I tried on Friday to get data from the new AFF2 website and it hung up when I tried to get data. It hung up for any geography or dataset, no matter how small.

Today it seems to be working for small data sets but still hanging up on larger ones like tracts.

AFF2 is also offering redistricting data for my state even though it's not out yet. The download button leads to an error.

If you download and decode the summary file from the FTP site, you will get redistricting data for all geographies in your state, and it can be turned into usable data sets (just tracts, counties, etc.) fairly quickly using Access queries. I recommend downloading one of the states at http://www2.census.gov/census_2010/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/ and running through the whole process as practice for when Arkansas gets released later in the week.

Mara Kaminowitz
GIS Analyst
.........................................................................
Baltimore Metropolitan Council
Offices at McHenry Row
1500 Whetstone Way
Suite 300
Baltimore, MD 21230
410-732-0500 ext. 1030
mkaminowitz@baltometro.org
www.baltometro.org

From: Jonathan Lupton [mailto:jlupton@metroplan.org]
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 10:45 AM
To: ctpp-news@chrispy.net
Subject: [CTPP] FactFinder2

Is anybody else having trouble using FactFinder2?

My state, Arkansas, is due for Census 2010 figures this week. I have tried to familiarize myself with FactFinder2, but cannot get much out of it.

The actual product DOES NOT work the way the tutorial says it should.

My agency will fall back on FTP downloading as our only source if necessary, of course. I hope we don’t have to switch to FTP for everything!

Our state data center had no help, nor any plans for training seminars, etc., when I called about this matter.

Any tips, thoughts, reflections from other data users?

Jonathan Lupton

Metroplan

Little Rock Arkansas