8 Feb
2011
8 Feb
'11
3:49 p.m.
Thanks to everybody who offered tips yesterday. I'm glad I'm not the only
one who is confused by FactFinder2. Let me share a few things I learned
today as I prepared for my state's data release:
1. The Census Bureau is glad to help. The CTPP list serve put me in
touch with somebody at the Bureau who did the kindness of offering help with
factfinder2. Use the following numbers: Census training: 301-763-4308, or,
if they're busy/overwhelmed with calls, you can call their call center at
800-923-8282. Apparently even the call center staff have the capability to
walk you through factfinder2.
2. With Census Bureau help, I have done some cursory work in
FactFinder2, and can bring down basic data, but not yet refined data. My
summary opinion, after a half day of fiddling with it, as that with proper
training FF2 is probably a marvelous tool, far superior to FF1. It allows
you to create nice summary PDFs, and the download into Excel is smoother
with less clutter. It will soon have the capability for downloading into
other software types, and you can still go with the old standbys like .csv
files.
3. The dark side, however, is that it can turn into a "hall of
mirrors" pretty fast, as you dig for detailed data. I know where I'm going
for a while, then suddenly something doesn't make sense, and I'm surrounded
by apparitions that look real but are actually impenetrable reflecting
walls.
4. A knowledgeable person candidly told me that he / she suspects the
reason the SDC's haven't given much help so far is that they aren't yet
fully confident with FF2 themselves, so they're not rushing to offer
training in it.
5. The FTP process is also pretty daunting. My thanks to Mara
Kaminowitz, who recommended downloading the FTP for one of the states that
is already out, and practicing on it. I'm still struggling with Virginia, my
chosen sample state; it's been a slog but I think I'm beginning to make
sense of it. If you do the FTP download, don't forget to also download the
related PDFs with instructions and background information.
Again, thanks everybody for your help. As a data user, I find it comforting
to know I'm not alone in these troubles!
Jonathan Lupton
Metroplan
Little Rock, Arkansas