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THE CDC ANTHROPOMETRIC SOFTWARE PACKAGE
Version 3.0
TUTORIAL GUIDE AND HANDBOOK
By Michael Dennis Jordan
The complete instruction set for using the anthropometric analysis
software based on the
CDC Standard Deviation-Derived Growth Reference Curves
Derived from NCHS/CDC Reference Population
NCHS Growth Curves for Children, Birth-18 years, United States
Series 11-number 165, DHEW Publication number (PHS) 78-1650
Software by Michael D. Jordan. Anthropometric subroutine set
supported by Norman W. Staehling, Div. of Nutrition,
Center for Health Promotion and Education
Supported, in part, by the Office of Nutrition,
Agency for International Development (AID)
under RSSA # BST-1064-R-HC-2174-03
This software is in the public domain and available without cost.
Technical assistance may be obtained by writing to the author.
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
Center for Health Promotion and Education
Division of Nutrition, Statistics Branch
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Second Printing
April 1987
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Foremost to
NORMAN W. STAEHLING, MS, Statistician
who maintains the FORTRAN version of the anthropometric subroutine
upon which the microcomputer version is based.
Furthermore, the author extends gratitude to the following individuals
and institutions for their contributions and guidance.
The Centers for Disease Control
Frederick Trowbridge, MD
Ronald Fichtner, PhD
Barbara Sullivan
Faye Wong, MPH, RD
Richard Peck, MPH
Steve Ilardi, BS
The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
Shiriki Kumanyika, PhD
Sandra Huffman, ScD
The International Food Policy Research Group
Bruce Cogill, PhD
i
FOR VERSION 2 USERS
In Mid-1985, The Centers for Disease Control, Center for Health
Promotion and Education, distributed the second release of the
Anthropometric Statistical Package (CASP). The patients files you've
made with Version 2 are not compatible with Version 3.0.
SWAP, a supplemental program found on the supplemental files
diskette of this package, will convert your old Version 2 files into
Version 3.0 files.
The conversion program makes files with three different
extensions: ETB, TXT and FLD.
ETB files are SWAP-converted files that can be used immediately
in the version 3.0 ENTRY and TAB programs. They are direct conversions
of the Version 2 data including the anthropometric indices. Note:
since SWAP performs no recomputations there is no way for the program
to detect when it is copying an Edit Flagged record. (See EDIT FLAGS
in the user handbook). There is no Edit Flag field in the Version 2
files to copy therefore the Edit Flag field in the Version 3.0 ETB
files will all be blank.
TXT are conversions of Version 2 files into an ASCII file without
the anthropometric indices. Some programmers call them batch files or
rectangular files. The ASCII file is a bonus. There are many
applications for this TXT file because it can be easily read and
edited by other programs.
TXT files contain all the data from the individual records in
Version 2 files except the anthropometric indices. The BATCH program
in this package can reprocess the TXT files and apply the computed
indices. The processed files are also output as ASCII files. BATCH
also produces ETB files.
The advantage of reprocessing the TXT into a new ETB is that you
will obtain anthropometric indices that are calculated by the
algorithms identical to those in the Centers' central computer.
FLD is a field location template and partner to TXT file. You'll
need it should you decide to reprocess the TXT file with BATCH. FLD
contains all the field locations for I.D., age, sex, height, weight,
and all extra classification variables, if any. Read BATCH for further
details about FLD files.
Lotus 1-2-3* compatibility promised in Version 2 was never fully
successful. In Version 3.0 there is a program called LCHANGE on the
supplemental files diskette that will convert ETB and TAB files to 1-
2-3 PRN files. Read Appendix D for further details.
* Lotus 1-2-3 and Dbase used throughout this manual are copyrighted
trademark names used by Lotus Corporation and Ashton-Tate, Inc.,
respectively.
ii
WAIT!
Before you use any of the software in the package, protect your
materials:
COPY YOUR DISKETTES!
The Program Diskette contains the most essential parts of the
Anthropometric Software Package. The Supplemental Files Diskette has
sample files that will help you learn to use the package properly.
The files on the two diskettes are not copy protected. In fact,
we urge you to copy them before you do anything else. Some of the
sample files are used in the tutorial portions of the documentation.
You will have to read from and write to some of these files. If they
are lost or you accidentally ruin them in the learning process, you
will not be able to finish the tutorial.
Use only copies of the diskettes, not the originals.
If you have a computer with a non-removable hard disk, you should
create a directory (consult your DOS manual) and copy the entire
package into your new directory.
INVENTORY OF CASP PACKAGE
1 User Registration Form (MUST be filled out and sent to CDC!)
1 User's Tutorial and Guidebook
1 5.25 inch DS/DD Program Diskette containing:
ENTRY.EXE
TAB.EXE
BATCH.EXE
DATA
1 5.25 inch DS/DD Supplemental Files Diskette containing:
DEMOBAT.TXT
DEMOTAB.TAB
SAMPLE.ETB
SWAP.EXE
LCHANGE.EXE
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
How to use this Handbook 2
Chapter I Using the Entry Program
1.1 Making an Anthropometric Calculation 4
1.2 Editing Your Entries 7
1.3 Edit Flags 7
1.4 Making Patient Record Files 8
1.5 Creating Extra Classification Variables 8
1.6 Entering Records Into Patient Files 10
1.7 Setting Tabs 11
1.8 Searching and Viewing Records 12
1.9 Editing Records 13
1.10 Deleting Records 14
1.11 Making Field-Specific Inclusive/Exclusive Searches 14
1.12 Transferring and Sub-setting Files 16
1.13 Sample Weights 16
1.14 Merging Files 19
Chapter II Using the Tab Program
2.1 Planning a Cross-Tabulation 21
2.2 The Interval Template 22
2.3 Editing Interval Templates 26
2.4 Performing the Cross-Tabulation 26
2.5 Saving Cross-Tabulation Intervals 27
2.6 Printing the Cross-Tabulation 28
Chapter III Making and Using Histograms
3.1 Where to Begin 30
3.2 Fetching the Data 30
3.3 Making the Histogram 31
3.4 Precision Bar Heights 33
3.5 N-Shift 34
3.6 Summary of Steps 34
3.7 Graphing the Means 35
Chapter IV Using the Batch Program
4.1 Preparing Raw Data for Batch Processing 36
4.2 Processing the Raw Data File 37
4.3 Examining Source Data File 38
4.4 Identifying Field Locations 39
4.5 Convert and Compute Source File 42
4.6 Converting Batch Files to Output Files 44
Appendix A The Mathematical Operators 47
Appendix B Files Made By Version 3 48
Appendix C Accuracy of Anthropometric Indices 49
Appendix D Lotus Compatibility 50
iv
1
INTRODUCTION
WHAT CAN I DO WITH THE ANTHROPOMETRIC SOFTWARE PACKAGE?
The CDC Anthropometric Software Package consists of three
programs called ENTRY, TAB and BATCH, and a reference data set. The
programs perform several related tasks that allow the user to go from
raw, disorganized data to precisely calculated and statistically
analyzed listings, cross-tabulations, and presentation graphics.
The principal uses of the software package are record
maintenance, anthropometric calculation and statistical analysis.
Although there are already many statistical analysis packages
available, this one, developed by the Division of Nutrition, Center
for Health Promotion and Education at the Centers for Disease Control,
is customized for public health professionals.
The programs were made to operate on IBM-compatible micro-
computers including the portables. For field-oriented work there are
enough features in the software to operate a fully independent field
site capable of cross-tabulating 50,000 patient records.
The output files from ENTRY and BATCH are saved in a format that
allows them to be transmitted to mainframe and micro computers and
used by other statistical analysis programs.
A micro-computer operating under IBM DOS 2.1 or higher with a
minimum of 256K and a dot matrix printer are the basic equipment. If
you can get one, a color monitor is recommended over a monochrome.
The next few pages describe in detail the capabilities of the
three programs in the package ENTRY, TAB and BATCH.
THE ENTRY PROGRAM
The ENTRY program is principally used for performing
anthropometric calculations and creating patient files. When given
age, sex, height and weight, the program returns the percentiles, z-
scores, and percent of medians for height/age, weight/age, and
height/weight. These calculations can be saved in a file named by the
user with the patient's identification if desired. The program can
manage 5000 records per file. Also the user may create 24 additional
fields to collect other data.
Among other features are:
1. a provision for weighting data
2. a probable error flag
3. the capability to search and separate all error-flagged
records or records with common characteristics
4. sub-setting and merging of files
5. listing by fields
2
THE TAB PROGRAM
The TAB program is used for making cross-tabulations of patient
records saved with ENTRY or converted from other sources with the
BATCH program. The user chooses three variables from a patient file
and divides them into intervals. The program presents the results on
screen or paper. The results can be saved and presented again for
briefings or reprints.
Among the major features are:
1. the capability to crosstabulate weighted data
2. histogram (bar graphs) for color monitor owners
3. save/recall features for tab results and intervals used for
results
4. uniformly formatted printed tabulations with titles and
footnotes
5. the capability to calculate cell-by-cell means on any numeric
variable
THE BATCH PROGRAM
The BATCH program is used to perform calculations and conversions
upon raw files of data called "batch files." Batch files can come
from mainframe computers or other PC software. If the batch file
contains enough information to derive the patient's sex, age, height
and weight, you only have to provide column location of this
information and the files will be processed one after another without
user interaction. The finished files may be cross-tabbed with TAB and
edited with ENTRY.
Among the major features are:
1. on/off filter for edit-flagged records
2. available printout of all flagged records
3. full graphic display of batch records and trial processing
4. field locations can be saved as a template for easy re-use
5. the capability to produce processed ASCII output files
HOW TO USE THIS HANDBOOK AND SURVIVE THE LEARNING PROCESS
Much to the dismay of programmers and technical writers, the
typical computer user doesn't like to read. Most over-anxious would
rather jump into a program and read the instructions after the damage
is done.
Unfortunately, using this software package--successfully, at
least---won't be that simple. You must use this handbook if you
intend to be a proficient user.
3
This handbook is more of a tutorial than a reference manual. The
user performs the functions in the programs as he reads about them.
The handbook uses step-by-step examples. The user is expected to
participate as he reads. The user is expected to apply the experience
gained from using the handbook examples to real-world cases.
You will need a copy of the program diskette and the supplemental
diskette. Do not use your original diskettes.
If you have a computer with a non-removable hard disk, you should
have already created a directory and you should use your hard disk
copy.
Ideally you should try all the exercises in the handbook. However
the applicability of all the material in the handbook may differ from
user to user.
FOR USERS WHO WILL ENTER DATA MANUALLY: Read Chapters 1 thru
3. You may read Chapter 4 and practice the examples for familiarity.
FOR ADVANCED USERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH MAINFRAME ACCESS OR
BATCH FILES: Read Chapter 4 first and move on to Chapters 1, 2 and 3.
Do not start in the middle of a chapter. To be fully proficient,
you must read and practice all the examples in each chapter.
4
CHAPTER I USING THE ENTRY PROGRAM
To start the data entry and computation program, insert the
program diskette in drive A and type ENTRY. If you have copied the
programs to hard disk, boot up in the usual manner and type ENTRY.
When the program starts, the first thing it will do is load up
the growth curve reference set from the disk file DATA. After this is
done and the menu appears, you may remove the program diskette if you
are using it on a floppy disk drive.
The menu offers six choices. The last choice [6] Escape to DOS
turns off the program and returns the computer to its start-up state.
(DOS stands for Disk Operating System).
1.1 MAKING AN ANTHROPOMETRIC CALCULATION
Anthropometric calculations are performed in function [1] Data
Entry and Interactive Computation.
Press [1].
The program may be used as an anthropometric calculator or as a
data entry program. It's called Interactive because it pauses for
responses from the user.
First, get acquainted with the program by studying the screen.
Notice how many fields there are on the screen.
Press the return/enter and backspace keys a few times and watch
how the triangular pointer moves from field to field. Make sure you
use both the enter and backspace keys enough times to understand what
they do before you continue.
The program needs to know HEIGHT, WEIGHT, SEX, and AGE in order
to compute the percentiles, z-scores and percent of median for
HEIGHT/AGE, WEIGHT/AGE, and WEIGHT/HEIGHT. The program has several
ways of getting the four pieces of information it needs.
NAME: name is an optional field. Some users require it, some
don't. It has no affect on the computations.
SEX: the sex for boys can be either M, m, or 1 and the sex for
girls can be either F, f, or 2
When you start making your patient files you must be consistent.
Use only one of the symbols for each sex.
Move the pointer to the sex field. Type 'M' and press return.
IMPORTANT: Even the most careful user will make a typo error
sooner or later. With this program you can move the cursor to the
error with the cursor arrow keys, NOT BACKSPACE, and just type over
the error. You cannot move the cursor to the first character in the
5
string. If you make a mistake on the very first character you type in
any field you must:
1. Go ahead and enter the mistake so you can get the field
pointer back on the screen.
2. Press the backspace key so the pointer will move back to the
field with the mistake. Don't confuse the backspace key with the
move-left cursor arrow key. They ARE NOT the same thing to this
program.
3. Retype the data for that field--carefully.
AGE: the program will accept ages in months, years or
combinations of both or by computing the time difference between VISIT
DATE and BIRTHDATE.
The proper formats for a birth and visit date are:
mm/dd/yy as in 07/26/86
yymmdd as in 860726
Both formats are valid for July 26, 1986. The computer will
recognize only these two formats for dates. When day is unknown, 00
or 99 may be used. The program assumes the 15th.
IMPORTANT: There is a difference between 'age unknown' and age '0
months.' Do not use '0' to indicate an unknown age. The age, visit
date and birthdate fields must all be left blank to indicate an
unknown age. The only exception is '999.99' months which will be
accepted as age unknown.
When age is missing measurements are assumed to be recumbent
below 85 cms and standing there after.
Move the pointer to the birthdate field and type exactly as
shown: 06/15/83
Move the pointer to the visit date field and type exactly as
shown: 06/30/86
WEIGHT AND HEIGHT: the program will accept any number in these
fields. Zero or a null field is used for unknowns. The program
defaults to the metric measurements of kilograms and centimeters
first. If you wish to use pounds/ounces and feet/inches you may but
it would serve no purpose to mix centimeters and inches or kilograms
and ounces.
For weight, move the pointer to the appropriate fields and type
36 (pounds)
2 (ounces)
For height, move the pointer to the appropriate fields and type
6
3 (feet)
2.5 (inches)
Don't forget to press the return key after the last entry.
Double check your screen. You should have entered:
SEX: M
BIRTH DATE: 06/15/83
VISIT DATE: 06/30/86
WEIGHT: 36 lbs, 2 ounces
HEIGHT: 3 ft, 2.5 inches
To process this record, press [*]. The instruction for this is
also on the lowest line on the screen.
Notice that the anthropometric indices were performed and quickly
returned. What happened was that the program plotted the patient on
its stored memory of growth curves and displayed the computed indices.
If the program put an [*]asterisk on the screen instead of
processing the data, it's because you didn't press [ret] after the
last entry!
Do you think in metric or U.S. standard?
Study the results on the screen. Notice that pounds/ounces and
feet/inches aren't displayed anymore. Users accustomed to U.S.
standards are probably wondering why the program no longer showed the
height and weight measurements after it computed the anthropometric
indices.
The package was compiled with the display default permanently set
to metric. Metrics are much more precise and easier to calculate than
U.S. standard. The growth curve reference data is in metric. With
the default set as it is, all the data associated with anthropometric
measures must be entered in metric.
If this does not fit your purpose you may change the default to
U.S. standard very easily by going back to the main menu (Press [Esc]
escape). Whenever you have the main menu on the screen you have the
opportunity to change from metric to U.S. or back to metric by just
pressing 'U' or 'M' on your keyboard.
If you choose U.S. then all your anthropometric outputs will be
in pounds/ounces and feet/inches. You will stay in U.S. standard
until you stop the program or press 'M' while at the main menu.
Measurements must be input in the same mode you selected for
output. In other words, don't select to display the output in U.S.
mode if you are inputting your data in metric. This will cause
confusion if you choose to edit or re-enter data.
7
1.2 EDITING YOUR ENTRIES
What if you look at the results on the screen and discover that
your patient data is incorrect? You could clear the screen by
pressing [RET] and start over, or you could fix only the part of the
record that is incorrect.
At the bottom of the screen, three options are presented. [RET],
as stated above, will clear the screen, [Esc] will take you back to
the menu, and any other key will bring back the pointer and allow you
to re-enter any field.
Assume that age is incorrect and that the error was caused by a
faulty visit date. Let's assume that the patient was really visited
on 05/30/86 instead of 06/30/86. To correct that error:
1. Press any key (except return or backspace) to get the pointer
back on the screen.
2. Press [RET] or the backspace key to move the pointer to the
visit date field.
3. Type and enter the new date (05/30/86).
4. Press [*] to process the data for the anthropometric indices.
You will notice a change in the computed age. Also, there have
been some changes in the indices for weight/age and height/age. You
could, if you desired, use the entry program as a anthropometric
calculator by just changing the data in any field an indefinite number
of times.
To invalidate fields (remove any data) blank out the field with
spaces.
1.3 EDIT FLAGS
Sooner or later, if you enter enough data, you'll see a message
called an Edit Flag. The words "EDIT FLAG" will appear flashing near
the display of computed anthropometric indices.
Assume that you accidentally entered 32.5 feet for height instead
of 3 feet and 2.5 inches. There wouldn't be any curve data for such
an extreme height so there would be and Edit Flag warning and unknowns
as indices for height/age and weight/height.
The Edit Flag warning flashes every time the patient data cannot
be plotted on any of its curves. Common causes of Edit Flags are:
1. No height or weight found in the record
2. No sex indicated
There may be no errors in thn the birth or visit fields
4. Computed ages over 18 years old
The computed indices will be percentiles of 999.99, z-scores of
9.99 and medians of 999.99. These are tokens for unknowns.
8
Sometimes actual patient data will cause an edit flag to occur.
There may be no errors in the data but still the Edit Flag appears and
there are real anthropometric indices on the screen.
You may still get an edit flag message if:
1. Patient's weight and height are at some extreme that doesn't
fit any of the reference curves.
2. The z-scores for weight/age and height/age are greater than 6
or less than -6.
3. The z-score weight/height is less than -4 or greater than 6.
4. Boys are taller than 145 cms; girls are taller than 137 cms.
5. Boys are older than 138 months; girls are older than 120
months
1.4 MAKING PATIENT RECORD FILES
In the previous section of this booklet, you learned to use the
entry program as an anthropometric calculator without saving the
results. You learned how to correct an individual field and what
causes an Edit Flag.
In this section you will learn how to make a file to hold patient
data and how to have even more fields than just name, sex, height,
weight, and age.
First you must go back to the main menu. Press [Esc] to get the
main menu, if you haven't already got it.
Press selection [3].
A small window appears. In the window you are prompted to create
a name for your file. Acceptable names are any combination of up to
eight alphabetic or numeric characters (no spaces). You must include
the disk drive upon which you intend to create the file and you must
not make up extensions for your file names. An example of a legal
name is:
C:MYFILES. There is 'C' as the disk drive, followed by a colon,
and the file name. That is the only correct format.
PATIENTRECS is illegal because the name is too long.
C:NEWFILE.MDJ is illegal because there is an extension
At this, time mount disk drive A and enter the name A:PRACTICE.
1.5 CREATING EXTRA CLASSIFICATION VARIABLES
A large window appears after you have entered the name of the
file. In this window you may create the names of up to 24 new
classification variables. If you do not want extra variables then you
may press [*].
9
To familiarize you with the rules for extra variables, we'll make
a few extra variables. Let's assume that we need to collect data on
race or nationality, residence and mother's age when the child was
born. That would be three extra classification variables. In the
program they are called user-selected variables.
All you have to do is type a short name for the field (no longer
than 7 characters). Notice we're using the pointer again. Pressing
return or backspace will move the pointer to 24 stops in the window.
This is to allow you to go back and change a name. Type and enter;
ETHNIC
REGION
#MAT AGE (for maternal age)
Notice that MAT AGE has a # sign before it. The # sign means that
any information going into this field will be numeric. You could put
numbers in any of the other fields, too, but the computer would treat
them as words, instead of numeric values.
A $ sign is the opposite of a # sign. A $ sign means that the
field is an alphanumeric character field. We didn't use $ in front of
ETHNIC or REGION because when a field is created, the program assumes
that it's an alphanumeric character field. You don't have to type the
$ sign unless you are changing a numeric field to a character field.
If you make a mistake, remember from your practice with data
entry how to correct it; enter the mistake and move the pointer back
to the field with the backspace key.
When you have created all three labels press [*] to register
them. The disk drive will activate for a moment and then the menu
will return.
You have now created a file called PRACTICE. If you look at the
disk's directory you will see PRACTICE.ETB. That is the file you have
created and there are three extra variable names stored with the file
name.
Right now the file is empty so we are going to put a few records
in it.
Press selection [1].
By now you are familiar with this screen. One of the choices
shown in the line menu at the bottom of the screen is [/] ACTIVATE A
FILE.
Press [/] (that's the slash on the same key with the question
mark).
A prompt appears in the top left corner of the screen. The
program wants to know what file you are opening. You must answer this
prompt with the DISK DRIVE DESIGNATION and the FILE NAME. Since you
want the practice file you must type and enter:
A:PRACTICE (Later, when you are making your own files, you may
replace the 'A' with whatever disk drive you wish to use).
10
Notice that your extra classification fields have appeared near
the bottom.
Before we enter data in your new file, let's assume that you've
decided you really need more than just these three fields. It's not
too late to add more.
1. Press [Esc] to get back to the menu.
2. Choose selection [3] as if you were creating a new file.
3. Type and enter A:PRACTICE.
The program detects that there is already a file called PRACTICE
so it will present the current list of extra variables.
At this point you may add more variables, over-strike and change
the name of a current variable, or delete a variable by using the
space bar.
For this exercise, let's add POLIO and MEASLES (for vaccination
recording) as extra fields. Remember, press [ret] after the last
entry and press [*].
Rules for creating variables are simple. You don't need to
memorize them right away, but you will need to know them when you are
through practicing and you start making files of your own.
1. Extra classification fields are five columns long. (This is
permanently fixed.) You may have 24 extra classification fields.
2. A field label can be seven characters long. Anything beyond
seven will be truncated. The # and $ signs are not counted as part of
the length.
3. A # sign at the beginning of a field label means that the
field will contain numeric information.
4. A $ sign at the beginning of a field cancels a # sign. You
would use a $ sign to switch a numeric field back to an alphanumeric
character field.
1.6 ENTERING RECORDS INTO PATIENT FILES
Go back to the menu if it isn't already there.
Decide now whether you want metric or U.S. (Press U for U.S.
or M for metric.)
Press selection [1].
The data entry screen appears.
To get records into a file you must have an opened file. One of
the choices at the bottom of the screen is [/] Activate a file.
Press [/].
11
In the upper left corner, the prompt FILE appears.
Mount a new formatted diskette in A drive then type and enter
A:PRACTICE (B or C drive will serve just as well if you prefer).
The extra variables now appear near the bottom of the screen.
Making patient records is a three-step process: TYPE, PROCESS,
SAVE.
TYPE in a name, sex, birthdate, visit date, weight, and height.
Follow the same pattern you used in interactive computation. Make up
information for the extra variables, too.
PROCESS by pressing [*]. Check for Edit Flag (accompanied by a
beep). Read anthro indices.
SAVE by pressing the return key to write the information to the
practice file. Each record takes up 221 bytes of disk space.
Perform these three steps for four example patients of your own.
Creating this file will get you accustomed to entering records.
You can see that, while this method of moving pointer type data
entry takes a little getting used to, it can be mastered with
practice. Using the [*] for processing may seem a bit odd, but it was
selected because there's a [*] key in easy reach of the right little
finger just above and to the right of the space bar on most IBM-type
keyboards (except the IBM AT).
1.7 SETTING TABS
You probably don't need to stop at every field on the screen. If
you are filling out birth and visit dates, you surely don't need to
stop at age in month and years. Likewise, if you're in the metric
mode, you don't need to stop at pounds/ounces and feet/inches.
The pointer can be programmed to stop only at the fields you want
to fill out. Let's assume you want to stop only at NAME/I.D., SEX,
BIRTH, VISIT, LBS, OZS, FT and IN. It would speed up data entry to
have the pointer stop only at those fields. To set tabs:
1. Move the pointer to the first field you wish to tab. (By the
way, fields can be tabbed in any order!)
2. Press TAB (the double arrows next to the Q key). When a field
is tabbed, there is a beep. You cannot tab the user-created extra
classification variables. The logic assumed here is that you wouldn't
have created the fields if you didn't plan to fill them out.
3. When you have tabbed the chosen fields, press the caret
character [^] (the symbol above the number 6). [ ] activates the tabs.
This key also unsets all the tabs. If you unset the tabs you'll have
to reset all of them.
12
Now when you move the pointer from field to field it will only
stop at the fields you've tabbed.
Try entering four more records now that you have tabs. You'll
see how much more efficient using tabs can be.
1.8 SEARCHING AND VIEWING RECORDS
After you've entered several records or have had someone else do
it for you, it's not easy to grasp the prevailing characteristics of
these patients as a group. This function is probably the most useful
feature for just getting acquainted with your records.
Get back to the main menu and press [2].
The first thing you must do is tell the computer what file you
wish to search. As always you do this by typing and entering a file
name. DON'T FORGET TO INDICATE DISK DRIVE BEFORE THE FILE NAME.
We will review your training file PRACTICE.
The data entry screen returns but this time it has a different
function. It's used to search for specific kinds of records. You may
command the program to:
Find all records that were edit-flagged (press [@]).
Find all records that were not edit-flagged (press [#]).
Get all records flagged or not (press [*]).
Inclusive or exclusive search for very field-specific
records (input sought after info in field it is
expected to be found and press [*]).
Press [*]
You are immediately told you have eight records (unless you made
more or less than instructed).
You have options for presenting the results of the search:
[1] and [2] allow you to make a listing of the records on the
screen or the printer. This is the way to dump the records but in an
orderly formatted manner with only the fields you choose to see.
Press [2] if you have a printer on line or [1] if you don't.
If you are going to use your printer, set the paper so that the
print head starts on the first line of the page.
You are presented with a list of the fields in your records. You
select the field you wish to see by the corresponding number, typing
and entering each number one at a time.
13
Select NAME/ID
AGE
SEX
ETHNIC
REGION
W/H percentile
H/A percentile
Press return alone or type and enter '0' to begin listing.
When the listing is on the screen, the screen displays twenty
records at a time. When the listing is on the printer, the printer
writes fifty records per page. Each page will have a header and page
number.
The search results menu returns after the printer has finished.
Selection number [3] on the menu allows you to look at a
patient's total record. Press [3].
The data entry screen is back again but this time it displays the
first record and the anthropometric indices. To examine other records
in the file, you may press return to see the next record, backspace to
see the previous record, or type and enter the record number you wish
to see.
A counter in the upper right corner shows you which record you
are viewing. The record numbers apply to the index of records that
fit the search, not to the record's physical location on the disk. In
this case, they are the same only because all the records fit the
search criteria. Your printed listing of selected fields serves as an
index. The consecutive numbers in the leftmost column correspond to
the record selected for viewing on the screen.
1.9 EDITING RECORDS
You can perform editing functions on a record while you have it
up on the data entry screen. Along the bottom of the screen you will
see a small menu for selection of functions.
Press [E] for edit.
You will see that the pointer has returned. You can move the
pointer to any field and change the data.
Move the pointer to the SEX field and change the data to the
opposite sex.
Keep your eye on the anthropometric indices and press [*].
Notice that the anthropometric indices changed slightly. Not
only did they change on the screen but the change in sex and indices
were also written to the file. You have just edited a record.
14
As long as the pointer is still on the screen, you are in the
edit mode and able to change any item in a patient's record. Pressing
[*] will process the record for any changes in the anthropometric
indices and write it to the file. If you wish, you may change the
entry in the sex field again and watch the anthropometric indices
change again when you press [*].
Just like in data entry, the edit routine will detect probable
errors and flash EDIT FLAG. If you get an edit flag, remember it will
be written on the record that way until you change it.
1.10 DELETING RECORDS FROM FILE
[D] is for delete.
It works very simply. If you put a record on the screen and push
[D], you erase the record. The record doesn't really disappear from
the disk. A special byte of information is written to the record and
you won't have access to the record anymore. It's still out there
taking up space. If you had a file of 1000 records and you deleted the
second one, it would take too long to pull all the records back one
address to cover the gap.
There are other procedures you can use to 'tighten up' your files
after a lot of deleting. Merging or sub-setting files automatically
cause records coded as 'deletable' not to be copied. If you do a lot
of deleting, be sure to read the section 1.12 Transferring and
Subsetting Files.
1.11 MAKING FIELD-SPECIFIC INCLUSIVE AND EXCLUSIVE SEARCHES
Besides being able to separate edit-flagged from non-edit-flagged
records, you can search and separate records based on criteria as
specific as 'all children from village XYZ who were vaccinated against
measles and had w/h percentiles over 70 and were under 60 months old'.
To perform such searches you must escape to the results display
selection menu. Press [Esc] if you are still in the
edit/review/delete mode. We could press [5] for New search but we are
going to use a larger file so we have something substantial on which
to experiment.
Press [Esc] until you get back to the main menu.
Press [2] for Edit and Search
We will use a practice file called SAMPLE. It was supplied with
your supplemental files diskette. Fetch it from the diskette. By now
you should know that you always specify the disk drive along with the
file name.
We are going to find all males, between 12 and 36 months who are
between the 40th and 80th percentile for height and age, and whose
birthweights were between 1800 and 6700 grams at birth.
15
1. Move the pointer to the sex field and input "M"
2. Move the pointer to the months field and input "12"
After you pressed the return key, you noticed that the pointer
stayed at the months field. Because months is a numeric field the
program expects a lower and upper range. 12 was the lower range. 36
will be the upper range and you will enter it in the months field.
3. Input 36 as the upper range in the months field.
4. Move the pointer to the h/a percentile area in the indices
display bars. Input 40 as the lower range, press return, and enter
80.99 as the upper range. Press return to get the pointer back.
5. Move the pointer to the BIRTHWT field in the extra
classification fields area. Notice that the pointer changed to a #
sign. This is a reminder that the information in this field is
mathematic and will require you to input a lower and upper numeric
range.
Type and enter 1800. That is the lower range.
The # sign will stay fixed at the BIRTHWT field. Type and enter
6700. That is the upper range.
6. Press [*].
The prompt [I] INCL [E] EXCL appears near the top right corner of
the screen. This prompt asks if your search will be INCLUSIVE,
meaning children within or equal to the search specifications or
EXCLUSIVE, meaning children outside of or not equal to the search
specifications.
For this search to find the patients we've describe the search
will have to be inclusive. Type and enter the letter [I].
The disk drive is activated as the program searches each record
to see if it fits the search criteria. In the upper right corner of
the screen you will see a pair of numbers. The number ascending on the
left tells how many records were searched. The number ascending on
the right is the number of records found that fit the search criteria.
When the program has searched all the records you will be told
how many records fit the search criteria and a menu to select how you
want to view the results of the search.
If you choose to look at the records individually or list them
out on the printer or the screen, you will see that all the records
found are all males between 12 and 36 months old, with h/a percentiles
between 70 and 80.99, and weight between 1800 and 6700 grams at birth.
If the search had been [E] Exclusive, the computer would have
found children who did not fit within the search described above.
Exclusive searching allows the users search two sides of a curve
simultaneously.
16
1.12 TRANSFERRING AND SUB-SETTING FILES
You may put 5000* patients into a single file. You cannot fit
5000 records on a diskette (unless using a 1.2 mb high-density drive)
but you could keep that many records in a single file if you had a
hard disk.
Rarely are users interested in all their records at once. The
typical user, for instance, may only want to concentrate on the
abnormal patients or patients fitting a narrow classification.
Using option [4] Transfer Subset to a New File, you can make a
new file of the records you've found during a search. We recently
identified a number of 1, 2 and 3-year-old males between the 70th and
80th percentile for height-for-age who weighed between 1800 and 6700
grams at birth. We could copy them to a new file very easily.
On the Search Results Menu press [4].
You are prompted to make up a name. Let's call this group of
patients A:GROUP1. Indicate a disk drive and type A:GROUP1.
After you press the return key, the program will write a copy of
the records that fit this search to the file GROUP1.
This will be a fully independent patient file that can be
searched, edited and added to just like the file it came from.
Note: You could use this function to copy an entire file for
back-up. To do this you would fetch all records instead of making a
field-specific search and then use the transfer function to copy all
of the records into another file.
In the section on DELETING RECORDS, it was mentioned that none of
the deleted records were ever really erased--just specially coded so
you couldn't access them.
*The program was designed to manage 5000 records at a time. Attempts
to save more than 5000 records per file may bring unpredictable
results.
They are still taking up space on the file. If you've deleted
more than a few records, you can use this function to 'tighten-up'
your file. The records coded as deleted will not be transferred to
the new file.
1.13 SAMPLE WEIGHTS
In more complex tabulations some users find it necessary to
'weight' their data. In some instances the user determines that a
specific group of respondents to a survey are under-or over-
represented.
17
By using sample weights in the ENTRY program you cause a special
field to be written on each record. In that field you may place any
number that will fit in five columns or less (e.g. .0025, 1.276,
45.1). When the file is cross-tabulated or tallied in some way by
another program, each patient will represent one times whatever value
is in the sample weight field.
To demonstrate, we will weight the records in the practice file
you made earlier.
Make sure you are at the main menu, then press [4].
When you receive the prompt for a file name, enter the disk drive
designator and the name of the file.
The first thing you are told is that your practice file has no
provision for weighting data. This is nothing to be concerned about.
This means there is no sample weight field in the records at present,
but you can have one.
Press [2] to create the sample weight field.
Immediately you have your field. There is another prompt in the
window. From here you could [1] go back to the menu or [2] continue
which means now that you've established a sample weight field you
could apply the weights.
There are two ways to weight your data. You could go back to the
menu, use the edit function and individually weight every record one
at a time. Now that the field exists as part of your record, it would
be very easy to edit in the numbers just as you would edit any other
field. This would be a very slow process.
The second and most efficient way is to "describe" to the program
which records require weighting and what that weight should be.
Press [2] to continue.
You are given three choices:
1 apply one weight to all records.
2 apply weight to selected records
3 change old weight to new weight
With selection [1] you can give all the records the same weight.
To demonstrate this function we will apply the weight of 1 to all
records.
Press [1].
You are asked to enter what weight is to be applied to all
records.
Type and enter '1'.
18
The disk drive activates, and you may actually hear the head
writing the number 1 to the sample weight field on every record. We
will look at the results as soon as the computer finishes writing on
every record. The menu will return after the process is complete.
When the menu is back on the screen use the edit function [2],
give the name of the practice file, call in all your records (by
pressing [*]), and select [3] to view every record individually.
Look in the user-selected classification variables. The last
field is '@SW'. @SW is a very specific label. The computer is
programmed to recognize only that label as a sample weight field.
Notice that every record has a '1' in that field.
Go back to the menu.
Select [4]. We will demonstrate the third function in sample
weighting. When you get the prompt for a file name, reply with the
practice file you just finished weighting.
Select [3].
With this function you must search for the kind of records you
plan to weight. To specify the records, you use the same methods used
to perform a field-specific search. For a simple example, assume you
want to apply the weight of .75 to all males.
1. Move the pointer to the SEX field. Type and enter 'M'.
2. Press [*].
Just as in field-specific searching previously demonstrated in
this chapter, the search for males or any other characteristic could
be inclusive or exclusive. You have to specify inclusive by typing
and entering [I].
After finding all the males in the file, you are prompted to give
the weight to be applied.
3. Type and enter .75
The program proceeds and writes '.75' in the sample weight field
of the records of every male in the file.
You can confirm this by using the edit function to view each
record individually.
The second feature in the sample weight function is changing one
sample weight to another.
First, go back to the main menu and select [4] again. Reply to
the prompt with the practice file name and select feature number [2].
19
The first prompt asks for the old weight--that is the number it's
suppose to find and change. For this example type and input '1'.
The next prompt asks for the new weight. In other words, the
computer wants to know what it should change '1' into. Reply with
'1.333'.
After you have answered that prompt, the program will tell the
computer to search for and change all '1's to '1.333'.
Sample weighting has no influence on the computed anthropometric
indices. The only time the sample weight influences any process in
the package is in cross-tabulation. The TAB program will detect
weighted data. During tabulation, each record that fits the cross-tab
will not be counted as one, but instead it will count for the value in
the sample weight field.
There are a few considerations you'll want to remember when using
sample weights.
1. Sample weights are an extra variable counted as one of the 24
allowed user-selected classification variables. You cannot have a
sample weight field if you've already created 24 extra variables.
2. You can create a sample weight at the same time you create
your other extra fields by just using the label '@SW'. Remember that
the 'S' and 'W' must be capital letters.
3. Once you've created a sample weight field you are obligated to
give every record a weighted value--even if that value is '1'.
Without a value in the sample weight field, the record counts for zero
during cross-tabulation. It is recommended that all weighted records
be assigned a value of '1' before weighting any specific groups.
1.14 MERGING FILES
Merging files in the entry program is the process of taking
several like files and tying them together. If several people are
working on the same project from different work stations, it might be
useful to merge the separate files before cross-tabulating them.
You may never need to merge a file but the function is there if
you do.
To begin merging files, press [5] on the main menu.
A window will appear. In this window you must list the disk
drives and file names of the files you intend to merge. After the
last file name has been entered, press [*] to go to the next step.
The merged files will be kept under a different name. The next
prompt asks what you wish the name of the merged files to be. YOU
CANNOT USE ONE OF THE NAMES OF THE FILES YOU ARE MERGING FOR THE NEW
NAME.
20
As the files are merged, you see two numbers appear beside the
file names in the window. The left number is how many records are
coming from the file being merged. The right number is total number
of records written to the new file.
If any of the files you've listed are incorrectly named or non-
existent, the process will stop and prompt you to make a correction.
If your merger causes more than 5000 records to be written to the
new file, an overflow file called TEMP.ETB will be automatically
created. TEMP.ETB will contain the excess. It is important that you
change TEMP.ETB's name since it will be over-written next time this
situation occurs.
If you would like to test this function, make a few files with a
few records in them and merge them.
21
CHAPTER II USING THE TAB PROGRAM
What can this Tabulation program do?
Cross-tabulations are the documents that support and illustrate
the health professional's conclusions. BATCH and ENTRY are basically
the tools for collecting the research data. TAB is the program that
presents the findings of that research.
The Anthropometric Statistical Package will make a three-
dimensional cross-tabulation using any three variables in an ETB file
created with BATCH or ENTRY.
Because of the considerable amount of time involved in making a
cross-tab, Version III has been enhanced so that the user may:
1. save the results of a cross-tab and present it or print it as
many times as desired.
2. create a library of frequently used tabulation intervals.
3. create a cross-tab, replace any variable, change any interval
and rerun as new cross-tab.
4. batch-load up to ten ETB files for one cross-tab.
Completely new in Version III is the capability to present the
results of a cross-tab as a bar graph or histogram as it is often
called. The histogram is a feature recommended only for users with
color monitors or monochrome monitors compatible with color option
cards.
Every effort has been made to make Version III of the Tab program
the most flexible and user-friendly program in the package. In order
to get the most out of the program you must carefully follow the
instructions provided in this chapter.
2.1 PLANNING A CROSS-TABULATION
To start the program, boot up the computer, insert the Program
Diskette (if you're not using a hard disk copy) and enter the word
TAB.
The principle product of the TAB program is a three-dimensional
cross-tabulation. It's called three-dimensional because the
tabulation has width in the form of columns across the page, height in
the form of rows going down the page, and depth in the number of pages
to the tabulation.
You cannot pull a cross-tab out of nowhere. With 16 permanent
variables and up to 24 extra classification variables, there are
hundreds of possible combinations for a cross-tabulation.
22
It may be helpful to rough draft your cross-tabulation on plain
paper before you start choosing variables and defining intervals.
Each dimension represents one of three variables you choose from
a patient file. Each variable is then broken into intervals. The
second element in a cross-tabulation are the intervals of the three
variables.
The maximum number of intervals depends on what dimension the
variable occupies. The allowed number of intervals for each dimension
are:
1. COLUMN (maximum 8 intervals)
2. ROW (maximum 6 intervals)
3. PAGE (maximum 14 intervals)
There are a few steps to making a cross-tabulation. You must
first:
STEP 1. Prepare a "template" of the variables and their
intervals.
STEP 2. Choose what file(s) will be cross-tabulated against the
template.
STEP 3. Perform the tabulation and save the results.
STEP 4. Display, print or graph the results.
Provided with the supplemental files diskette is an ETB file
called SAMPLE. This will be our practice file.
2.2 THE INTERVAL TEMPLATE
You must start with STEP 1, choosing variables and making
intervals. Variables don't come out of thin air. Any variables in an
ETB patient file can be used in cross-tabulation but the program has
no way of detecting what those variables could be if it has never
"seen" the file.
While the menu is present (it's present whenever the word SELECT
is blinking), press [5] Create or Edit Tab Intervals.
You are prompted to give the name of an ETB file so the program
can "look" at the available variables. Reply with A:SAMPLE (or B:,
or C: depending where you put the package's supplemental files
diskette).
Notice the windows descending across the screen. You are told
how many variables are available to you and that there is one window
each for COLUMN, ROW, and PAGE.
First, let's look at the variables. You can do this by pressing
the spacebar or the backspace key. DO NOT PRESS ANYTHING ELSE BUT
23
THESE TWO KEYS. You will see all the variables in the file appear one
at a time. Keep using the spacebar and backspace keys until you have
seen all the variables.
We are going to choose the first variable. Press the spacebar or
the backspace key until you reach the variable AGE.
Press the return key. You have chosen AGE as your Column
variable. The pointer has moved to the Row window.
Just as you did in the Column window, find the variable W/H%ile
and press the return key.
Just as you did in the Row window, find the variable STATE but do
not press return.
You have chosen the three variables. To register these
variables, press [*].
The pointer is now in the window for the Column dimension. Hold
your finger down on the return key and watch the pointer move through
the windows. The pointer can move to all the windows but will make
only eight stops in this window--meaning you can have eight intervals
of AGE.
Type and enter EXACTLY AS SHOWN
0-23(Under 2)
24-35(2 yrs)
36-47(3 yrs)
48-59(4 yrs)
60-71(5 yrs)
Press the enter key until the pointer is in the Page dimension
window.
Type and enter
0-5.00(5th -)
5.01-94(NORMAL)
95-100(95th +)
Move the pointer to Page dimension.
Type and enter:
A(NY)
B(PA)
C(NJ)
D(VT)
For reasons of privacy the true identity of states A, B, C and D
have been deleted. NY, PA, NJ, and VT are not the actual states.
They are merely examples. You may use other initials for states.
24
Press [*]
Another window appears near the bottom of the screen. You are
given the opportunity to choose one of the numeric variables in the
file for calculation as an accumulated mean.
You may use the spacebar or the return key to see all the
variables in the patient file that are numeric (including the user
selected extra variables).
When you have reached BIRTHWT (birth weight) stop and press [*].
What we have done is tell the program to read the birth weights
of every patient fitting the cross-tabulation and, in background,
calculate the average birth weight for every cell.
The next prompt asks whether or not we want to include the sample
weight factor in counting the patients. This window appears only if
there is a sample weight field in the patient file from which you
selected to choose the variables.
Your reply to this question will be [Y]
The menu returns. We have made the cross-tabulation template.
This was a simple example but it could have been a very involved
procedure. You could have had eight columns, six rows and 14 pages.
It would not be pleasant to make one of these templates every time you
needed to cross-tabulate a file. Therefore you should save it.
Press [1] Save Tabulation Intervals.
You are prompted to provide a disk drive and name. Since the
file we read to get the variables was called SAMPLE, we shall also
name the interval template SAMPLE. The SAMPLE template will
automatically be assigned the extension INT. DO NOT USE EXTENSIONS OF
YOUR OWN.
Before we continue, we are going to go back and look at the
intervals you entered. We are going to study the rules of their
structure because the only way you will ever get the cross-tabulation
you want is to know how the program will interpret what you have
entered.
Let's dissect the interval 0-23(Under 2)
It has three parts:
the bottom range [0]
the top range [23]
the user label [(Under 2)]
The bottom range and top range are always separated by a hyphen.
Since age is a numeric field it requires a bottom and top range.
25
The program interprets 0-23 as 0 thru and including 23.99. The
program will apply .99 to the top range of all whole number numeric
intervals.
The program will apply .09 to the upper range of all numeric
intervals that are precise to the nearest tenth (e.g. 25.3) would be
interpreted by the program as 25.39.
The program will not add .99 or .09 if the top range of an
interval that is explicitly precise to two decimals (e.g. 12.55 will
be interpreted as 12.55 because of the two decimal precision). 23
would be interpreted as 23.99 but 23.00 would remain 23.00 because the
user was explicit about the decimal precision. The bottom range in
this interval is not changed.
The program recognizes the mathematical operators <, >, =>, and
<=. There is important information in Appendix A about the effects of
using these operators. You don't need to read it now, but YOU WILL
NEED THE INFORMATION IN APPENDIX A FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. COPY IT!
When making intervals for non-numeric variables such as SEX and
the character-type extra variables, you must use intervals that
precisely match the information you are looking for.
In our SAMPLE file we are looking for STATE and the intervals are
A, B, C, and D. We didn't type the actual state names because none of
the state names are in the fields for STATE in any of the records. A,
B, C or D are the letters in the STATE field so that is what the
intervals should be. The same would apply to SEX. If you have 1 and
2 in the fields for SEX then that is what you will type as the
intervals. You may also apply a descriptive label if desired such as
1(Male) and 2(Female) so that the report will read more clearly to
someone else.
How can you be sure you'll get what you asked for?
Typing those intervals and getting them right the first time is
going to take experience. There is a way to check and see precisely
how the computer interpreted your intervals.
Press [5] Edit and Create Intervals.
The variables and the intervals come back on the screen.
At this time TURN ON YOUR PRINTER. Press [?] and you will see a
printout of the ranges the computer is using to tabulate the patient
records.
It is not a particularly neat printout. It's a raw unformatted
technical readout of exactly what values the program is using. You
must read it as is.
26
2.3 EDITING INTERVAL TEMPLATES
Any interval template can be edited. If it is already in the
computer's memory you can [Esc] Escape back to the menu, press [5] and
re-edit the template. If you don't know whether or not there is a
template in working memory, look at the menu. If there is a ninth
selection then there is a template in the computer's working memory.
You can recall and edit a stored template, too.
1. First you'd have to press [9] (Clear memory) and recall the
interval template by name with selection [3] on the menu.
2. Once the interval template is in memory, press [5] to display
it. Use the spacebar to change the variables, press return to select
them and [*] to move to intervals. You can re-type the intervals or
delete them with spaces.
3. After you have edited the template, you can save them under
the former name or make a new name.
2.4 PERFORMING THE CROSS-TABULATION
If you have made a useful template you are ready to perform the
cross-tabulation. The template should be in working memory. If not,
recall the template SAMPLE with selection [3].
Press [6] Perform a cross-tabulation.
The window for listing files will appear on the right side of the
screen. Here you may list up to ten files. With each file having a
capacity of 5000 records, you have the potential for cross-tabulating
50,000 patients.
We have one file. Therefore we would enter A:SAMPLE on the first
line. After you press enter the pointer will move down to the next
line. Since we have no more files, press [*].
The screen changes to a display similar to a spreadsheet. It is
a spreadsheet of sorts. But with this spreadsheet you can monitor the
results of a cross-tabulation in progress.
Press the spacebar.
Notice that numbers are rapidly appearing or changing on the
screen. This is page one of the cross-tabulation. Press the press
bar again and you will see the progress on page two. Press the
spacebar every time you wish to monitor a different page of the cross-
tabulation.
The cross-tabulation is complete when PAGE appears in the lower
left corner of the screen.
27
There are four percentage calculation modes. They are PAGE, ROW,
COLUMN and GLOBAL. The mean birthweights we collected can be seen
through the MEAN mode. A list of the pages in the tabulation can be
seen in the LIST mode. In all you have six selections: [P], [R], [C],
[G], [M] and [L]. Pressing the first letter of each selection name
calls the selected mode.
Press [R] (to select the ROW mode) then press and enter [1] (for
page 1).
The numbers appearing on the screen show the number of patients
in each cell. The percentage numbers show the distribution of
patients by row. Each row stands alone as 100 percent.
Press [C] then press and enter [1].
The percentage of distribution is now shown by column.
Press [P] then press and enter [1].
The percentage of distribution is now shown for the entire page.
Press [G]
Note that the word GLOBAL is in inverse video.
Press [2] and enter.
Notice that we are on page 2 and the percentage of the final
total is not 100 percent. It is less than 100 percent because the
calculations were made based on a total which included every patient
from all pages. This a GLOBAL TOTAL of page 2.
Press [M].
MEAN BIRTHWT is in inverse video. Select any page number (1, 2,
3 or 4) and press enter.
You will see the average birth weight for each cell.
You could go on indefinitely comparing the Global and Page totals
and the mean birth weights of these patients. BUT YOU SHOULD SAVE
YOUR RESULTS FOR SAFEKEEPING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. You can escape the
cross-tabulation spreadsheet by pressing the [Esc] key. [Esc] brings
back the menu. Pressing [4] on the menu will bring back the
spreadsheet.
2.5 SAVING CROSS-TABULATION INTERVALS
Press [2] save tabulation results.
A window appears and you are prompted to provide a name for the
results. You could call the results any eight-character name you
choose but for the sake of continuity you may consider giving the
28
results the same name as the patient file. The extension TAB will be
assigned to the results file so there will be no chance of confusion
with SAMPLE.ETB, the patient file and SAMPLE.INT, the interval
template.
2.6 PRINTING THE CROSS-TABULATION
The cross-tabulation you've performed still sits in memory until
you press [9] Clear memory on the main menu. You should always save
the interval template and the results of the tabulation.
Press [7] Print/Graph cross-tabulation
If there are no results in working memory, you will be prompted
to retrieve some from your library of tabulation results. Tabulation
results have the extension TAB but you must not include the extension
when answering the prompt.
You will receive a print menu.
The report may be printed to show relative percentages several
ways.
1. [C] The Column Mode. Each column total is 100%. The
percentages for the cell figures are relative to the column total.
2. [R] The Row Mode. Each row total is 100%. The percentages
for the cell figures are relative to the row total.
3. [G] The Global Mode. N = all the patients in the report. The
page total percentage is always a portion of the whole population.
4. [P] The Page Mode. N = the total number of patients on a
given page. The page total is always 100% and all figures on that
page reflect each figures percentage of the page total.
5. [M] The Mean Mode. The number of patients in each cell is
accompanied by the mean of whatever numeric variable was chose for
mean calculation.
6. [H] Histogram. Histograms are available but will be
discussed in greater detail in the next chapter.
You may select any of these modes (except Histogram).
The user may select a two-line title. The title is optional. If
no title is desired, press [ret] key. To delete a previous title
(titles are saved with tabulation results), input one space. You
cannot change just a part of the title. Titles must be completely
retyped for any changes.
Footnotes may also be added to the bottom of the printed report.
You are allowed three lines for footnotes. If footnotes are not
desired, press return three times. To delete previous footnotes
(footnotes are saved with tab results), input a space for each line
29
before pressing [ret] key. You can change one line of the footnotes
without affecting the other lines.
If the tabulation results you are going to print come from the
working memory and have not been stored, the program will
automatically store your results in a file called TEMP.TAB. You can
change the name of TEMP later (See your DOS manual). If you do not
change the name of TEMP.TAB it will be overwritten the next time you
attempt to print a cross-tabulation that was not saved.
If you change or add a title or footnote, the program will update
your results file.
The printing begins automatically. Make sure your printer is on.
To cancel the printout press [Esc].
30
CHAPTER III MAKING AND USING HISTOGRAMS
Histograms--or bar charts---are another way of viewing cross-
tabulation results. Your cross-tabulation printouts present cold
precise calculations. Histograms fall in the realm of presentation
graphics. Presentation graphics are often used to present data
symbolically--in this case as a bar chart. If you have no interest in
histograms, you may skip this chapter. None of the information is
necessary in using other parts of the software package.
NOTE: Graphic capabilities for this version were given a low
priority. It takes a lot of memory to perform graphics. Not knowing
how useful the feature would be, two memory-saving measures were
taken:
1. There is no output to ink-pen or dot matrix printers and
plotters.
2. There is no adaptation for monochrome monitors.
The histogram feature is for desk top presentation use only. If
the function becomes popular among users, direct plotter compatibility
may be developed in future versions.
3.1 WHERE TO BEGIN
Before you can make a histogram, you have to have something to
graph. You need data. The data comes from the results of a performed
cross-tabulation. The results may be either stored among your [.TAB ]
files on disk or still in memory from a recently performed cross-
tabulation. To speed things along, we have provided a set of tab
results with your supplemental files diskette. Pay close attention to
what you are doing in the demonstration and follow the instructions.
You will need to draw on your experience with this practice when
graphing one of your files.
3.2 FETCHING THE DATA
Get back to the main menu. Clear memory with selection 9 (if 9
is present). Press selection [7].
You'll be prompted to identify the tabulation result file you
wish to print or graph. Your answer will be A: (or whatever disk
drive) DEMOTAB.
After the computer has fetched the file, you will get a report
overview. The overview is a very general summary of what's in the
results. It reads that these results came from a tabulation performed
on a file of U.S patients. It shows the three variables in the report
and how many patients fit the cross-tabulation; approximately 2.9
million. The data were weighted. No one actually interviewed nearly 3
million patients. Also it shows that a mean W/H percentile was
collected.
31
The next prompt asks whether or not you want a printout or a
histogram. Before we jump into making histograms, we need some cross-
tabulation printouts for reference.
Answer the prompt with [P] and enter.
The printout menu appears. You will need the [C] Column Total
printout and the [M] mean H/A z-score printout. They are four pages
long. Turn on your printer and make them both at this time.
When you have the printouts, study them briefly. You'll see that
the report is about the distribution of W/H z-scores in children up to
5 years old in four different states. The Mean printout shows the
average W/H z-scores for each of the cells.
Keep the printout close by. You will need them for reference.
3.3 MAKING THE HISTOGRAM
When the program has returned you to the menu, press [7] again.
This time, select [H] from the menu.
The screen changes immediately to the bar graphics display
screen. The only thing on the screen is a percentage scale on the left
edge and a small menu in the lower right hand corner.
The tabulation results data is in working memory in a three-
dimensional array. But this bar graph is only two-dimensional. It has
only an x and y axis. You'll have to choose the two variables for
each axis yourself.
Press [1] Set axis.
The variables (or three sides--row, column, page) in the array
are presented. The first axis to be chosen will be the X axis. The X
axis is for the labels that go along the bottom of the screen.
For this demonstration, choose [3] STATE.
The next prompt asks for the variable you want to be the bars
(the Y axis). For this demonstration, select [1] W/H z-score.
You may see the word STANDBY flash briefly. This is not
something you should be concerned with. The program is letting you
know there will be a delay while it shuffles around some figures
internally.
The only variable left is AGE which was not chosen for either
axis. You'll notice in the printed reports that age was broken up
into five groups. We may chose to look at one of the age groups or
combine the age groups just as the printed reports do on the bottom
line of each page.
32
For this demonstration, we will [2] combine the ages.
Now that you've positioned all the variables you must select the
intervals you wish to see.
Press [2] LABELS.
Since we chose STATE as the X axis, we are presented with a list
of available states. There are four, but let's look at only the first
three; Georgia, Texas and Alabama*.
You must choose the three states one at a time by corresponding
number. Press [ret] after each choice. To indicate that you have
finished choosing, press [ret] without inputting a number.
Notice that as you chose each state, its label appeared along the
X axis.
After choosing all the three states, you are presented the list
of intervals in the W/H z-score variable. We are going to choose six
of seven groups: 1,2,3,5,6 & 7.
Enter each number one at a time. Press [ret] alone when all six
groupings are chosen.
A color code appeared as you selected each label. The numbers
accompanying them are showing how many thousand of children fit into
that label (e.g. The total number of children equal to or below -2 W/H
z-score is 10,000 for the 3 states selected).
You may have also noticed a working title at the top of the
screen. It shows that you are comparing the W/H percentiles in three
different states combining all the age groups. The number 2982
followed by the letter K indicates thousand (2.9 million children).
WHENEVER THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN A REPORT EXCEED 1
MILLION, ALL NUMBERS ARE REPRESENTED TO THE NEAREST THOUSAND.
Press [4] EXECUTE.
EXCUTE means 'draw something.' Now it should be very clear what
you have been building up to. Each grouping of bars stands alone as a
100% population--just like your Row Total printout. The percentages
represented on the screen are the same percentages you will find on
the bottom lines of the first three pages in the report.
*The states are hypothetical.
The bars aren't very tall. None exceeds 40%. A 100% scale is
more than you need. So let's change the scale first.
Press [5] SCALE.
33
You have a list of five pre-set scales or you can make your own
with selection 6. Let's choose our own.
Press [6].
The prompt %age? wants you to provide a number. You may give any
positive number less than 100. Type '40' and enter.
The scale changes immediately with 40% now as the top. The
screen is blank.
Press [4] EXECUTE
The bars are back and with a finer definition in the difference
in percentages. Compare the figure on the Row Total printout with the
bars on the screen.
3.4 PRECISION BAR HEIGHTS
The precision of the bar heights may sometimes be a little
off.Remember that the printed report's percentage are rounded to the
nearest tenth. The bar percentages are rounded to the nearest 1/40th
of the scale.
The general rule is that the smaller the scale the finer the
precision.It is difficult to get satisfactory precision in the bars
that rise only to 8 percent when they must share the scale with bars
that rise to 80 percent.
It is always best to concentrate on the bars that are closely
related in height. Let's re-label the histogram so we can use a
smaller scale.
Press [2] LABELS.
This time we will choose all four states for the X-axis labels
and only the equal to and less than -1 W/H z-score for bars. We are
only using one bar this time.
Press [5] SCALE.
Our scale will be 20% which is a pre-set percentage.
Press [4] 20%
After the scale has changed press [4] EXECUTE.
You could even go to a smaller scale if you want, but by now you
should understand the effect choosing different scales has on
accuracy.
34
3.5 N-SHIFT
N-SHIFT is for number shift. With N-SHIFT you change the N
number. Right now we are in a combined ages mode. All the ages of the
children were taken as a whole. But we do not have to look at all the
age groups combined.
We can concentrate on one of the age groups.
Press [3].
The program asks if you want to combine the ages or select an
interval. We are going to select an interval.
Press [1].
The list of intervals is presented. For this example we shall
choose the one-year-olds.
Press [2], the corresponding number for the one-year-olds.
We have focused the histogram on the 958,000 one-year-olds in the
cross-tabulation results. You won't see the new N number unless you
press [2] and put out the labels again.
We ought to clean up the screen since we are starting fresh. You
may press [L] or [H] for low or high intensity. Low intensity draws
grey lines on the screen. Some monitors can't draw that color so
there is high intensity which draws light blue lines across the
screen. The intensity setting may be used at anytime to clear the
scale.
You may select the labels again for the two axes.
Select the first three states, choose all the W/H z scores except
ZERO and then execute. Histograms only seem difficult to make the
first few times. If you stop and think about it, the menu is almost a
step-through guide.
3.6 SUMMARY OF STEPS
The steps to making a histogram are:
1. SET AXIS. Decide what two dimensions are going to the X and Y
axes. Choose the X-axis first. The program will ask you to choose
the bars--which is the Y-axis. Then the program will ask what you
want to do about the unchosen dimension---combine it or choose one of
the intervals.
2. LABELS. You are just choosing the intervals. Remember that
you're limited for space on the screen. The more X-axis intervals you
select, the fewer bars you can have.
35
3. EXECUTE. Draw the bars. You can always execute as long as
you have selected axes and set out the labels.
4. SCALE. If after drawing the bars you decide that you don't
need a 100% scale, you simply choose another.
5. N-SHIFT. You are choosing to combine or interval the third
dimension. The N number at the top of the screen changes accordingly.
3.7 GRAPHING THE MEANS
Since we have the capability to collect the average of any
numeric quantity on a cell-by-cell basis, we, appropriately enough,
have the capability to plot a histogram of those means.
Press [6] MEAN PLOT to plot the W/H z-score groups.
The only difference in drawing bars for means and drawing bars
for percentages is the scale. We aren't using a percent scale. We
are using a range. Since the mean we collected was on W/H z-score,
our top range would be the reasonably expected highest z-score in the
results.
Let's choose the W/H z-score of 4 as the upper range.
Type '4' and enter.
Now we have to choose a bottom range. So that scale will be
symmetric, we'll choose -4 as the low W/H z-score.
Type and enter '-4'
Notice the scale. It ranges from -4 to 4. In the middle is the
zero line. That line is brighter than the others.
We would select AXIS and LABELS the same as we did when we chose
percentages.
Choose the three previous states for the X axis. Choose the six
previous W/H z-scores as the bars. Combine all the ages. Then [4]
EXECUTE.
Just like when you chose different scales for percentages, you
can choose different ranges for Mean Plots. This time set the mean
plot scale to 3 at the top and -3 at the bottom. The screen will
clear and you can execute right away.
Histograms are pleasing illustrations of numeric data but they
can be difficult to make, especially when you're trying to represent
figures on your printed cross-tabulation. For what it's worth, the
histogram is never wrong. Many times what is really wrong is your
interpretation of what you're seeing. You must practice and
experiment with the histogram function. Repeat this chapter again but
use different axes.
36
CHAPTER IV USING THE BATCH PROGRAM
What is Batch processing?
Batch processing is generally described as the method of
processing several pieces of formatted data from a disk or tape
repetitiously rather than interactively with a human operator entering
one record at a time.
This is the way our bank statements and telephone bills are
processed--in large quantities in repetition--hence the term 'batch'.
Batch will serve the user who has a database of unprocessed
records and only needs a way to process then. Batch may seem a bit
more difficult to follow for the inexperienced user. The typical
Batch user probably has access to a mainframe computer, uses other
file management software and perhaps knows a great deal about personal
computers.
Batch file data on a diskette is easy to spot. The file
"DEMOBAT.TXT" on the Supplemental Files diskette provided with this
package is a batch file. You can actually see the data in the file by
putting the documentation diskette in drive A and entering.
TYPE A:DEMOBAT.TXT
What you'll see are long strings of numbers. Some batch files
have numbers and letters. The records scroll down the screen in a
pattern because there is an embedded code for carriage return and line
feed at certain intervals. This embedded interval marks the break
point between records. Because you are able to make this file appear
on the screen so easily, programmers usually call this a text file, or
an ASCII (pronounced "ASKee") file--ASCII stands for American Standard
Code for Information Interchange.
If you've purchased and used DBASE or LOTUS, you've probably made
several ASCII files. A systems analyst or programmer could assist you
in getting ASCII files from a mainframe computer. The point is, that
if you've got an ASCII file that has at least height, weight, sex and
enough information to derive the age of a patient, the BATCH program
can read it, process it for anthropometric indices, attach the results
and write it to another file.
4.1 PREPARING RAW DATA FOR BATCH PROCESSING
Batch files come from a mainframe computer or from a PC program.
Where you get the data isn't important. Getting the batch file on a
diskette so you can get it into the PC is important.
The user who moves data from another system or "host" computer to
a PC is "downloading." One who downloads must already have the means
of making this data transfer. No program or procedure in this package
can perform a system-to-system link.
37
Data already on a diskette must meet certain simple criteria:
1. It must be a columnar ASCII file.
2. It must have the standard two-byte end-of-record marker
CHR$(13)+CHR$(10) so the program knows where one record ends and the
next begins.
3. A standard EOF mark (CHR$(27) or CHR$(26)) must be at the
end of the file.
These are not complex requirements. Most off-the-shelf PC
database programs meet these requirements and virtually all mainframe
data is stored in ASCII with the appropriate file markers.
4.2 PROCESSING THE RAW DATA FILE
From this point the raw data will be called the SOURCE DATA. The
product we are making will be called the DESTINATION FILE. You will
need to boot up your computer provide a formatted diskette for your
destination file.
After the computer has booted up and DOS is present, type:
BATCH and [enter].
Shortly after typing BATCH, you will briefly see a red box
introducing the program and telling you there will be a slight delay
for loading the data table that calculates the indices.
You will see a menu appear after the data table is loaded. When
this has occurred you may remove your program diskette and put it away
for the rest of the session.
YOUR MENU CHOICES ARE:
1. Examine the Batch File
2. Retrieve Field Location Template
3. Create Field Location Template
4. Calculate and Convert Source Files5. Escape to DOS
As your understanding of Batch grows you will use all these
choices. For the sake of this exercise, we will concentrate on four
tasks:
Task I. Examine a source data file to determine if it is
suitable for batch processing.
Task II. Create a field location template and use it to see if
we can trial process a typical record.
Task III. Convert a batch file into a specialized "ETB" file
compatible with the Anthropometric Statistical Package
38
Task IV. Convert a batch file into another standard batch file
for use on mainframes or with other statistics programs.
To succeed you must follow only the instructions given. Don't
anticipate procedures.
4.3 EXAMINING SOURCE DATA FILE
Step 1.
Press [1]
At this point the screen changes. A four-line scale appears near
the top half of the screen and the lower half is dominated by a bright
blue field and a red window.
In the window there is the prompt:
DISK DRIVE AND NAME OF SOURCE FILE?
EXCEPTED FORMAT B:YOURFILE.EXT
Your reply will be: A:DEMOBAT.TXT [return]
NOTE: A and B are disk drives. Throughout this exercise you will
use whatever letter represents the disk drive you are using.
Appearing in the same window, the next prompt is:
RECORD LENGTH?
Your reply will be [return]
Pressing [ret] means that you don't know what the record length
is and you want the program to determine it by searching the first
record for an end-of-record mark. There could be many occasions when
you aren't well-acquainted with the source data and the record length
is not certain. Never 'guess' or 'estimate' a record length. You
either know it or you don't.
You'll notice that the computer has displayed a string of numbers
along the lines of the scale. The scale is tick-marked in 5 and 10-
byte increments. This is a graphic representation of the first record
in the DEMOBAT.TXT source file. The computer reports that the record
is 246 bytes long (the term 'bytes' is preferred over 'columns' when
speaking of disk and tape files).
The blinking colon in the blue box is the actual location of the
end-of-record marker. For our purpose it is not counted as part of
the record's usable length. The program, however, does recognize it
and processes the record's length as 248. This offset need not
concern you.
Just because the computer reported that the first record is 246
bytes long doesn't mean that every record in the source file is of
equal length. For the program to work all the records must be the
39
same length. You must check a few records at random to make sure that
they are all the same length.
Step 2.
There is a prompt on the screen that asks if you would like to
check another record. You may enter another number: Let's say 45
Doing this causes the program to pick the 45th record -- or what
is hoped to be the 45th based on the premise that every 246 bytes
(plus 2-byte maker) is the start of a new record.
The computer reports back that this random record is indeed 246
bytes just like the first record. Had any of the records before 45th
record been shorter or longer than 246, the synchronization would be
off and the computer would have "landed" in the middle of a record.
Some number other than 246 would have been reported in that event.
ANYTIME THE PROGRAM CHECKS A RANDOM RECORD THE LENGTHS MUST
ALWAYS BE THE SAME. IF NOT, YOU CANNOT PROCESS THE FILE.
This information, though fringing on the technical, is useful.
When you start to examine your own data files for suitability you will
need to repeat this task to assure yourself that your file is uniform.
Uniformity is fundamental to batch file processing.
4.4 IDENTIFYING FIELD LOCATIONS
In order to perform the functions in this task, you must have
already examined batch file and fetched a record to the screen.
In this critical step you tell the computer the column locations
for various pieces of information within the record. You'll prove
that you column locations are correct by test processing a record.
Step 1. Press [3].
The first fields you must identify are the ones necessary to
compute the anthropometric indices. A large window appears and
displays the fields the program recognizes when processing a record.
It will not be necessary to fill out every field. At a minimum the
computer must know the patient's:
SEX: recognizes M and F or 1 and 2 as male and female
respectively.
AGE: computes from birth and visit date or age in months.
HEIGHT: recognizes HT cm or feet and inches.
WEIGHT: recognizes WT kgs or pounds and ounces.
Notice the triangle-shaped pointer. This pointer can be moved
from field to field by pressing [return] and [backspace]. This way
the user can skip around and correct mistakes easily.
40
Using the figures below, fill out the field locations for this
record. If you make a mistake, press [return], the backspace key (NOT
left arrow), and type over the error.
I.D. 1-11
SEX 59
VISIT DT (yr) 45-46 VISIT DT (mo) 41-42 VISIT DT (da) 43-44
BIRTH DT (yr) 55-56 BIRTH DT (mo) 51-52 BIRTH DT (da) 53-54
HT cms 87-90,1
WT kgs 84-86,1
The computer monitors your inputs. You'll hear a beep if you
input a negative range like 56-44. If you type in an incorrect field,
go back to that field and void it out with a single slash [/]. The
slash causes the computer to ignore the field.
You may have noticed as you entered your field locations that
data in the record display was highlighted. On monochrome monitors
the highlighting is in inverse video. On color monitors:
FIELD COLOR
I.D White
Sex Blue
Visit Magenta
Birth Red
WT cm Green
HT kgs Yellow
In fields followed by ",1" (as height and weight are) the
computer will assume one decimal place. ",2" would indicate two
decimal places and so forth. The program will also accept data that
already has decimal points in the record. Don't use the comma
extension on fields that already have decimals in the data.
Step 2. Press [*] asterisk.
The window reappears except there aren't any field labels. This
is another field location routine except this time you will indicate
User-Selected Fields. User-Selected Fields are extra classification
fields beyond those needed for anthropometric computation. You may
have up to 24 of these extra fields. In our example we are using only
seven.
Step 3. Create extra variables from the table below.
41
HOMESTD (for homestead)
#HHSIZE (household size. # mean this a numeric field)
INCOME (main source of income)
POLIO
DIPTH
MEASLES
VACERT (vaccination certificate)
#SIBS (brothers and sisters)
@SW
Press [*] to quit.
Notice that two of the fields have a '#' in front of them. This
means that this field is for numeric data and that mathematical
calculations can be made on whatever numbers are in that field.
The '#' sign will not be saved with the label but the program
will still treat it as a numeric data field.
The other unusual label is '@SW'. That is the exclusive label
for sample weight. It tells the program that anything in this field
is to be the patient's true count in a cross tabulation. (see: SAMPLE
WEIGHTS, Chapter 1). IF EVER YOU HAVE SAMPLE WEIGHTS IN YOUR BATCH
FILE YOU MUST USE '@SW' AS THE FIELD LABEL.
Now that you have identified or "labeled" the fields, you must
put in their field locations.
Step 4. Follow the information below. Type in the field location data
beside the indicated label.
HOMESTD 7-9
#HHSIZE 67-68
INCOME 222-223
POLIO 78
DIPTH 79
MEASLES 80
VACERT 76
#SIBS 224-225
@SW 171-175
Press [*] to quit.
Step 5. Press the [ret] key.
Notice that another window appears quickly followed by the
computed anthropometric indices. What has happened is that the
computer performed a test computation on the on-screen record based
upon the information you supplied in the field locations.
The information has not been saved anywhere but it serves as a
way to tell you how the computer interpreted the data in the record.
This is the way it will interpret all your records. If anything was
42
wrong, this would be the time to fix it. When you process your own
source data you will need to use this task as a guide.
Step 6. Press the [ret] key.
Another prompt window appears.
This time you are told: THESE FIELD LOCATIONS WILL BE SAVED
ASSIGN DISK DRIVE AND A NAME
Any name up to eight characters is acceptable but for the sake of
simplicity and easy coordination, you may use the same name as the
first eight characters of your source data file.
For this exercise your reply will be: A:DEMOBAT There is no
default name for a template but it is still recommended that you name
it after your source file.
You have just made a small file of the field location data. This
little file is called a "template." It contains the field locations,
the decimal placement and the symbols for male and female. Making a
file like this will save you from having to re-enter field locations
the next time a DEMOBAT.TXT batch file is processed.
Even though the batch file is also called DEMOBAT, the computer
knows the difference because it attaches the extension ".FLD" to the
template you just made. Therefore:
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU NEVER MAKE EXTENSIONS OF YOUR OWN !
The program will not be able to find your templates if you start
applying extensions to your template names. Only the batch file that
was downloaded or created by some other PC software is allowed to have
its own extension. The program assigns all other extensions.
4.5 CONVERT AND COMPUTE SOURCE FILE
In the previous two tasks you examined your source data file for
suitability; made a template of the field locations, including those
of seven user selected variables; and submitted a record to a test
computation. Now that you are sure one record will process correctly
you should be able to process the whole batch file.
Step 1. Press [4].
The screen has cleared and changed again. There is a coral
colored border at the top of the screen and a yellow prompt window
presenting you with three choices.
Choices B and C are for making batch files into other reformatted
batch files for use in other systems. Choice A is for making ETB
patient files compatible with ENTRY and TAB. We are going to make [A]
first.
43
Step 2. Press [A] and [enter].
Another window appears near the top of the screen. It reads:
SOURCE FILE [A:DEMOBAT.TXT]
The file name in the brackets is a default name. If you press
[ret] that is the file it will process. Since you examined
DEMOBAT.TXT, it is assumed that is the file you wish to convert. If
not, enter the name of a new file.
WARNING: It is not wise to convert batch files to ETB files on
the same disk drive. Depending on the size of the batch file, there
is the possibility of running out of room on the diskette.If you have
only one disk drive you will have to use short batch files. Each ETB
record requires 221 bytes of disk space. You'll have to experiment to
see how many records fit on a diskette that already has a batch file.
Step 3. The prompt asks for the LENGTH OF SOURCE RECORDS? [246]
The answer is 246 unless you've decided to process a different
file. If you press return to skip this prompt, the program will
default to 246.
The prompt asks HOW MANY RECORDS ARE IN SOURCE FILE?
Its not often that anyone knows or remembers the exact number of
records in a batch file. If you don't know you would just press
[return]. The default answer is 5000. The computer would process
until it ran out of batch records or wrote 5000 records, whichever
occurred first. If you wish to cut off your batch file at a certain
point you would enter that cut-off number. The program will not make
more than 5000 ETB records per file.
Your reply to the prompt is just [ret]
STEP 4. The prompt asks BEGIN CONVERSION WITH WHAT RECORD?
You are able to start at any point in the source file. This
enables you to process source files with thousand of records and
divide it into several ETB-compatible files. The default answer is 1.
Reply to the prompt with a null [return] answer.
STEP 5. The prompt asks PRINT FLAGGED RECORDS (Y/N)?
Here you choose whether or not you want a hard copy of records
that receive Edit Flags. The answer must be N or Y in capital
letters. You may answer this prompt either way you choose. The
default is "N".
STEP 6. The prompt asks WRITE FLAGGED RECORDS TO FILE (Y/N)?A
positive reply means that the Edit Flagged records, though possibly
the result of a bad data entry will be included with the file. You
may answer this prompt either way. The default is "Y".
44
The process has begun. The batch files are being read, computed,
converted and saved on another file that can be appended, searched and
edited with ENTRY or cross-tabulated and printed with TAB.
The resulting indices are displayed near the bottom of the
screen. The flagged records are being displayed in metric
measurements near the top. Deficient records were purposely included
in this file. Included in this display is a count of the flagged
records and what percentage of the batch file contained flagged
records.
If you would like to see the flagged data in U.S. Standard rather
than metric, press [U]. The change may not be immediate but don't
press [U] more than once.
To switch back to metric, press [M].
To turn off the display of indices, press [D]. The program works
faster with the display of indices turned off.
To escape the conversion process, press [Esc]. No damage will
result to the file. The program will finish converting whatever record
it happens to be processing and then close the file. Any batch
records sent to this file in the future will be added at the end.
The return of the menu indicates the successful completion of the
conversion process.
Review the work accomplished so far. Practice them again with a
few variations until you are comfortable with converting batch files
into data files useful to this package.
4.6 CONVERTING BATCH FILES TO OUTPUT FILES
This task covers the B and C conversion options mentioned in Task
III. Use of either of these options causes the batch file data to be
computed and the results to be output as another batch file.
Advanced users and programmers using DBASE, SPSS*, SASGRAPH*,
etc., would be the only ones most likely to need this capability.
Just as when the original batch file was downloaded to the PC
diskettes, these new batch files can be "uploaded" to the mainframe.
Users who don't have access to a mainframe or some other
sophisticated statistical process may wish to practice this task for
experience but there will be no useful application for the files it
produces using ENTRY and TAB.
Step 1. Escape back to DOS and restart the program. Connect and turn
on your printer. Make sure paper is loaded and ready.
* SPSS and SASGRAPH are copyrighted trademark names.
45
Though this task is very similar to TASK III, we are going to
approach the procedure by a quicker route.
Step 2. When you have the menu on the screen Press [4].
You are given a choice of A, B or C. You already tried A. B or C
produces essentially the same product: a plain ASCII file. As
indicated beside the two choices, one includes decimals and the other
does not.
For this practice, choose C. (You must use upper case C)
When prompted for the name of the source file, reply with
[A:DEMOBAT.TXT]. The NO DEFAULT message reminds you that you must
provide a file name. The program cannot default on the very first
prompt after start-up.
The next prompt asks you for the field location template. The
default response is A:DEMOBAT. You may press the return key and the
program will load the template.
The next prompt asks for the name you wish to give the new batch
file you are making. The default is A:DEMOBAT. The program will
attach the extension ".SRC" to it. Press the return key to use the
default name.
The next prompt asks for the length of the batch records. The
default is 246. The program found that number in the template file
DEMOBAT.FLD. Press the return key to use the default.
The next prompt asks how many records are in the batch file. You
shouldn't even answer this prompt unless you purposely wish to cut off
the processing at a certain point.
The next prompt asks at what record you wish to start processing.
The default is the first record. You wouldn't answer this prompt
unless you want the program to start somewhere other than the
beginning.
The next two prompts ask whether you want to print out your
flagged batch records and if you want to save the flagged records. The
defaults are No and Yes respectively.
The next prompt asks if you want a printout of the field
locations. The default answer is [Y].
The printer will print out the field locations for the file it is
making. Field location information is important to the programmer
receiving the processed output file.
This program writes records that place all the results of the
anthropometric computation, computed age, and three-position sequence
number at the beginning of the record followed by a copy of the batch
record it processed. In other words, you get a copy of the original
46
batch file with new computations attached to the beginning of every
record.
When the records are processed, you may escape to DOS and examine
what the computer has made by entering TYPE A:DEMOBAT.SRC. TYPE is a
DOS command. Using PRINT instead or TYPE will send the output to the
printer. Consult your DOS manual if you have any difficulties.
Because we used option [C], there are decimals in the computed
part of the record. If you had used selection [B] you would have
obtained the same information in the same sequence except with no
decimals.
The correct choice depends on your needs. Be warned, however,
that both B and C write the extension .SRC to the file they create.
You cannot have a B and C-created file of the same name unless you
create them on separate disk drives.
47
APPENDIX A
Mathematical Operators Recognized by TAB
Less than (<): The program would interpret <23 as all values of
23 minus .01-- in this case all values 22.99 and less. The value .01
is always subtracted from the value given; therefore <-8 means all
values starting at -8.01 and less.
Less than/equal (<=): The program would interpret <=23 as all
values 23 and less.
Greater than (>): The program would interpret >23 as all values
23.00 plus .01-- in this case all values 23.01 and more. The value
.01 is always added in this case no matter what the value; therefore
>55.68 means all values starting at 55.69 and up.
Equal/greater than (=>): The program would interpret =>23 as all
values 23 and greater starting at 23.00.
Hyphen (-): The hyphen is used to indicate the entire span from
one value to another value. The program adds .09 to upper range
values that are already precise to one decimal places. The programs
adds .99 to upper range values that have no decimal places.
When positioned properly the program detects the difference
between a hyphen and a negative sign. Therefore it is correct to use
a label like -5.52--4.01 to mean numbers between negative 5.52 and
negative 4.01. The program "knows" which is the hyphen. DO NOT USE
BRACKETS OR PARENTHESIS.
Parentheses ( ): The parentheses is for descriptive labeling.
The interval 2.00-2.99 might be given (+2 Zscr). "+2 Zscr" will be
printed on the finished report instead of 2.00-2.99. LABELS MAY BE
SEVEN CHARACTERS AND SPACES WIDE.
CROSS-TABULATING FOR EDIT FLAGS
It isn't wise to cross-tabulate with edit flags in the ETB files.
However you can cross-tabulate for Edit Flags. Select the variable
"EF" as a page, row or column. The interval would be 'X'.
CROSS-TABULATING FOR DATES
It is possible to cross-tabulate by visit date (V'DATE) or
birthdate (B'DATE). If, for example, you wanted to make a
longitudinal study to look at patient progress over the course of
several months you would select V'Date as either a page, row or
column variable, The intervals would be yymmdd-yymmdd (e.g. 850701-
850831(JUL-AUG). This example searches from July 1, 1985 to August
31, 1985. The yymmdd format must be used because that is the way
dates are written on the record. Also: the early date must come
before the later date.
48
APPENDIX B
Files made by Version 3
If you were a former user of Version 2, you've noticed that
Version 3 makes and calls upon a staggering variety of files. This is
a summary of those file and their purpose.
DATA: This is a sequential file of growth curves and a permanent
part of the package. It cannot be written to by the Version 3
programs. Loss of this file would render your Batch and Entry
programs unless.
ETB: These are patient records. They are made with ENTRY and
BATCH. Each record is 221 bytes long regardless of how little or how
much information is put in them. They are ASCII and can be used "as
is" in any outside program that will tolerate decimals in the data.
FLD: These are field location files made and used by the Batch
program. They contain the column locations of key data in a batch
file that the Batch program already processed. They can be recalled,
edited, and reused in several variations to process other batch files.
INT: These are cross-tabulation interval files made and used by
the Tab program. They contain the variables and the intervals and the
variable selected for calculation of a mean. INT files are known as
templates and they can be recalled, edited and stored in several
variations by the Tab program.
SRC: These are ASCII output files of processed batch records.
They have the Version 3-computed anthropometrics, age, sex, and a
sequence number in front followed by the original batch record. They
can be used in any mainframe or PC statistical, graphics, or
tabulation program that uses standard rectangular files.
TAB: These are stored cross-tabulation results. They contain
every tabulated figure in each cell and various control data used by
the Tab program.
TEMP.TAB: This file is produced while using the TAB program when
a user attempts to print the results of a cross-tabulation without
saving the results. The file can be renamed (keeping the TAB
extension) and added to the user's library of save results.
TXT: These are 'deprocessed' ASCII batch records made
exclusively by the SWAP Version 2 to Version 3 conversion program.
They are 88 columns wide and can be used in other PC and mainframe
application. They are made especially for the Batch program which
reprocess these records into ETB and SRC files.
49
APPENDIX C
Accuracy of Anthropometric Indices
The anthropometric indices are calculated by a subroutine that is
identical to a FORTRAN language subroutine in the central computer at
the Centers for Disease Control. It will more than likely differ from
other anthropometric programs used at universities and other
government agencies. This software package does not supercede or
refute the calculation routines of any other program.
The only time the accuracy of the anthropometric indices may come
into question within this package is when users use U.S. standard
feet/inches and pounds/ounces rather than metric.
Although the option to use U.S. standard exists in the Entry and
Batch programs, the program computes and stores information in metric.
The anthropometric indices, computed age, height and weight are
rounded up to the nearest two decimal places (values are rounded down
in the case of negative numbers).
When U.S. standard measures are used the program will make its
anthropometric calculations with full precision metric equivalents and
then round off the metric equivalent to the nearest hundredth before
writing the record to the patient file.
When using the Edit function of Entry, you may notice a sudden
shift in the computed anthropometric indices when the record is
restored to the disk. The shift may be as great as +- .03 because the
heights and weights entered in U.S. Standard cannot be recalled and
precisely represented regardless of what display mode you are using.
If the slight discrepancies cannot be tolerated then it is suggested
that you re-enter the U.S. Standard measurements anytime you edit a
record for any reason.
50
APPENDIX D
Lotus Compatibility
CONVERTING LOTUS TO CASP
Lotus print files (PRN) are already compatible with Batch, the
file processing program explained in Chapter IV of this handbook. As
stated in Chapter IV, the main requirement for processing a text file
is that all the records be uniform in length. In most ways, Lotus
print files, meet that requirement. No special conversion program is
needed.
The main obstacle to processing a Lotus print file is that most
users apply titles, sub-headings and assorted banners and carriage
returns ahead of the data. Since the Batch program interprets a
horizontal row of cells as a single record, the various headings and
carriage returns are useless to the process and, in fact, may even
prevent examination of the file.
If you are using Lotus 1-2-3 as a database for patient records:
1. each record must contain sex, age, height and weight
horizontally.
2. the database worksheet must be stored as a print file.
3. all extraneous documentation (headings, legends, etc) must be
deleted.
Using the knowledge you acquired in Chapter IV, you should be
able to examine one of the records from the Lotus print file, identify
the column locations of the individual fields, and process the entire
print file for output as ETB files or computed text files.
CONVERTING CASP TO LOTUS
There is a conversion program on the supplemental files diskette
of the CASP package called LCHANGE. LCHANGE is designed to convert
ETB patient files and TAB cross-tabulation results files to Lotus
print files.
The purpose for the conversion program is to give users the
option of using the graphic output capabilities in Lotus. The
program's instructions appear on the screen.