Dbank FAQ

• Why is my data extracted from UNIX different from Windows?
• Why am I getting the error "Error:ECODATA.MDB is write protected"?

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Why is my data extracted from UNIX different from Windows?

Data extracted with Dbank for UNIX/DOS differ from Dbank for Windows by a fraction
For example Dbank for UNIX might display 3.1999 compared with the actual 3.2 .
Dbank for UNIX/DOS uses FORTRAN and stores data in single precision. This results in a rounding problem. If you are bothered by it, round the numbers to the third decimal and you are fine.

Why am I getting the error "Error:ECODATA.MDB is write protected"

All the databases we have loaded into Dbank are write protected. In addition the DBank startup directory (H:\DBANKDAT) is write protected. So, you have to create your own database locally (on C:\temp or A:) in order to create new series, like the LOG of a series.

If the database you want to use is small, like ECODATA

1. Use the Filemanager to Copy H:\DBANKDAT\ECODATA.* C:\temp
2. Get rid of the READ-ONLY attribute of ECODATA.*
   In the Filemanager File &GT Properties, unselect Read only.

If you work in a large database, like Citibase

1. Open Citibase and select the series you want to copy to your own database. (For multiple selection, use the CTRL key, while clicking the left mouse button)
2. In Series > Copy enter c:\user\mydata[group] , where c:\user\mydata is the path and name of your new database. The new database can be an existing one or a new one. [group] is the groupname where the series are being stored.
   

Now you have your own database, say MYDATA, on C:\USER . To create a new series:

1. Open your database c:\user\mydata
2. To create a new series go to Series > Make
   If you want for example create the LOG of the series GNDP in Group GN in your database, enter:

   c:\user\MYDATA[gn]LGNDP=ln("c:\user\MYDATA[gn]GNDP")

   If you didn't copy the series GNDP from Citibase to your own database, enter:

   c:\user\MYDATA[gn]LGNDP=ln("CITIBASE[gn]GNDP")

Notice that you have to enter the whole path to your database, otherwise DBank tries to create MYDATA on H:\DBANKDAT , which is write protected! .

©2007 Yale University Social Science Statistical Laboratory Certifying Authority: Themba Flowers lm: Wed Apr 09 15:45:19 EDT 2003