
4. The records creation wizard is displayed. Click next and select the states of interest. (A select all option is available to obtain records from the entire US)
5. Click Next. Select the variables of interest. Remember that the larger the number of variables the larger the output file. Clicking on a variable displays its description below the variable list. Variable descriptions are also available with the CDC.
6. Filter the records as discussed above. Click Next.
7. The software runs an estimate of the space required for the dataset. Please do not save it to the local harddisk unless absolutely necessary due to size of dataset. Currently the CDC computer only offers a floppy drive to transport data. Contact the GovDocs Librarian or the coordinator for data transport issues.
8. Select the location and format of the file to be created and an optional description. Click finish to create the data set. All common statistical packages can import the data from the formats offered. However if the number of records is very large some of them might only open a portion of the available records.
9. Return the CD to the CDC.

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