To set up the NLS database software on your PC, decide among one of the following three options. Option number 3 is the preferred option, because each of the data files are very large files (500 megabytes+).

1. Access the program, data, and documentation files from the CD-ROM drive. Performance and data transfer depend on the speed of the CD-ROM reader. If you use the CD-ROM to read, load, and retrieve the data, you will have to specify an output location on your hard disk for the files you create. This is because you cannot write to the CD-ROM.
2. Copy the contents of the CD-ROM to a hard disk on your PC and install the software program there. This will greatly enhance performance and data transfer rate, but due to the size of the data files (500 megabytes+) will take up a large amount of space. If you choose this option, maintain the same file structure that is on the CD-ROM. This option may be best for a dedicated, standalone PC used by a group, department, or library.
3. Install the software on your PC and access the data and documentation files from the CD-ROM. You will have to specify an output location on your hard disk for the files you create. This is because you cannot write to the CD-ROM.

You may start up the NLS Investigator installation software (Setup.exe) in one of two ways: automatically, with Auto Installer that appears when you insert the CD disc into the CD-ROM drive; or from Windows’ File Manager or Explorer.

When your computer is already running and you insert the CD disc into the CD-ROM drive for the first time, the "Auto Installer" window shown in the figure to the right will appear. This will allow you to begin installation of the software, immediately. Press the Install button to begin. You may cancel (press the Cancel button) and manually install the software at a later time.

You should consider beforehand which of the three possible ways listed above you would like to use the software.

Auto Installation will lead you through the standard Windows' install shield where you must specify a path for the installation or accept the default one.

If you decide to install the software from Windows Explorer, choose the CD-ROM drive and open the Software folder. Double-click on

Both of the above types of installation will offer the default drive and directory as C:\Program Files\CHRR. If the directory/folder CHRR does not exist, it will create it. You may browse to change the path. Successful default installation will place the software in a folder called CHRR in the drive and directory specified and the data sets will remain in the CD-ROM.

To run NLS Investigator from Windows Explorer, open the drive and directory where you installed the software (default C:\Program Files\CHRR) in Windows Explorer and double-click on

When you double-click on the executable file, the screen shown in the figure below will appear. The first time it appears it will be blank and the user must locate the source of the data sets.

To locate the data sets, specify the drive where the data resides in the drop-down menu () next to the Drive field on the menu bar.

• If you copied all of the contents of the CD-ROM to one of your hard disks, that is where the data sets reside.
• If you installed only the data retrieval software on your PC and left the data sets on the CD-ROM disc, then that is where the data sets reside.

If the drive specified contains one or more data sets, a list of them will appear in the Cohort field.

Just below the Menu bar is a 'Navigation' bar. It contains the Drive and Cohort fields and three buttons, Contents, Variables, Text/Codebook. The location of the data files for use must be specified in the Drive and Cohort fields. The drive field locates the physical drive where the data reside and the cohort field identifies the actual data file to be used. The Contents, Variables, and Text/Codebook buttons switch between the active windows displayed in the lower portions of the screen. These windows are used to manipulate the data for extraction (contents), display the results of manipulation and extraction (variables), and obtain help in the form of documentation (text/codebook).

In a Windows environment switching active windows can also be accomplished simply by clicking in the window. However, if the active window 'covers' one of the inactive windows or the inactive window is minimized, the above buttons can be used to make the window active and bring it to the forefront.

The NLS Variable List window shown in the figure below displays the variables found when a search is run or it displays the variables in an extract specification file when that file is opened. "Name, Description, Record Type, Year, Reference Number, and Question Name" information document the variables displayed.

The Text/Codebook window shown in the figure above provides documentation in the forms of a hypertext manual to this software and a codebook that documents the variables.

The windows in the CHRR NLS Investigator may be resized accdording to your preferences. You may decide for yourself what Windows layout you prefer. Once your preferences are established they will remain that way rather then reverting to the default. It may be easiest to begin with the Contents window maximized in order to select one of the four indexes for use and then select the terms for the search strategy. Or you may wish to review the on-line, hypertext documentation first in the Text/Codebook window.

In a Windows environment switching active windows can be accomplished simply by clicking in the window. However, if the active window 'covers' one of the inactive windows or the inactive window is minimized, the buttons below can be used to make the inactive window active and bring it to the forefront.

Each window can be minimized by clicking on the X in the size bar.

Select a Cohort to investigate and begin developing a search strategy within the Contents window. Or maximize the Text/Codebook window and view on-line, hypertext documentation.

Go to Chapter 3 - Starting Out