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howtos:workwithdata:data_format_vs_file_format

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howtos:workwithdata:data_format_vs_file_format [2010/07/08 16:08]
marcus.williams
howtos:workwithdata:data_format_vs_file_format [2011/06/24 19:14] (current)
chris.strashok
Line 27: Line 27:
 These are the supported data formats for each tool These are the supported data formats for each tool
 ^dataFormat^Description^import^export^ ^ ^dataFormat^Description^import^export^ ^
-| coordinate | The data is in delimited columns where the first columns specify the element names in the respective dimension sets and the data is in the last column| yes | yes | [[howtos:​workwithdata:​coordExample | See Example]] |+| coordinate | The data is in delimited columns where the first columns specify the element names in the respective dimension sets and the data is in the last column. \\ \\ Pros: hunt & peck (order resilience). This is the preferred format.| yes | yes | [[howtos:​workwithdata:​coordExample | See Example]] |
 | tool | A file written by whatIf?'​s tool languages in binary format | yes | yes | | | tool | A file written by whatIf?'​s tool languages in binary format | yes | yes | |
-| odometer | Data is delimited as each data item is read it fills the object in the order of it's dimensions. ​ No validation that the data lands in the right cells is done. | yes | yes | [[howtos:​workwithdata:​odomExample | See Example]] |+| odometer | Data is delimited as each data item is read it fills the object in the order of it's dimensions. ​ No validation that the data lands in the right cells is done. \\ \\ Pros: row and column headings not required, good for reading legacy TOOL output ​| yes | yes | [[howtos:​workwithdata:​odomExample | See Example]] |
 | mapping | | yes | yes | | | mapping | | yes | yes | |
-| record | | yes | yes | |+| [[howtos:​workwithdata:​importing_and_tabulating_record-based_datasets|record]] The data is in delimited columns where the source data is read into a two dimensional variable consisting of a numerical record id and a user defined set of fields. \\ \\ Pros: Can convert text data into integer codes, extract data sets that are not continuous, can easily tabulate or cross-tabulate variables. \\ Cons: The source data must have unique column descriptions for each field that are usually related in some way.  ​| yes | yes | [[howtos:​workwithdata:​recordExample|See Example]] ​|
 | whatIfGEO (rename) | | yes | yes | | | whatIfGEO (rename) | | yes | yes | |
 +
 +Provide more conceptual description of the different data formats, their pros and cons, etc. FIXME
howtos/workwithdata/data_format_vs_file_format.1278605312.txt.gz ยท Last modified: 2010/07/08 16:08 by marcus.williams