User Manual. for the Digital Information System Social Indicators for the Federal Republic of Germany (DISI), Version 2.1

Transcription

1 User Manual for the Digital Information System Social Indicators for the Federal Republic of Germany (DISI), Version 2.1 disi 2.1 Made by: Center for Survey Research and Methodology (ZUMA); Social Indicators Unit in Co-operation with Kognito Visual Design ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit, Mannheim 2004

2 CONTENTS 1 Introduction 1 2 Install and Uninstall DISI Install the CD-ROM Version Install the Download Version Uninstall 2 3 Starting DISI Using DISI Access to the Data Access Using the Register Access using the Query-Function 5 6 The Set-Window 6 7 The Information-Window 8 8 The Diagram-Mode 8 9 The Table-Mode The Zoom-Mode The Preferences-Window The Help-File and the Information-Window 11 1 INTRODUCTION It is the major objective of the Digital Information Systems Social Indicators to facilitate access to the data included in the German System of Social Indicators and to make working with this data easier and more efficient. In order to obtain this goal, DISI 2.1 includes four main functions: 1. Access to the Data: In fact the advantages of DISI in comparison to the data tables offered by the German System of Social Indicators are most substantial with respect to accessing the data. DISI provides actually two ways to retrieve data on a specific topic: via the Registers that display the data structure and by using the Query-search. 2. Compiling Individual Selections of Data: In the Set-window, DISI offers the possibility to combine individual selections of up to six indicator time series. ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 1

3 3. Data Visualisation: It is possible to create simple bar charts for selected time series using the Diagram-mode. Thus it becomes easy to illustrate the developments shown by the data. In addition the zoom-mode can be used to look at selected periods of time in more detail. 4. Providing Basic Information on the Data: In the Information-window DISI provides basic information on the indicators, as, for example, definitions, data sources and additional remarks. 2 INSTALL AND UNINSTALL DISI 2.1 DISI 2.1 is available as a CD-ROM or as a downloadable, self-extracting ZIP file for Windows 9x/NT/2000. Since the installation procedures for these two versions differ slightly, both of them are described below. 2.1 Install the CD-ROM Version If you insert the DISI 2.1 CD in the CD-ROM drive of your computer autoplay will launch the programme immediately. Therefore it is possible to run the application without installing it on your computer s hard disk-drive. If you, however, prefer to install the programme, you can do this by running the Install.exe found in the root directory of the DISI 2.1 CD. You can execute the file by double-clicking it in the Windows Explorer. Alternatively you might also use the Start button to launch the Start menu and then choose the Run command to execute the file (for further description of the Start button and the Run command please refer to the Windows Help). 2.2 Install the Download Version The download version of DISI 2.1 is available as a self-extracting ZIP archive (either in a single file or splitted to several floppy disks. You can extract the archive and run the installation procedure by executing the programme disi2.exe. You can execute the programme by using either the Windows Explorer or the Run command (see Install the CD-ROM Version above). In either case you should follow the instructions provided by the setup programme after starting the installation process. Usually DISI 2.1 will create the subdirectory C:\Program Files\DISI to install the files on your hard disk. During the installation process DISI 2.1 will create icons for starting the application and running the uninstall procedure. DISI 2.1 will not alter any of your Windows System Files. 2.3 Uninstall In order to remove DISI 2.1 from your computer you should use the uninstall.exe. The easiest way to run this file is to use the icon found in the Windows Programs menu. Unfortunately the folder...\disi and the uninstall routine itself (...\disi\uninstall\uninstall.exe) will not be removed during the deinstallation process. You will have to use the Windows Explorer in order to remove these files. ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 2

4 3 STARTING DISI 2.1 If you are using the autoplay option on the DISI 2.1 CD no further steps are necessary to run the application. In any other case the programme can be started using the DISI 2.1 icon in the Windows Start menu. The opening screen of DISI will appear that enables you to choose between the German and the English language version of the programme. You can start any of the two versions by clicking on the respective button ( Deutsch, i.e. German, or English ). At any point the Choose Language-Button (see Illustration 1) can be used to return to the opening screen and switch the current working language. 4 USING DISI 2.1 There are two options that guarantee quick access to the features of DISI: The 'Handcursor' and the Tool Tips. By changing the appearance of the mouse pointer, which scrolling over some areas will appear as a hand, the Handcursor indicates those areas (like e.g. buttons) that can be used to start specific programme functions. If you position the mouse pointer on any button and keep it there, a small information window - the ToolTips - will appear. The ToolTips will give you basic information on the operations this button will perform. The following options will be available directly after starting DISI (see Illustration 1): Illustration 1: Options after Starting DISI 2.1 Register Header Register Life Domain Register All Show all indicators in the Life Domain Choose Language Load a previously saved Indicator set Start the Query Start the Registers (pre-selection) Information Preferences Help Quit DISI Load a previously saved set: Left-click on the load existing Set-Button (or use Ctrl+O) Start the query function: Left-click on the Search-Button. You can find more information on the query function in the paragraph ACCESS TO THE DATA below. Using the registers: After starting DISI, the upper level register - the life domains appears on the screen. You can now use the registers for the following operations: ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 3

5 ! Use the registers to select an indicator: This topic is covered in the paragraph ACCESS TO THE DATA.! Show all indicators included in a specific life domain: move the button All Indicators included in the register All to the square on the left of the respective life domain and left-click.! Move to a specific register: To change from a more specific register-level (e.g. Indicator) to a more general one (e.g. Measurement Dimension) click on the latter level s name in the registerheader.! You can return to the register at any point during work (e.g. after using the query) by clicking the button Register. 5 ACCESS TO THE DATA As illustrated in the preceding paragraph there are (apart from opening a previously saved set of indicators) two ways to access the time series data included in DISI 2.1: either via the registers, which allow an intuitive access to specific topics or in a more direct way via the Query-function. 5.1 Access Using the Register The time series data included in DISI 2.1 are organised in hierarchical structure that integrates them in a series of increasingly more general upper-level groups. At the top level of this hierarchy the data are classified in 14 Life Domains. These Life Domains are divided into several Goal Dimensions that again include a varying number of Measurement Dimensions. Each of these Measurement Dimensions is operationalised by one or several indicators, which usually include several time series (e.g. for the different parts of the country or for sex and/ or age groups) 1. This structure of the data is reflected by the organisation of the registers (see Illustration 2). Thus it is possible to navigate through the structure of the DISI-database by simply clicking on the text shown at the different register-levels. In this way specific time series data can be found by selecting increasingly specific upper level topics. Alternatively it is also possible to display all indicators included in a specific Life Domain directly. In order to do this you have to click on All in the register-header of the left column of the register. After doing so the button All Indicators will appear in this column. It can be moved through the rows (i.e. the Life Domains) using the Mouse. By left-clicking on this button all indicators of the respective Life Domain will be shown. It is also possible to access any of the Register-Levels directly by clicking on the corresponding column in the register-header. 1 More information on the theoretical foundations of this classification can be found in Zapf, Wolfgang (Ed.): Lebensbedingungen in der Bundesrepublik: Sozialer Wandel und Wohlfahrtsentwicklung. Campus: Frankfurt a.m., 1977 (in German). ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 4

6 If you left-click any of the indicators shown, the time series available are displayed in the register Breakdown. Using the Set-Window it is possible to select up to six time series and combine them to an individual set of indicators. Illustration 2: Accessing the Indicator Time Series Via the Registers Buttons (Region Icons) for selecting time series Undo Save Set Delete Set Delete time series Registers New Set Activated Indicator (Identifying colour) Information-Window Set-Window Individual time series can be selected by using one of the Region-Icons included in the register Breakdown (as far as possible, breakdowns are included for any combination of the characteristic under consideration - e.g. sex - and the part of the country, i.e. Western Germany, Eastern Germany and/or a common measure for both parts of the country). 5.2 Access using the Query-Function The Query-function can be used to search selectively for indicators on specific topics. The query lists all indicators containing a specific word, either as such or as part of a combined term. Thus running a query for workforce, you would not find indicators including the word worker (and vice versa). Therefore we recommend to use rather simple words or roots of words as search terms (in the above example e.g. work would be a good choice). The following query-options are available: It is possible to search for several words and their logical combinations:! Use the arrow on the left-hand side of the search word field in order to open additional fields for up to three terms (see Illustration 3).! In order to combine the individual search words the logical connectives AND, OR as well as NOT might be used. The logical connective chosen can be selected by clicking on the pull-down menu next to the search-word field. ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 5

7 It is possible to search the indicator-names, the definitions, the breakdowns (e.g. for men), the sources (e.g. for Wohlfahrtssurvey or Statistisches Bundesamt 2 ), or all of the above mentioned categories at the same time. The corresponding search area is chosen by using the pull-down menu (Search in...) located in the right-hand corner of the query-function. In case the query shall be restricted to selected Life Domains only you can use the pull-down menu in the Life Domains-Bar. The standard setting: is a query covering all Life Domains. After clicking on that bar, individual Life Domains can be chosen by de-selecting the domains that should be excluded from the query. Illustration 3: The Query Function Query results Search words Logical connectives for search words Search area Select Life Domains to search in Start query It is possible to combine all query-options described above. Indicators found using the query-function can be included into an Indicator-set by using the same procedures that are described in ACCESS USING THE REGISTER-FUNCTION. 6 THE SET-WINDOW In the Set-Window it is possible to combine any six time series and to save them as one set in order to compare them using the Diagram- or the Table-Mode. In this context the following functions are available (see Illustration 2 and Illustration 4): Adding a time series: You can add a time series to the set by left-clicking on a Region-Icon or by dragging a Region-Icon to its position in the set window using the mouse. 2 Please note that the datasets, institutions or publications used are usually referred to by their original names or titles, which in most cases will be in German. ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 6

8 Removing a time series: A time series can be removed from the set by dragging the button Delete Series on the time series you wish to discard. This action can be revoked by using the Undo-button. Please note that the Undo-button will only appear subsequent to an action that might be repealed. Moreover it is not possible to cancel any other but the most recent operation. Deleting the entire set: Use the button Delete Set if you wish to remove the entire set. This action might be revoked using the Undo-button. Creating a new set: This can be done by using the Create New Set button. Alternatively you might use the shortcut keys Ctrl+N instead. Please note that in contrast to the case of simply deleting a set it is not possible to undo this action. Saving the current set: You can save a time series set using the Save Current Set button (or Ctrl+S). Illustration 4: Colour Settings and the Information Window Definition and source of indicator In the Diagram-Mode the average value, the current value and the current year will be displayed here Identifying colour of the active time series Path of the active time series Select Colour (preset colour or colourbar) Identifying colours of the time series A previously saved set can be opened by using the Load Existing Set-button or by using the keys Ctrl+O. Please note that only an indicator set saved with DISI 2.1 may be opened. You can select/activate a specific time series by left-clicking the corresponding field in the set window. Selecting an active time series is of special relevance if indicators with different scales are combined in one diagram, for the diagram will display the scale of the active indicator (and not that of the other ones). In contrast to that, a common scale is calculated if several time series of one indicator (e.g. for the different parts of the country) are combined. Each of the time series has an identifying colour that is displayed in the set-window, on the left-hand side of the time series name. The time series currently activated can be recognised by the fact, that its identifying colour is shown on the left margin of the screen, next to the other information on the active indicator (as e.g. definition, source etc.) Changing the indicator-colour: it is possible to adjust a time series identifying colour. In order to do this you should first open the colour-menu by left-clicking the colour-bar on the left-hand side of the ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 7

9 indicator window. Now it is possible to select a new tone or shade of grey among the twelve pre-set options or from the colour-bar. Please note that changing the indicator colour will affect the appearance of the diagrams created using these settings. 7 THE INFORMATION-WINDOW The information window is located on the lower left part of the screen and provides the following facts on the time series currently activated (you can identify the active time series by looking at the colour bar on the left-hand side of the information-window): Indicator: This field provides information on the definition and data-source of the indicator that includes the time series activated. Footnotes - if available - are also included here. Path: This field displays the path that should be used to reach the activated time series via the registers. Value: This section of the information-window is where in the diagram-mode you can find information on the mean value of the current time series as well as on the year displayed at the cursor s position and the time series actual value shown there. 8 THE DIAGRAM-MODE The diagram-mode is used to visualise the time series included in the indicator-set. Moreover this mode includes the following features (see Illustration 5). Printing and exporting diagrams: You can print a diagram by left-clicking the Print-button (or by using Ctrl+P). This will make the Windows printer-dialogue appear. You can also get a print-preview by left-clicking the Print-button while pressing the CTRL-key. Exporting a diagram is done using the Export-button. This will create a JPEG-graphic in an HTML-table, which can be read and used by many other applications. Starting the zoom-mode! In order to switch to the zoom-mode you will first have to select the zoomable area by choosing those years that you wish to examine more closely. This is done by left clicking on the respective years in the bar-chart. The selected years will be highlighted in light-blue colour. Please note that in the zoom-mode the selected years will be displayed without gaps even though the zoomable area you selected might not be made up of successive years. This feature will enable you to make a direct comparison even between developments that have taken place at quite distinct points in time.! You might remove years from the zoomable area simply by clicking on them for a second time. In case you wish to reset the entire zoomable area you can do this by using the Clear Year- Selection-button.! After selecting the zoomable area you can start the zoom-mode by using the Selected Seriesbutton. ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 8

10 Creating and deleting markers! Double-click on the yellow triangle located on the left-hand side of the bar-chart s upper margin to create a marker.! By clicking on the text on the marker s right (the pre-settings are Marker 1, Marker 2 etc.) the marker can be renamed.! If you left-click the triangle and continue to press the mouse-button you can move the marker. If you do so the year displayed in the marker will change automatically.! If you wish to delete a marker click it, continue to press the mouse-button and drag the marker upwards, beyond the diagram s upper margin. Illustration 5: The Diagram Mode Create Marker Marker Start the Diagram- Mode Switch grid on or off Start the Zoom-Mode Years selected for the Zoom- Mode Start the Table- Mode Delete Year Selection Mouse pointer for the current year Print Diagram Export Diagram Value for the current Year (1990) It is possible to switch the grid and the identifying colour for the current indicator on or off by clicking on the left margin of the diagram s scale. Note that if you switch off the grid it will not be shown on the computer printout. Please note that combining time series from different indicators might constitute a problem, since for technical reasons it is not possible to adjust the scales of the bars representing the data. Since this is so, two bars that appear to be of equal length might in fact represent quite distinct quantities (even if both are expressed in the same unit). You can check whether this problem occurs in your current diagram by activating the time series included in the set-window. While activating each time series, the corresponding scale is shown in the graph. Should the scales for the different time series diverge the problem is present in the current set. This problem does NOT occur if different time series belonging to one indicator are combined, since in this case the variation of scales is adjusted for. ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 9

11 9 THE TABLE-MODE The Table-mode can be used to examine and compare the numeric values of the time series collected in the current set. It can be activated by pushing the Table-button. If the zoom mode is activated at the same time, the values shown are restricted to the selected years. Please note that year selection is only possible in the diagram-mode. In the Table-mode you can: Print the table by using the Print-button (or Ctrl+P). You can also get a print-preview by pressing the CTRL-key while left-clicking the Print-button. Export the table data by clicking on the Export-button. The table will be exported as text (.txt), using tabstops as separator-signs or in HTML-format. Thus it is possible to read and process the data with a spreadsheet application. 10 THE ZOOM-MODE The zoom-mode is started by using the Selected Series-button. Activating the zoom-mode makes it possible to study the data for the years that have been selected previously in the diagram-mode, using an enlarged bar-chart. If the table-mode is selected while the zoom-mode is activated, the table will be restricted to display the selected years only. Dependent on which of the other two modes is activated when starting the zoom-mode the respective functions of the diagram- or the table-mode are available. Please note that it is only possible to activate the zoom-mode after specific years have been selected in the diagram-mode. In order to quit the zoom-mode you have to left-click the zoom-button for a second time. 11 THE PREFERENCES-WINDOW The preferences-window is opened by clicking on the Preferences-button located on the lower right margin of the screen (see Illustration 1). In this window some user-specific settings can be made (see Illustration 6): The user can chose whether DISI should be started in the window- or the presentation (full-screen)- mode. It is possible to switch the Tool Tips on or off. Tool Tips are descriptions of the functions of buttons etc. that are shown if the mouse-pointer is moved to these objects. A choice can be made, whether user defined or default colours should be used for the indicators selected. The user is able to select, whether the mouse pointer should appear as a hand- or standard cursor when scrolling over an icon. All changes made in the preferences-window will not be effective until DISI is opened for the next time. ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 10

12 Illustration 6: The Preferences Window Leave the Preferences-Window 12 THE HELP-FILE AND THE INFORMATION-WINDOW Just like the preferences-window, the information-window and the help-file can be opened using the respective buttons at the screen s lower right margin (see Illustration 1). The information-window is started by using the i - Button and includes a short introduction to DISI 2.1, information on the release number and the version of the database as well as on the sources and abbreviations used and the contact addresses of the makers of DISI. You can launch the help-file by using the? - button. The help-file contains information on the most important features of DISI 2.1. In order to retrieve this information you could either search the index for specific entries or access the passages on specific topics via the table of contents. We hope that you will like working with DISI 2.1. In case you should have questions or encounter problems during your work, please do not hesitate to contact us at the following address: Zentrum für Umfragen Methoden und Analysen (ZUMA) Abteilung Soziale Indikatoren Postfach D Mannheim Tel.: + (0) Fax: + (0) Sozialindikatoren@zuma-Mannheim.de Homepage: ZUMA, Social Indicators Unit 11