VitalPro for Win32 User Guide

Texas Population Data

Expert Health Data Programming, Inc.

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Table of Contents

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Chapter 1: Introduction

Nature of the software - Vitalnet is a health data warehouse / data analysis system. Vitalnet includes both desktop (VitalPro) and internet-based (VitalWeb) systems. VitalPro and VitalWeb make analyzing data faster, easier, and more reliable. This user guide describes VitalPro for Win32, which runs directly on a PC or LAN. For convenience, we will often refer to the software as simply VitalPro.

Advice about user guide - We have made VitalPro as self-explanatory as possible. You don't have to read this user guide. If you pay attention to the menus, you can fully use the software. However, we recommend you read the user guide because: (1) Many users learn better from a written text. (2) It is helpful to have an overview of what the software can do, to know it's capabilities, before using it. (3) The user guide explains many background concepts necessary for properly interpreting and using the data.

Tutorial - This user guide incorporates a tutorial, to help you get started using the software. Tutorial sections are highlighted as shown in this example:

Organization - Here's how this user guide is organized:

· Chapter 1: Introduction - Introduces Texas VitalPro for Win32 (VitalPro).
· Chapter 2: Understanding Results - Shows and explains typical VitalPro tables.
· Chapter 3: Using the Interface - Describes and shows how to use VitalPro menus.
· Chapter 4: Outlines of Submenus - Lists VitalPro menus and capabilities.
· Chapter 5: Table Variables - Explains how "table variables" (eg, rows) specify table layout.
· Chapter 6: Data Variables - Documents and explains variables such as race and age.
· Chapter 7: Charts and Maps - Explains map and chart (bar, line, pie) settings.
· Chapter 8: Other Parameters - Explains remaining parameters (eg, cell suppression).
· Glossary - Defines terms related to population data and VitalPro.

Citation for Vitalnet - Expert Health Data Programming, Inc., Texas VitalPro for Win32: Data Warehouse Software for Analyzing Texas Population Data. Bellevue, Washington. 1998-2019. Browse www.ehdp.com for more information about the software or to contact EHDP.

Acknowledgements - We gratefully acknowledge the suggestions and ideas we have received from Texas Department of State Health Services staff and other users. Please contact us at 888-709-5319 or at www.ehdp.com if you have suggestions or requests.

Produced - September 15, 2018

Copyright 1998-2019 by Expert Health Data Programming, Inc. All rights reserved. VITALNET, VITALWEB, and VITALPRO are trademarks of Expert Health Data Programming, Inc.

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1-1: Advantages and Benefits

· VitalPro makes it easy to analyze Texas population data.

Fast - You get results in seconds or minutes. Depending on the analysis, alternate methods could easily require hours or days to complete.

Reliable - VitalPro helps prevent mistakes. It automatically incorporates needed complex algorithms and relationships. In contrast, analyses with SAS, SPSS, and other generic stats software are error-prone (besides being quite tedious). There are many steps that can go wrong in trying to manually analyze data.

Flexible - A wide variety of tables, charts and maps may be produced. You may set table rows and columns however you want. A large number of table, map, chart, and data parameters may be selected and combined as needed. On the other hand, if you choose you can ignore most program options, as they are set to reasonable default values.

Efficient - VitalPro goes beyond just being fast. For example, you can automatically make a whole series of tables with one keystroke (multi-tables), such as a separate table for each county. As another example, chart output is automatically produced whenever it makes sense, but NOT produced when it would look terrible or be invalid.

Easy to use - All operations are menu-driven, so you don't need to do tedious scripting. And you don't need to know any special codes such as FIPS codes.

Has online help - If needed, context-sensitive help is available from each menu. In addition, you may select from a list of on-line help topics, providing advice on topics related to VitalPro and data analysis. The on-line help complements the information in this user guide.

Fully documented - VitalPro output helps prevent data misinterpretation. All output is fully documented, so (1) there is no confusion or question about the exact analysis that was done, and (2) the analysis can be exactly replicated if needed.

Makes charts and maps - VitalPro automatically makes charts (bar, line, and pie) and maps. The charts and maps can be customized in a wide variety of ways, as explained later.

Integrates with other software - VitalPro automatically displays HTML output in your desktop browser. And the HTML may be imported into word processing software. In addition, the following alternative formats are automatically made along with each analysis, to allow importing the results into other software tools: (1) ASCII text format, (2) delimited format for importing into spreadsheets, (3) dBASE III format for importing into statistical, GIS, mapping, graphing and other software, (4) both PNG and PDF map formats.

Can be customized - Let us know if other capabilities you would like added. We want to further improve VitalPro to meet your needs.

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1-2: Data Within VitalPro

· VitalPro links and analyzes population and geographic data.

Geographic information - VitalPro includes a database of Texas counties and regions, linked to the population data sets. Boundary files are included for making maps.

Population data - The Center for Health Statistics at DSHS provides 1980-1999 Texas population data. The Texas State Data Center at Texas A&M provides Texas population data for 2000 and beyond. The Texas State Data Center periodically revises its estimates for years between censuses, but the changes are typically small. The population variables included within VitalPro are age, county of residence, race, sex, and year.

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1-3: Accessing VitalPro

· Access VitalPro on a standalone PC or via LAN.

Local access (PC's and local area networks) - You may use Texas VitalPro on a stand-alone PC or laptop running any version of Windows. Texas VitalPro may also be run from a local area network. Generally, VitalPro runs faster from a standalone installation, since it does not have to send data over the network.

Execution speed - VitalPro is fast. The software has been tested to produce rapid results on any Windows PC, and simply runs faster on faster computers. Analyses that might otherwise take hours to days to set up and run are done in seconds or minutes.

The software execution speed depends on:

• The speed of the computer you are using.
• The speed of the network you are working on.
• The specific analysis you are doing (greatest effect).

It typically takes a second or two to generate output.

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1-4: Confidentiality Policy

· Texas VitalPro users must comply with confidentiality requirements.

Confidentiality policy - Your use of Texas VitalPro indicates your agreement to the following conditions: You will not try to use Texas VitalPro results nor let anyone else use Texas VitalPro results for any purpose other than statistical analysis. If you discover the identity of a population number, you will advise the Director of the Center for Health Statistics at the Texas Department of State Health Services of the incident, will safeguard or delete the information that would identify the individual, will make no use of the knowledge, and will inform no one else of the discovered identity.

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Chapter 2: Understanding Results

What's in this chapter - Before jumping in and using VitalPro (next chapter), it is advised to get a good understanding of the results of the software. This chapter explains the organization and content of VitalPro tables.

This chapter explains the four sections of a VitalPro table:

• Header - Basic analysis parameters.
• Data section - Numerical results.
• Bar graphs - Graphical results.
• Footnotes - Other analysis parameters.

In addition, this chapter shows examples of actual Texas VitalPro tables, to give you an idea of what is possible. You are given an opportunity to practice interpreting sample tables.

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2-1: Typical VitalPro Table

· Each table has four parts: header, data section, tabular chart, footnotes.


Header: Documents the analysis. The table analyzes 2000 population for Galveston and Harris counties.

Data Section: Contains the results, organized into columns and rows. In this example, there is one column for each sex and one row for each of four age groups. Verify there were 471,562 women age 40-59, 1,759,927 males, and a total of 3,555,425 residents. Each result (such as 471,562) is called a "cell".

Tabular Chart: Represents the results in a simple graphical format. In this example, each 'X' (big X) symbol represents 38,856 population. The tabular charts are optional. The tabular chart clearly shows that the greatest population is in the 20-39 age group, for both sexes.

Footnote: Documents less important aspects of the analysis, such as when the table was produced. Assigns a unique ID to the table for future reference.

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2-2: Table #1 to Interpret

Here is a sample table (footnotes omitted) for you to practice on. Try interpreting the table by filling in the spaces below. Then, check your answers with those on the next page.

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2-3: Table #1, Interpreted

Here is the same table, and a suggested interpretation. If you had a problem, try reading through the answers again or ask a local data analyst for help.

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2-4: Table #2 to Interpret

Here is another table. Fill in the spaces below. Then, check your answers on the next page.

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2-5: Table #2, Interpreted

Here is the second table again, and our interpretation of the results.

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Chapter 3: Using the Interface

What's in this chapter - Finally, you will get to use VitalPro! This is probably what you have been waiting for! You will learn to navigate the interface, select parameters, and produce a few tables like those you learned about in the previous chapter.

Some advice about learning - As you use VitalPro, we encourage you to explore and try things. Don't be shy. You cannot cause any damage by using the software. VitalPro does a lot, and there are a lot of options, because analyzing data has many options. But running the software is pretty simple, once you know the basic way it works.

Open default browser - Your PC has a "default browser" set up. That's the browser that normally displays HTML files (web pages) for you. Before you start VitalPro, open the default browser. Eventually, when you make output from VitalPro, the output will display in the browser. The preferred browsers are Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera. Chrome has a bug, does not display local files via Javascript, so Chrome fails to display time trend maps.

Access the software - A tutorial runs through this chapter. All procedures you are expected to do as part of the tutorial are highlighted in a different type style, as shown below. At this point, do the following:

The icon may look like a doctor's bag, or may be a different desktop icon. If you do not have an icon, ask your network manager to set things up to start VitalPro from an icon. If you can't start VitalPro or have some other issue, get assistance from another Texas VitalPro user. Or, contact us.

VitalPro runs in a "Win32 Console". This is a special interface available on all Windows computers. You will start at the Main Menu (shown on next page).

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3-1: Start at Main Menu

· You will constantly return to the Main Menu.



After VitalPro starts in the Win32 Console, you are presented with the Main Menu, similar to the picture above.

The Main Menu is the "command center" - You move to submenus to modify parameters, but return to the Main Menu to make a table (or map). The Main Menu lists all parameters currently selected. It provides an overview of the current analysis scenario.

Menu Level - Note "Main Menu" in the upper right. This is "Menu Level 1". For each submenu, as shown on the next page, the "Menu Level" is indicated: 2, 3, etc.

Highlighting a parameter - One of the parameters is always highlighted. In the example above, "Output Type" is highlighted. You move the highlight by pressing an arrow key. The parameter list scrolls as needed. Note that you do not use a mouse to run VitalPro. This "non-mouse" operation may seem odd at first, but it proves to be fast and easy. Do the following:

The menu tells you what to do - Every VitalPro menu has text at the bottom with guidance on what to do next. For example, the Main Menu text indicates you can press an arrow key (move highlight), the ENTER key (change highlighted setting), P (produce output), Q (quit), or '?' (help).

Changing window appearance - The font size for the Win32 Console running VitalPro may be changed from the Win32 Console toolbar, to suit your screen. "Raster Fonts" set to "8 x 12", as shown, is a reasonable font. On some computers, the Win32 Console may be toggled to full screen (and back) by pressing ALT-ENTER (hold down ALT key and press ENTER key).

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3-2: Use a Simple Submenu

· Access a submenu by highlighting an item and pressing ENTER.



Selecting parameter to change - To change a parameter, highlight the parameter (using the arrow keys) and press ENTER.

Quick changes - Some parameters have a relatively simple submenu. Try this:

More complex changes - For more complex parameters, a more complicated submenu will appear and help you change the parameter. For example, to change the geographic selection, you would highlight the parameter "Geographic Areas", and press ENTER. Do the following:

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3-3: Use Area Sets Submenu

· Each submenu guides you in selecting parameters.



Submenu with scrolling window - This is a typical VitalPro submenu. It has a scrolling window with a list of items, "Area Sets" in this case. One of the items may be highlighted by using the arrow keys.

Letters are action items - This submenu has a list of actions, such as " B  Delete all sets". Pressing the letter (such as 'B') carries out the action.

Adding an area - Carry out the following steps to add an area:

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3-4: Back at Main Menu

· You always return to the Main Menu after modifying a parameter.



Make sure you're back - You should now be back at the Main Menu, shown above. Note that "Areas" has been modified (it is now set to PHR 1). If you are not back at the Main Menu, get assistance from a co-worker familiar with using the software. Or (in almost all cases), simply press the ESCAPE key a few times.

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3-5: Produce a Table

· Press the letter 'P' at the Main Menu to make a table.

Check that you at the Main Menu - You should now be back at the Main Menu. You have used the submenus to select a few parameters, and are now ready to produce your first table!



Time required - The amount of time required depends on which parameters are selected and what kind of computer you are using, but is typically a few seconds.

Examining the table - The output will automatically appear in your default desktop browser (which you previously opened). The bottom of the output (not shown above) contains links to spreadsheet, text, and dBASE III output. In addition, there may be links to bar, pie, or line chart output.

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3-6: Switch to Designing a Map

· From the Main Menu, you may switch to designing a map, as shown below.



You've got the basics - You've navigated the Main Menu, used submenus to select parameters, made an output table, and viewed the output. That's about all there is to operating the software! It's a simple, fast, powerful analysis cycle. You should be getting the hang of VitalPro by now. If not, talk with a coworker or contact us.

PNG and PDF maps - VitalPro also makes PNG and PDF maps. You can customize the maps in a wide variety of ways to meet your needs: add area labels, switch between boundary types (eg, regional boundaries), set the number of colors to use, select a color palette, set the range type (eg, "equal interval"), select time trend maps (map for each year range). These options are described and illustrated later in the user guide.

Make a map - Since tables and maps are so fundamentally different (eg, maps don't have rows, tables don't have colors), VitalPro displays a simpler menu system (shown above) when designing a map. To make your first map:

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3-7: Continue with Analyses

· VitalPro lets you quickly carry out a wide variety of analyses.

Explore the menus - Once you get the hang of it, using the software is pretty easy. If you have gotten this far, you understand the basic program operation. Don't be afraid to experiment and try out different options. Once you have made a table (or map), look it over. If it meets your needs, you're done. If the output is not quite right, look over the parameters on the Main Menu, highlight the parameter you want to change, and press ENTER. A submenu will lead you through the modification process. After setting all parameters as desired, return to the Main Menu and produce another table (or map) by pressing 'P'. Try it:

On-line help - VitalPro has been designed to be as self-explanatory as possible. However, it also includes extensive on-line help. To access on-line help from any menu, press the '?' key. A help screen will appear, with information related to the current menu. After viewing the help screen, a scrolling list of help topics may be viewed, for your selection. Try it:

Quitting VitalPro - The '=' or ESCAPE key always returns to the previous menu. Later, when you are done, you may press the 'q' key from the Main Menu to quit VitalPro.

Some suggestions for avoiding misinterpretation:

• Double-check header and footer to verify it was the analysis you intended.
• Use confidence intervals to help determine statistical significance.
• Use fewer rows and columns for simpler presentation.
• Use more rows and columns if more comparisons and detail needed.
• Acknowledge the possibility of census miscounts.
• Acknowledge difficulty estimating population in years between censuses.
• Use confidence intervals to help determine statistical significance.
• If uncertainties remain, contact local data experts for advice.

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3-8: More Practice Analyses

For additional practice, and to gain more understanding of how VitalPro can speed and simplify data analysis, carry out the following sample analyses. If a variable is not listed (eg, Sex), then all values are selected (eg, Male and Female). Do the following:

1. 1995 population by age, one table for each county:


2. Counties ranked by median age of population:


3. Time trend for median age of female population:


4. Race / sex breakdown of population for one area

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Chapter 4: Outlines of Submenus

What other menus and options are available? - If you have done the examples in the previous chapter, you should have a good understanding of how to use VitalPro menus to select parameters. However, you have just scratched the surface of the capabilities and power of the software. For your reference, the following pages list all of the Texas VitalPro for Win32 menus. The purpose of the list of menus is to help you become aware of what is available so that you can take fullest advantage of the software. Do this:

First, design table layout:

  • Statistic
  • Row Variable
  • Row Sorting
  • Column Variable
  • Multi-Tables

Next, modify data variables:

  • Age Groups
  • Area Sets
  • Race Groups
  • Sex
  • Year Ranges
  • Other Settings

When ready, carry out an action:

  • Produce Table and Charts
  • Produce Map
  • Exit VitalPro for Win32

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4-1: Table Layout Submenus

· Using VitalPro for Win32, explore menus for designing table layout.

Statistic Menu sets type of result:

Row Menu selects "Row Variable", which may include:
Row Sorting Menu options:

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4-2: Data Variable Submenus

· Using VitalPro for Win32, explore menus for modifying variables.

Race Menu / Sex Menu:

Year Ranges Menu:

Age Groups Menu:

Area Sets Menu:

Other Main Menu Settings:

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4-3: Checklist of Key Tasks

This checklist gives an overview of the main capabilities of VitalPro for Win32, and the tasks you would normally do to analyze the data.

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Chapter 5: Table Variables

What's in this chapter - This chapter explains what we call "table variables". Table variables are the basic variables that determine the layout of an output table. VitalPro allows great flexibility in designing your table. Also, the software prevents incompatibilities from occurring.

Table variables are:

  · Main Statistic
  · Row Variable
  · Row Sorting
  · Column Variable
  · Multi-Tables

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5-1: Main Statistic [Outcome]

· The Main Statistic is the basic type of number in a table (or map).

What is a Main Statistic? - Every table has a Main Statistic. The Main Statistic (or outcome) is the basic type of data generated in an output table.

Available Statistics -

  · Population
  · Median population age
  · Percent population in age group

Each statistic is defined in the glossary, and on-line help files give calculation methods.

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5-2: Rows and Columns, Row Sorting

· Table rows and columns may be set however you want.

Rows and columns - Rows are horizontal lines in a data table. Columns go up and down.

Every table has a row variable and a column variable. Rows and columns may be set to any of the following:

• Only one row (or column) (not set to a variable)
• One row (or column) per selected age group
• One row (or column) per selected area set
• One row (or column) per selected sex
• One row (or column) per selected race set
• One row (or column) per selected year range

Sorted rows - Any table may be sorted as follows:

• Rows sorted from high to low, by total data
• Rows sorted from low to high, by total data

Unsorted rows - Examples of rows in standard order (unsorted rows) include:

• Area sets in alphabetical order, such as Bexar before El Paso.

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5-3: By Variable (Multi-Tables)

· You may automatically produce a series of tables.


Purpose of multi-tables - Suppose you want to make a separate table for each county. It would be tedious to select the first county, make a table, select the second county, make a table, etc. Multi-tables automates the production of such a series of tables into one operation. The multi-table setting may be one of the following:

· Only one table (the default)
· One table per selected age group
· One table per selected area set
· One table per selected race set
· One table per selected year range

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Chapter 6: Data Variables

What's in this chapter - This chapter lists and explains data variables you may modify using the software. VitalPro allows great flexibility in selecting and modifying data variables. You may select variables into "ranges" (eg, 2009-2010) and "sets" (eg, "White + Black") just about any way needed.

Here are the data variables covered in this chapter:

· Age groups
· Race
· Sex
· Years

· Geographic selection (area sets)

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6-1: Geo Selection [Area Sets]

· Every table has a geographic specification.

Geographical Areas - The software analyzes Texas data to the county level, and also easily allows pre-set and ad-hoc county groupings. Texas has 254 counties, organized into regions (a group of several counties), as follows:

• 8 Health Service Regions (HSR)
• 11 Public Health Regions (PHR) (Effective 3/1/93)
• 25 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) (and Remainder)
• 24 Councils of Government (COG)
• 15 Immediate Border Counties (vs Remaining Counties)
• 32 La Paz Border Counties (vs Remaining Counties)

You may select any combination of areas - VitalPro makes it easy to compare results between different groupings ("sets") of geographic areas (counties and county groupings), or limit analysis to specific geographic areas. One or more geographic areas may be combined into an area set, and compared with other sets.

Selection is quick and easy - All geographic operations are grouped together on one submenu, to allow quick and easy selection of any combination of areas desired. A previous interface snapshot (page 3-3) shows the main geographic menu.

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6-2: Categorical and Range Variables

Race Groups (Categorical)

You may select any combination of race groups to analyze, by combining races (eg, Black, White) into "sets" as needed. A separate submenu allows easy selection. Keep in mind that differences in health status between races may be due to socio-economic differences.

Each count is classified as White, Black, Hispanic, or Other, as assigned by the Texas State Data Center.

Sex (Categorical)

You may select Male, Female, or both sexes combined.

Age Groups (Range)

VitalPro lets you combine and analyze age groups in just about any way needed. You may select any contiguous combination of age groups to analyze, such as 22-34. Or, you may select a set of ranges, such as birth-19, 20-39, 40-64, 65-99+.

VitalPro will let you know which age groups are available for use. Standard age groupings, such as 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year age groups are easily selected. Once you have a standard grouping selected, you may combine them in just about any way desired.

Up to age 21, 1-year ages are used (for example, 3 or 11-17). For 22 and over, an age group may use any combination of 5-year groups (for example, 40-44 or 30-49). The highest group is currently 75-99+ (75 and over).

Years (Range)

You may select any continuous range of one or more years to analyze, such as 1980-1983. In addition, you may select a set of year ranges for comparing, such as 1990-1991, 1992-1993, 1994-1995. VitalPro will let you know which years are available for use. Standard groupings, such as 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year groups are easily selected. Year groups may be combined in just about any way desired.

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Chapter 7: Charts and Maps

What's in this chapter - This chapter explains about settings for VitalPro charts and maps.

Charts are very helpful for scanning results for trends, and for better communicating findings to others. Plus, they make the data more attractive, less boring. VitalPro makes three kinds of graphic charts. Each chart type is more or less best suited for a particular purpose:

Bar Charts

• Compare amounts of different things.
• For example, which race group has a higher birth rate?
• Or, which sex has more deaths from a particular cause?

Line Charts

• Show movement, trends, and comparisons.
• For example, which age group has a higher death rate?
• Or, is a particular rate changing (up or down) over time?

Pie Charts

• Show parts of a whole, a quick overall comparison.
• For example, what proportion of deaths occur in males?
• Or, what proportion of births are to teenage moms?

Maps are a special kind of graphical data display, to show geographic differences in rates and counts. VitalPro makes attractive maps, in PNG and PDF formats.

The automatically produced charts and maps can be extensively customized, as explained in this chapter.

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7-1: Bar Chart Color Settings

Three settings for customizing bar chart colors:

• The background color behind the chart.
• The color palette to use for the bars.
• First color in the palette to use for the bars.

Below are shown the settings, with examples:

Background Color for Chart (12 options) White Grey 90 Lemon Chiffon Light Blue

Color Palette for Bars (4 options) Bright Colors Subdued Colors Bright + Subdued Black + White

First Color in Palette to Use (10 options) A Forward D Reverse E Forward J Reverse

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7-2: Bar Chart Layout Settings

Six ways to customize layout of Vitalnet bar charts:

• Orientation (horizontal or vertical)
• Stacking (with horizontal or vertical bars)
• Bar height • Bar width
• Grid lines • Font size

Vertical or Horizontal Bars Vertical Bars Horizontal Stacked Bars? Stacked Bars Not Stacked

Height of Each Bar (9 options) 2 cm High 4 cm High Width of Each Bar (8 options) 0.2 cm Wide 0.6 cm Wide

Include Grid Lines? Include Grid Omit Grid Font Size for Chart Text (8 options) 10 pt Font 14 pt Font

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7-3: Line Chart Settings #1

Eight ways to customize Vitalnet line charts:

Background Color for Chart (12 options) Alice Blue Light Yellow

Include Data Point Symbols? (2 options) Include Symbols Omit Symbols

Radius for Chart Symbols (10 options) 1.0 mm Radius 1.4 mm Radius

Line Chart Height - Set chart height, eg 3.0 cm (9 options).

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7-4: Line Chart Settings #2

Width of Lines (3 options) Thin Lines Thick Lines

Include Grid Lines? (2 options) Include Grid Omit Grid

Colored Lines, or Black + White (2 options) Colored Lines Black + White Lines

Font Size - Select font size, eg 9 pt (8 options).

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7-5: Pie Chart Color Settings

Three settings for customizing pie chart coloring:

• The background color behind the chart.
• The color palette to use for the pie chart.
• First color in the palette to use (for slice #1).

Background Color for Chart (12 options) Cornsilk Background Grey Background Light Cyan

Color Palette for Pie Chart (3 options) Bright Colors Subdued Colors Mixed Colors

Slice #1 Color to Use (10 options) Color A for #1 Color B for #1 Color C for #1

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7-6: More Pie Chart Settings

Four settings for customizing pie chart layout:

Slice #1 Clock Position (12 options) Slice #1 at Noon Slice #1 at 3:00 Slice #1 at 6:00

How to Label Pie Chart (9 options) Line + Label Label Only Use Legend

How to Display Slice Percents (3 options) Percent After Label Under Label Omit Percents

Pie Chart Radius - Select chart size, eg 2.0 cm (9 options).

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7-7: Map Color Settings

Color Combination (36 options) Orange-Red Grey Red-Blue

Number of Ranges (8 options) 3 Colors 5 Colors 7 Colors

How to Set Ranges (3 options) Equal Ranges Equal Counts Natural Breaks

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7-8: More Map Settings

Boundaries to Display (6 options) County Boundaries HSR Boundaries Border Counties

Cell Suppression (0 options) Suppression Off Suppress < 10 Suppress < 30

PNG and PDF formats - Vitalnet always makes both PNG and PDF map output. Access the PDF version by clicking a link at the bottom of the web page with the PNG map. The PDF version is set to 8 1/2 x 11 inches.

Text Font for Map - 9 font options for displaying area labels:   [Serif Normal] [Sans-Serif Normal] [Monospace Normal] [Serif Bold] [Sans-Serif Bold] [Monospace Bold] [Serif Italic] [Sans-Serif Italic] [Monospace Italic]

Time Trend Maps - Finally, Vitalnet can make (not shown here) a series of maps, one map for each selected year range. The map series is cycled within a special interface. The data ranges are the same for each map in the series, so you can directly compare the maps.

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7-9: Map Color Palettes

VitalPro uses a series of standard color palettes for designing and producing maps. These palettes have been proven effective through published research, and have been used in standard disease atlases. Trying to produce color palettes by hand is frustrating and tedious, and usually results in bad-looking color combinations. Besides saving lots of time, using the standard color palettes built into VitalPro insures your results are effective and attractive. There are enough palettes (a total of 36) to give you many choices for your personal color preferences.



BW - OK for black and white photocopying?
CB - OK for people with red-green color blindness?
Note: All palettes are suitable for desktop color printing.

References and research used to help design Vitalnet palettes: • LW Pickle, M Mungiole, GK Jones, AA White, "Atlas of United States Mortality", National Center for Health Statistics, 1997. • CA Brewer, "Color Use Guidelines for Mapping and Visualization", in "Visualization in Modern Cartography", Elsevier, 1994. • ColorBrewer web site displays tested color palettes.

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7-10: When Charts and Maps are Made

Whenever you make a table, Vitalnet also usually makes one or more accompanying charts. But it only produces the charts that make sense. If a chart would look terrible, or not be epidemiologically valid, the software does not make it.

Vitalnet avoids making misleading or useless charts. To prevent misinterpretation and embarassing results, Vitalnet intelligently decides when it appropriate to make a chart, as explained below:

Bar charts are only made if the following conditions are met:

• 1 to 20 rows (groups of bars).
• 1 to 10 columns (bars per group).
• No suppressed results (for stacked bar chart).

Line charts are only made if the following conditions are met:

• Range rows (such as age or year).
• No breaks in ranges (not 2000, 2002).
• Rows not sorted. No suppressed results.
• No more than 10 lines (10 columns).

Pie charts are only made if the following conditions are met:

• Cumulative data (counts, some rates).
• One set of numbers (one row or column).
• 2 to 9 pie slices. No suppressed results.

Time trend maps are only produced when all selected year ranges are the same width. For example, 1995-1996, 1997-1998, 1999-2000 is OK. But 1995-1996, 1997-1998, 1999 is not OK. Also, at least 2 year ranges are required. So if you just have 1995-1996 (a single range) selected, Vitalnet does not make a time trend map.

Time trend analysis, when making a table with year rows, is only carried out when: 1) enough year ranges are selected, 2) there are no gaps in the ranges, 3) the ranges are the same width, and 4) the rows are not sorted. When these conditions are met, the time trend analysis is epidemiologically valid.

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Chapter 8: Other Parameters

What's in this chapter - This chapter explains various other key parameters, that are neither table variables nor data variables.

Here are the other parameters covered in this chapter:

  • Decimal Place Digits
  • Trend Confidence Level
  • CSV/TSV and DBF Output

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8-1: Decimal Places

VitalPro allows specification of the number of decimal places in your results. For example, the number 64.29 has two decimal places. The number 64 has zero decimal places.

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8-2: Trend Analysis

· VitalPro automatically carries out trend analyses.

Purpose of trend analysis - When analyzing data with a year (or year range) for each row, you usually want to know: Is there a trend up or down? Is the rate increasing or decreasing?

When trend analysis is done - Trends are calculated if: (1) the "row variable" is year, (2) rows are not sorted, and (3) year groupings have equal ranges, for example 2000-2001, 2002-2003, 2004-2005.

Least-squares line shows the trend - VitalPro carries out a "least-squares" analysis for the time series. This finds the best straight line to describe the data for each data column. The line is defined by the value for the first year ("y-intercept"), and the amount of change per year range ("slope").

Confidence intervals show if significant trend - VitalPro calculates a confidence interval for the slope. If the confidence interval doesn't include 0, there is a significant trend.


Significant Upward Trends for Population

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8-3: TXT, CSV, and DBF Output Formats

· Results may be saved to a text, spreadsheet, or database file.

Saving to a second format - The output in your desktop browser always includes (at the bottom of the output) links to text (txt), spreadsheet (csv, tsv, or dif), and dBASE III (dbf) output. To view or download one of the second formats, simply click on one of the links.

TXT file - Text output is pure ASCII text, for example as shown on the previous page.

CSV file - CSV (comma-separated-value) output has a comma between each output item, and each text item is surrounded by "double quotes", as shown below. CSV format is ideal for importing into spreadsheet software. TSV (tab-separated-value) format is similar, but uses tabs instead of commas between items.

Browser differences - Internet Explorer automatically displays CSV output in Excel (if installed). Other browsers may be configured to automatically display CSV output in a spreadsheet program. Or you may need to right-click on the link, and select "Open" to open the file.


Example of CSV Output

DBF file - Results may also be saved to a dBASE III database file (dbf extension). DBF files are excellent for importing into almost any data analysis, graphics, spreadsheet, mapping or other presentation software. Field names are automatically imported along with the data. Suppressed cells are represented by the number "-1".

DBF file limitations - (1) Header and footer information listing analysis parameters is not included in database files. To help out, you may want to make the name of the dBASE file the same as the table ID, such as "405MFAQB.DBF" so you can refer to the table later. (2) Only 128 columns may be saved to a dBASE III file. This rarely presents a problem, because unlimited rows are allowed.

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Glossary

Area set - One or more areas combined.

ASCII file - A text file, with only alphabetical, numerical, and punctuation characters, like you would see in normal text. Vitalnet can produce output in ASCII format.

CDC - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. US federal health agency.

Cell - A space for a single numerical result in a table, at a row-column intersection.

Cell suppression - An asterisk "*" is placed in cells with fewer events (such as deaths) than a limit set by the user. Row / column totals with exactly one suppressed cell in the row / column are also suppressed. If more than one cell in the row / column is suppressed, the row / column total may be displayed.

Columns - Vertical groupings of data in a Vitalnet table, such as a column for each race group.

CSV format - Comma-separated-value format. CSV files are readily imported into spreadsheet software. Each output item is separated by a comma from surrounding items, and each output text item is surrounded by "double quotes". A comma-separated-value file has "csv" extension. Similar to TSV format.

Data warehouse - A software system, such as Vitalnet, making large complex databases readily available for querying and analysis. A related term is "data mining", finding unexpected relationships in a data set, for further study. Data mining is similar to exploratory data analysis. Vitalnet is excellent at data mining. Of course, keep in mind that the more you look, the more unusual events you will find, just by chance.

dBASE III format - A widely used file format originally for the database software of the same name. Files in dBASE III format may be readily imported into almost any data analysis, graphing, mapping, or other presentation software. Uses dbf extension. Suppressed cells are represented as the number "-1".

DIF format - Data interchange format. DIF files are readily imported into spreadsheet software. The DIF format is too complex to explain in this glossary. Has "dif" extension.

Denominator - The number on the bottom of a fraction. Population data are often referred to as "denominator data", as they are used as denominators to calculate population-based rates.

Export - Produce output that can be read into other computer programs. Vitalnet produces ASCII text (txt), comma-separated-value (csv), HTML (htm), and dBASE III (dbf) files for export.

Filter variable - A variable solely used to filter which records are included in the output. For example, for a single table with race rows and sex columns, age 10-19 is a filter variable.

Footer - Last part of a Vitalnet table. Lists less important details of the analysis, such as the date produced, and data sources. Also contains a unique ID to assist in keeping track of analyses.

Header - First part of a Vitalnet table. Lists key analysis parameters, such as years analyzed.

Import - Read information into a computer program. ASCII text, CSV, TSV, DIF, HTML, and dBASE III files from Vitalnet are easily imported into word processing, spreadsheet, data analysis, mapping, graphing, and other presentation software programs.

Least-squares - A standard method for fitting the best straight line to a set of points. Produces a Y-intercept and a slope defining the least-squares line.

Median population age - A measure of the overall age of a population. Half the population is younger than the median, half is older. Assuming a population of 100,000 people, 50,000 people would be older than the median age, 50,000 younger.

Multiple age groups - One age group for each table row (or column). Example: 0-19, 20-59, 60-99+.

Natural Breaks - Method for determining map ranges. Minimizes "squared deviations from class means".

NCHS - National Center for Health Statistics. US health statistics agency. Part of the CDC.

Percent total population in age group - A population statistic. Useful for assessing the relative age of the population. If the total population is 100,000, and 8,000 are under age 10, the percent of the total population under 10 is 8 percent.

Population - The number of people living in an area.

Rows - Horizontal lines in a Vitalnet table, such as a row for each race group.

Row sort settings - Vitalnet rows may be sorted in ascending or descending order.

Set - A combination of one or more things. For example, several areas may be combined into an area set.

Single age group - Only one age group (30-49, for example) is selected. A single age group is used for tables that do not have age columns or age rows.

Statistic (Main Statistic) - The basic type of numerical result displayed in a table, chart, or map. For example, birth rate, death rate, population, pregnancy rate, etc.

Table - A set of results produced by Vitalnet. A table has several parts:
 
  1. Header - basic analysis settings
  2. Data section - numerical results
  3. Bar graphs - horizontal charts
  4. Footer - other analysis settings

Tabular chart - A section of a Vitalnet table. Gives an scaleable graphical representation of the data. May be omitted from the output table.

TSV format - Tab-separated-value format. TSV files are readily imported into spreadsheet software. Each output item is separated by a tab from surrounding items, and each output text item is surrounded by "double quotes". A tab-separated-value file has "tsv" extension. Similar to CSV format.

Vitalnet / VitalPro / VitalWeb - Vitalnet is data warehouse / data analysis software for analyzing health data sets. VitalPro is a Vitalnet system that runs directly on a PC, for example VitalPro for Win32. VitalWeb is a Vitalnet system that runs over the internet, for example VitalWeb Ajax.

Windows - Microsoft PC operating systems. VitalPro runs under any version of Windows.

World Wide Web (WWW) - A widely used part of the internet that may be easily accessed with a web browser. Vitalnet runs on the WWW.