Graphical User Interface
The Stat/Transfer User Interface
Transfer Tab
The Transfer tab allows you to perform routine transfers with a few mouse clicks.
1. Select an input file type.
2. Select the input file.
3. Select the output file type.
4. Stat/Transfer will then make up an output file specification for you. This will consist of the input directory and file name with the correct extension appended for your new output type. (You can change it if you like.)
5. If you want to transfer all variables and cases, click on ‘Transfer’ and you are done. (You can select variables and cases on the tabs to the right, the Variables tab and the Observations tab, before clicking on ‘Transfer’.)
Stat/Transfer is intelligently designed to save you mouse clicks and keystrokes.
For instance, although the output path is automatically constructed from the input path, if you change the path to another drive or directory, that directory will be used for the automatically generated output paths of subsequent transfers. Thus, if you intend to move files from one drive or directory to another, Stat/Transfer will recognize that fact and not require you to navigate to your new directory every time. To further save keystrokes, "most recently used" lists are maintained both for input files and for output directories.
The Data Viewer
The View button on the variables tab brings up a universal data viewer that will display the contents of the selected input file. A pop-up window will display the type and label of a selected variable.
Variables Tab
The Variables tab allows you to choose which variables will be transferred to your output data set. You can also view the characteristics of each variable, such as the preferred output or “target” types, the variable labels and the value labels.
Stat/Transfer automatically makes an extra pass through your data to determine the best output variable type and the minimum string width for your variables. However, if you wish, you can manually choose the storage types of each variable.
You can quickly choose variables to keep or drop by using the “Quick Variable Selector” window, which accepts wildcards, lists and ranges of variable names. The “Quick Type Selector” similarly makes fast work of changing variable types.
Observations Tab
The Observations tab allows you to select just the records you want from your input file. You can enter arithmetic expressions and selection conditions. You can also use powerful sampling functions. Selection syntax is designed for ease of use. For instance, you can use wildcards and enter lists of conditions separated by commas. For example:
where state = CA,AZ,W*,O*
Options Tab
The Options tab allows you to control how Stat/Transfer operates. You can control, for instance, whether you want to be warned if a file is about to be overwritten. These options are organized by category and provide extensive control over transfer operations. The defaults are designed sensibly, so that in most cases, the options need not be touched. However, sometimes the defaults will not be what you need, so Stat/Transfer gives you the flexibility to control every aspect of the transfer process when you need to.
Run Program Tab
Stat/Transfer has a stand-alone command processor that allows transfers to be run in batch mode with simple commands. The command processor and the user interface are now integrated. The user interface can automatically generate command files after your transfer has been performed and then you can then re-run these transfers right from the user interface. From the Run Program tab you can load programs, edit them if necessary, and call the command processor to run your programs.
Log Tab
The Log tab allows you to see progress and error messages, which can be read as the transfer progresses. All of these can be saved to a log file. In case of errors or problems, this file can be sent to Circle Systems technical support.