The MCD-group level data
files are in SPSS portable format following the naming
convention mg_XX.por, where XX is a
a two letter state abbreviation. Arcview cannot read SPSS portable
files, so you will have to convert them to .dbf (DBASE
version 3 or 4) files with SPSS or DBMSCOPY. (.dbf files
are limited to 255 variables; you can use instead tab-delimited
ASCII, but ArcView can only read and not write these files.) Name
these files mg_XX.dbf.
2. Load the Data
Start Arcview.
Create a new view for your project by double-clicking on the
VIEWS icon, in the project window.
Select the new VIEW window. Add the geodata (i.e., map data),
by choosing ADD THEME from the VIEW menu, which will bring up a
file-dialog box.
Then add the sumXX.shp file by double-clicking
on it.
To see the map you just loaded, click on the selection box next
to the theme title in the view window.
3. Join the Map Information and the MCD-Group Data
The
MCD-group level data only exists in table form to begin with.
Select the project window. Add a table by choosing ADD TABLE
from the project menu. Locate and select the MCD-group file
(mg_XX.dbf).
Select the Mcdgrp field in this table by clicking on the
column title. It is this Mcdgrp variable we will use to join the
data in this table to the map files.
Return to the VIEW that shows the map and from the THEME menu
choose TABLE. This brings up and highlights a table containing
attributes of the view. One of the columns in this table will
also be labled Mcdgrp. Select the Mcdgrp column. Choose JOIN from
the TABLE menu.
4. Work with the Data in Arcview
You can now map any of the
political or demographic variables contained in the MCDgroup level
data in Arcview. Be sure to save this project when you exit, so
that the data and maps remain joined.
