The DataDude A Simple Program to Simplify Your Life Child Welfare Research Center Center for Social Services Research University of California, Berkeley Barbara Needell, Principal Investigator – California Children’s Services Archive Bill Dawson, Associate Research Specialist Colleen Henry, MSW Student Research Assistant Wendy Piccus, Children’s Archive Research Assistant Daniel Webster, Research Specialist
What is the DataDude? An Excel file that allows you to: Download a series of reports from the UCB CWS/CMS reports website Summarize selected information in a form suitable for review and or graphing Graph the data
Downloading a Series of Reports from the UCB CWS/CMS Reports Website The DataDude allows you to: Download a series of reports (i.e.,all available time periods) for a CWS/CMS report of your choosing
This is Accomplished in 3 Steps: 1. Indicate the report that you want 2. Indicate where you want a new Excel document with the report series saved 3. Get Data
Download a Series of Reports from the UCB CWS/CMS Reports Website in 3 Steps:
Results: The DataDude Downloads a Series of Reports to an Excel Workbook
Reviewing and Summarizing Data Across Periods of Time The DataDude allows you to: Summarize selected information in a form suitable for review and or graphing Examine All Time Periods for a CWS/CMS Report On One Easy To Read Excel Worksheet
This is Accomplished in 4 Steps: 1. Indicate the report series that you wish to summarize 2. Indicate the number of title columns you want in the summary table 3. Indicate the Column in each of the tables that contains the data that you want to summarize (e.g., number (n) of children reunified) 4. Get Data
Review and Summarize Data Across Periods of Time in 4 Steps:
Summarize Data in One Table
Results: Summarize Data from All Points in Time to One Table
Review Data
Graphing Data MS Excel allows you to: Take the data that you have summarized using the DataDude and create a graph
This Can be Accomplished in 4 Steps: 1. Use the mouse to select the time periods that you want to graph 2. Use the mouse to select the rows that you want to graph 3. Select the MS Excel Graphing Wizard to lead you through the graphing process 4. Create graph
Graph Data: Select Time Periods & Rows
Select the MS Excel Graphing Wizard:
How Do I Get My Own Copy of the DataDude? 1. Go to: 2. Right-Click “DataDude Tool*” 3. Choose the “Save Target As” Option 4. Save the DataDude to a location on your computer 5. Open the DataDude
Potential Problems with Downloading your own version of the DataDude Wrong Version of MS Excel Unable to Enable Macros: Security Settings Formatting
Wrong version of MS Excel Although resources have not allowed extensive testing, the DataDude should operate on all versions of MS Windows 95 and above and all versions of MS Excel 2000 and above.
Unable to Enable Macros
Troubleshooting What if I have a summary table where the columns do not have the same titles? If a column in a summary table has an incorrect title, this indicates that the source worksheet has a different layout or different number of columns than others in the series. Identify the problem time period by the date indicated for the column in the first row. Either remove the time period from the summary table by deleting the column or replace it with the correct column by manually copying the correct column into the summary table (and replacing the incorrect data).
Troubleshooting (continued) What if I have a summary table where the rows don’t line up or where it seems like there are missing rows? Ensure that data columns are aligned at the top. In some cases, slight variations in page layout will result in columns in your summary table having different start rows for the data. Correct by cutting and pasting the problem columns so that they are top aligned with others in the table. If a column is missing rows, refer to the source worksheet. Determine which row(s) are missing. Cut and paste the appropriate portions of the column on the summary sheet to correct the problem
Troubleshooting (continued) If you have difficulty determining which row(s) are missing for which time periods: Create a summary table for column A. This will create a table containing the row headings from each of your source worksheets. Examine this summary and determine which worksheets are missing which row headings. Adjust the data summary table by cutting and pasting the appropriate portions of the column.
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