Guides for Government Compact Discs (CD's)
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Statistical Abstract of the U.S. on CD-ROM
1. What is it?
The Statistical Abstract of the United States on CD-ROM is a collection of thousands of statistical tables about life in the United States. Most but not all of the data was collected by the federal government and involves such topics as trade, crime, religion, population, health, the economy, vital statistics, taxes, and much more.
2. Who produces it?
U. S. Census Bureau.
3. Are there guides to using it?
No.
4. Is it updated?
Annually. See Library's online catalog for current holdings.
5. Can the CD-ROM be checked out?
Yes.
6. Sudoc number (disc's call number in Calvin T. Ryan Library):
C 3. 134/7: (year)
7. Is there a paper equivalent in Calvin T. Ryan Library?
Yes: C 3. 134: (year). Newest edition is in Documents Reference Collection. Years back to 1950 are in paper; older years are on microfiche.
8. Tricks: (These instructions apply to older versions of the CD. Follow instructions given on newer CD's.)
USING IT:
A screen will say "Select Cardfiles to Open." "Cardfile" is what the software calls a statistical table.
You can browse through this list, like a table of contents, pressing Enter to mark the files you want to search.
If you want to search ALL of the tables, type 1 and press Enter.
Once you have chosen the tables to search in, press Alt-S. Then press Enter.
You must then type in a word or words to search for. If you type in AIDS OR PATIENT, for example, it will find any statistical table that mentions either (or both) words. If you type in AIDS AND PATIENT, it will locate only tables that mention both.
A list of tables that meet your request will be shown. Move the cursor to the table you want to see.
Press Enter.
HELP:
Press Alt-H.
PRINTING:
To print a full table:
Press F7. Then press Alt-R. Next, press Enter.
To mark part of a table for printing:
Move the cursor to the beginning of the part you want printed. Hold down the shift key and use the arrow keys to mark the area you want printed.
Press F7. Then press Alt-B. Next, press Enter.
COPYING (DOWNLOADING):
Place a portable storage device in drive.
To copy a full table:
Press F7.
Press Alt-R.
Press Alt-S.
Press Alt-D.
When it asks for "Disc File", type in, after (drive letter): \jones where \jones is the name you give the file.
Press Alt-O twice.
To mark part of a table for copying:
Move the cursor to the beginning of the part you want copied. Hold down the shift key and use the arrow keys to mark the area you want copied.
Press F7.
Press Alt-B.
Press Alt-S.
Press Alt-D.
When it asks for "Disc File", type in, after (drive letter): \jones where \jones is the name you give the file.
Press Alt-O twice.
GETTING OUT:
Press F4. Then type X. Next, press Enter.
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Courtesy of Robert Lopresti, Wilson Library, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA. 3/94
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Diana J. Keith
Associate Professor
Government Documents Librarian
Calvin T. Ryan Library
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Kearney, NE 68849-2240
Revised June, 2009
E-mail: keithdi@unk.edu
Phone: 308-865-8542