|
CHRR NLS Investigator for Windows 95 |
NLS CD-ROM User’s Guide |
About This User's Guide This User's Guide illustrates how to begin using the Windows version of the data base access software NLS Investigator. This retrieval system accompanies one or more of the National Longitudinal Survey's (NLS) databases on CD-ROM. With it you can extract data and prepare that data for statistical analysis. You can create, modify, and save your own personalized, extracted files for further research. This package is easy to use. If you already have some knowledge of the NLS and a search strategy in mind, you will be able to complete that search and extract a file within minutes of using the guide. Just follow this guide and substitute your own strategy for the examples given. To get the most out of this User's Guide, you should already be familiar with the NLS and know how your interests can be served by NLS data. You need some idea of the samples covered and the types of information collected by the survey instrument. If you have questions about the NLS data, please consult the NLS Handbook or the NLS Users’ Guide for the appropriate cohort. In addition to knowledge of the NLS and its data, you need to have some knowledge of the Windows 95 operating system. This guide explains how to install and use the Windows version of the NLS data extraction software. Before you install or start the NLS software make sure you have the following minimum hardware: You may select up to 1024 variables per extract. The capacity of your PC's hard disk is the factor limiting the size of the extract you may design. The amount of disk space required for a given extract is automatically calculated for you during your selection session so you can make sure you have adequate space available before executing the extract. If your PC has a disk drive with 750 megabytes of free capacity, you can copy the entire CD-ROM to that device. This greatly enhances performance because the data transfer rate on such a device it is typically faster than that of a CD reader, depending upon the disk drive used. Conventions used in this manual The following conventions are used throughout this guide. Compact discs should be handled with care. Do not touch the surface. Hold the disc by the outside edge and gently place it in the CD reader. It should be stored in its plastic case. If the surface becomes scratched or damaged, the CD may become unusable. Never wipe the surface with cloth; it may be air-cleaned. When a new year of data is added to the NLS database, a new compact disc may be purchased along with the current software. As the software is refined and updated, new software versions will be issued with the next available data update. Any major errors in the search software will be released on PC diskette as soon as they are discovered. Whenever you receive any updated version of the data or software, you must re-install the new versions. Customer services and technical support If you have any customer service questions or technical support problems please contact: E-mail: USERSVC@postoffice.chrr.ohio-state.edu.
<Enter> Anything enclosed in angle braces represents a key on the keyboard. Find the corresponding key and press it.
<Alt> + <F1> The plus (+) sign between two keys means hold down the first key and press the second key. Then release both keys.
italics Anything that is a placeholder for variable information will be written in italics. For example, if you are asked to provide the name of a file it will appear as file name; a letter for a disk drive will appear as d:.
bold Anything appearing in bold usually refers to something on the screen such as a field name, a button, a box or a window.
Go to Chapter 2 - Setting Up the NLS Software
Go to Table of Contents