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Help: Tips for managing data cubes with a SRD file extension
 

The following links provide help on effectively using ABS data cubes with a SRD file extension, available from the ABS web site:


All of the above operations require SuperTABLE software, for more information see help on Download and Install SuperTABLE.
SuperTABLE works in a PC environment and does not work on Macintosh computers.


USE THE LATEST VERSION OF THE ABS SuperTABLE DATA CUBE

New releases of the ABS data cubes on any particular topic retain the same file name.

When you download an ABS data cube which retains the same file name to the same file location, you will get a message, "File_name.srd already exists. Do you want to replace it?"

You may also get a similar prompt when you run the 'SRD' file on the SuperTABLE software. Select 'YES' to overwrite the file.
This action ensures that you are using the latest version of the file.
    Dialogue box that prompts you to overwrite an existing data cube file
    Figure 1: Shows the dialogue box that prompts you to overwrite an existing data cube file.
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SHARE ABS SuperTABLE DATA CUBES WITHIN THE ORGANISATION

To share data cubes within the organisation follow these three steps:
    Step 1: Create two folders in a common shared location on the network, a 'Catalogue_folder' and a 'Dataset_folder'.
    Step 2: Change your Catalogue ( SuperTABLE's File Manager ) location to point to the common 'Catalogue_folder' folder above.
    Step 3: Save and install the ABS SuperTABLE data cube with a SRD file extension to the common 'Dataset_folder' folder in Step 1 above.

By default, the Catalogue (SuperTABLE's file manager) is located on the hard drive on the computer where SuperTABLE is installed. When you download and use a ABS SuperTABLE data cube, it is generally saved to the hard drive also.

Step 1: Create two folders in a common shared location on the network, a 'Catalogue_folder' and a 'Dataset_folder'.
    Image shows folders created with meaningful names and placed in a common location
    Figure 2: Image shows folders created with meaningful names and placed in a common location

Step 2: Change your Catalogue ( SuperTABLE's File Manager ) location to point to the common 'Catalogue_folder' folder in Step 1 above.

    a. Open SuperTABLE.

    Image shows the Program menu to open the SuperTABLE application
    Figure 3: Shows the Start > Program menu to open the SuperTABLE software application

    b. Select File/Change Catalogue from the menu.Browse to the 'Catalogue_folder'.Click 'OK'.

    Image shows the Select 'File' > 'Change Catalogue' procedure from the SuperTABLE menu
    Figure 4: Image shows the Select 'File' > 'Change Catalogue' procedure from the SuperTABLE file menu


    c. Browse to the 'Catalogue_folder'.

    Image shows how to change SuperTABLE's file manager 'Catalogue' path to point to 'Catalogue_folder' in the common location
    Figure 5: Change SuperTABLE's file manager 'Catalogue' path to point to 'Catalogue_folder' in the common location

      d. Click 'OK'. Every person who wishes to use the 'Catalogue_folder' will need to do this.

    Step 3: Save and Install the ABS data cube with a SRD file extension to the common 'Dataset_folder' folder in Step 1 above.
      1. Open SuperTABLE if it is not open already.

      2. Select File/New from the menu, this will open the SuperTABLE Catalogue.


      Image shows how to Select File/New from the menu to open the SuperTABLE Catalogue
      Figure 6: Select File/New from the menu to open the SuperTABLE Catalogue

      3. Right-click on the catalogue folder icon and select 'Install SuperCUBE' from the context menu.
      Image shows the context menu when you right click on the catalogue folder icon to select Install SuperCUBE
      Figure 7: Right click on the catalogue folder icon and select Install SuperCUBE from the menu

      4. Locate the data cube that you downloaded (make sure that it is unzipped) using the 'Browse' button.

      Image shows how you can locate the downloaded dataset and point it to the destination 'Dataset_folder' that is created in the common location.
      Figure 8: Shows how you can locate the downloaded data cube and point it to the destination 'Dataset_folder' that is created in the common location.
      5. Click on 'Advanced' and in the destination path, browse for the 'Dataset_folder' you have created.

      Image shows the process of pointing the data cube file to the destination folder
      Figure 9: Shows the process of pointing the data cube file to the destination folder
      6. Click 'Install'. The data cube will be installed to the Catalogue.

      Image shows the 'Install' dialog box to configure the settings
      Figure 10: Image shows the 'Install' dialogue box to configure the settings


      7. The data cube will appear in the Catalogue and can be opened by selecting it and then clicking 'OK'.

      Image shows the ABS dataset installed in the SuperTABLE Catalogue. The dataset can now be used by everone whose SuperTABLE Catalogue points to the common folder
      Figure 11: Shows the ABS data cube installed in the SuperTABLE Catalogue. The data cube can now be used by everyone whose SuperTABLE Catalogue points to the common folder.
      Every person who has changed their Catalogue to point to the common folder will now be able to use the data cubes installed to this Catalogue.
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    RE-USE THE TABLE FORMAT AND LAYOUT FOR EVERY NEW RELEASE OF THE SAME ABS DATA CUBE

    To create a re-usable table that can be updated every time a particular ABS SuperTABLE data cube is released, follow the steps below:

    Step a. Create a re-usable table
      1. Open the relevant data cube and create a table. Format it as needed.

      2. From the menu, choose File/Save As.

      3. In the 'Save As Type' box, select Textual Table Definition (TXD file extension).

      4. In the 'File name' box, type in a name to save the file.

      5. Click 'OK'.

      Image shows how to save the dataset table in a TXD file format
      Figure 12: Save the data cube table in a TXD file format

    This TXD file contains all of the layout and formatting information required to re-create the table.
    You can use the same data cube, or use a data cube that has been updated with new data.

    Step b. Re-use the table with an updated Data cube
      1. Install the updated data cube to the Catalogue, do this by either running the SRD file or by installing manually as described in Step 3. above.
      2. Re-run the table
        1. Open SuperTABLE.
        2. Select 'File', 'Open' from the menu.
        3. In the 'File Type' box, select Textual Table Definition (TXD file extension).
        4. Select the relevant TXD file.

      Image shows how you can open the TXD file and view the dataset or new releases of this dataset
      Figure 13: You can now open the TXD file and view the data cube or new releases of this data cube in the layout and format in which it was saved

    The data cube will open and create a table based on the information in the TXD file. You can still manipulate this table if needed.

    For example, if a new time period has been added to the updated data cube, you can add the new time period to the table    .
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    EXTENDED USE OF TXD FILES

    Saving a table as a TXD file, allows you to open a table which was built using one data cube to run on a second data cube. This can be done if all of the fields in the tables are present and have the same category names in the second data cube.

      Figure 14: Download the Sample 2 data cube

    Example:
    • Construct an 'Age by Employment Type' table from the Sample 2 data cube which has a mandatory 'Industry' field and save it in TXD file format.
    • Next, change the data cube ID to the data cube ID for the Sample 1 data cube (i.e from 'q2s' to 'c1as') in the TXD file.
      N.B. The data cube ID of Sample 2 is 'q2s' and data cube ID of Sample 1 is 'c1as'.
    • Delete the lines referring to the 'Industry' field, as the 'Industry' field does not exist in the Sample 1 data cube.
    • The TXD file will now run on Sample 1 data.
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