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