New subject: AFF2 and its well-known faults

28 Aug 2011

Can data from third party distributors be trusted? I would like to break free of AFF2, in
fact I have to since half the time the data won't download or the table is
mysteriously unavailable. But I am concerned about relying on data that has been removed
from the original source. If there were an error in a table the the Census corrected the
data, would the correction carry over to these sites?

Mara
-----Original Message-----
From: Graham, Todd [mailto:todd.graham@metc.state.mn.us]
Sent: Thursday, August 25, 2011 05:36 PM
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
Subject: [CTPP] Re: AFF2 and its well-known faults

I know you?re frustrated with AFF2. I no longer recommend it to anyone. 
So if you need Census 2010 summary tabulations, here are best online alternatives to AFF2
(my picks):
?http://mcdc.missouri.edu/pub/data/sf12010/Datasets.html if you need many tables for a
large number of locations (for example, all Census Tracts in Minnesota). User interface
looks complex the first time ? but you?ll see it?s easy ? and allows output in SAS, or
flat-file or other formats.
?http://nhgis.org if you need a few tables (a few topics) for a large number of locations
+ you want ArcGIS shapefile too.
?http://census.ire.org/data/bulkdata.html if you just need one table (1 at a time) for a
large number of locations. This is the quickest to navigate. The drawback is: this site
does not provide descriptive column headings/labels. You?ll need SF1 documentation to
decipher and re-label the column headings it provides.
________________________ 

Todd Graham 
Principal Forecaster and Project Manager 
Metropolitan Council 
390 Robert Street North 
Saint Paul, MN 55101 

ph: 651/602-1322 
email: todd.graham(a)metc.state.mn.us
in: www.linkedin.com/in/toddgraham 
web: http://www.metrocouncil.org/data/ 
________________________ 

From: ctpp-news-bounces(a)chrispy.net [mailto:ctpp-news-bounces@chrispy.net] On Behalf Of
Jonathan Lupton
Sent: Wednesday, August 24, 2011 2:42 PM
To: ctpp-news(a)chrispy.net
Subject: [CTPP] BEA data vs AFF2 and its well-known faults

I know it?s a lost cause to expect the Census Bureau to see reason and dump AFF2, which
sometime this fall will become their only portal for census and ACS data. But anyone who
believes a data searching and downloading product has to require tutorials and special
training, or has to be clunky, needlessly complex, visually confusing, and
counter-intuitive should visit the BEA?s new web site, and try downloading economic data
for his/her local area. The steps are quick, the icons are clear and intuitive, and you
can get to some pretty complex stuff in a series of steps that leaves you feeling smart. 
By comparison, speaking only for myself, I always come away from AFF2 either feeling dumb,
or like a shoplifter who actually got away with something useful, despite the risks I had
to take and the danger of complete failure.
However, I do appreciate the efforts of Elaine and others to provide tips and
data-downloading alternatives to AFF2 ? thanks!
Jonathan Lupton AICP
Research Planner
Metroplan
Little Rock AR
501-372-3300

Re: [CTPP] Re: AFF2 and its well-known faults