1. Exploring the DLI Product line
Overview of resources for accessing the DLI Collection
Chantal Ripp
June 14

2. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Overview
Who can use the DLI Collection?
Who?
Why would I use the DLI Collection?
Why?
What is in the DLI Collection?
What?
Where do I find the DLI Collection?
Where?
How do I access the DLI Collection?
How?
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

3. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Who?
The DLI Collection
Students, Faculty, Staff, and the Researchers of member post-secondary institutions
Access
On campus (or proxied) to e-Resources (WDS, Nesstar)
Through DLI Contact (EFT access)
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

4. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Why?
The DLI Collection
Data not available on StatCan website
If Microdata is required
All stop shop for StatCan standard data products
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
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5. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
What?
The DLI Collection
DLI provides access to StatsCan data produced as standard electronic products available to the public
These data are digitally encoded and stored in a file structure
These include
Microdata files
Geography files
Databases
Aggregate data in table format
Standard electronic product is an “off the shelf’” product available to the public
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
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6. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
The DLI Collection
Not all products in the DLI collection are standard electronic products
Have some “special” products just for DLI members
Postal CodeOM data Products
Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) from CIHI
Have some “special” products just for DLI members who have signed the appendices in the DLI licence
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

7. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Statistics vs data
Statistics
numeric facts/figures
created from data, i.e, already processed
presentation-ready
Data
numeric files created and organized for analysis
requires processing
not ready for display
Statistics are the numeric facts and figures which have been created from the data. They have been processed and are ready for use, but do not have the same kind of analysis behind them as statistical information does. These can take the form of e-publications, e-tables or databases.
Data are numeric files created and organized for processing and analysis. There are two types of data – aggregate and microdata.  Aggregate data and microdata offer the user more control over the variables offered for analysis.
Statistics are created from data
Source : DLI Orientation: Concepts by Chuck Humphrey, University of Alberta, 2004
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

8. Distinguishing aggregate & microdata
Aggregate data consist of statistics that are organized into a specific data file structure
Microdata (organized raw data) consist of the data directly observed or collected from a specific unit of observation
Source : CCHS 1.2 and Chuck Humphrey, University of Alberta
Aggregate data are statistical summaries organized in a specific data file structure which permits further computer analysis (that is, data processing).
The variables in an aggregate data file do not lend themselves to generating cross-tabulations of individuals since the initial unit of observation has been replaced by time (eg: time series data), geography (eg: census / geography) or a social construct (eg: cause of death – HID).
Not all aggregate data contain the combination of variables from the microdata that a user may desire. For example, a researcher may be looking at whether alcohol use and gambling are correlated and wishes to know if these variables differ between men and women, by age group, and whether the results vary across Canada. Although data in the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 3.1 are collected about the respondent's geography, gender, age, Canadian Problem Gambling Index, and alcohol use, this combination of variables may not have been used in creating an aggregate data product.
That’s where microdata comes in…
Microdata consist of the data directly observed or collected from a specific unit of observation.  That is, a microdata file contains organized raw data wherein the lines represent a specific unit of measure (usually an individual, household or family) and the information about the lines are the values of variables.
Need the use of statistical software packages (eg: SAS, SPSS, STATA) to use microdata files
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

9. Public Use Microdata Files (PUMFs)
Each PUMF is based on a corresponding master data file (all observations)
Modifications are made to the file (eg: collapsing of variables; suppressing variables) to minimize the possibility of disclosing or identifying any of the cases in the file (i.e. participants in a survey)
More than 1,300 PUMFs in the DLI collection from over 90 surveys
General Social Survey (GSS)
Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS)
Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)
I read it in “The Daily”… by Michael Sivyer (DLI Update, Fall 2000, Volume 4, Number 2)
PUMF: Modifications made to master files to convert them to PUMFs may include: collapsing of variables (e.g., age groups instead of individual years of age); collapsing variables into one variable (e.g., multiple language questions collapsed into one language variable for analysis); suppressing variables (although the variable is part of the master file, it will not show up in the public file); and removing outliers (removing cases that are extremes - often used with income).
By using these techniques to anonymise the files, combining variables will not result in the user identifying a respondent.
Each Public Use Microdata File is based on a corresponding master data file (all observations). The modifications performed by Statistics Canada before the PUMF is released ensure that the risk of breaching confidentiality has been removed.
Why use microdata: With microdata files, researchers can analyse any variable in the file, and can construct the tables they need, rather than choosing from the pre-tabulated information presented in an aggregated file.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

10. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
How?
Access Options
DLI Restricted Access Page
DLI B2020 Web Data service (WDS)
DLI Nesstar site
EFT site
Some institutions also use other (non-StatCan) interfaces to access and deliver DLI data; - additional cost to access these platforms
<odesi> (OCUL – Scholar’s Portal)
SDA (University of Toronto)
CHASS (University of Toronto)
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
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11. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Where?
There are third party distributions tools, Odesi and Equinox among others, which provide access to DLI data products. In order to access the DLI products through those mode of access, you need to be a DLI member
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
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12. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Getting started
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
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13. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
DLI Products page
Link to IMDB Survey page
Links to the product in the appropriate application
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
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14. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
DLI Website
DLI WDS site
Contains DLI’s aggregate data collection
IP Authenticated – students and professors can access
Web-based multidimensional table viewer
View and manipulate .ivt files over the web without installing any client-side software (B2020)
The Beyond 20/20 Web Data Server is a web based multidimensional table viewer which allows for the dissemination of data over the web in a variety of formats.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
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15. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
DLI Website
DLI Nesstar site
Web data portal for accessing and manipulating microdata
IP Authenticated – students and professors can access
download data files, create subsets and create tables
Allows users to work with microdata files through Web interface (without SAS or SPSS)
Nesstar is a web-based data exploration, extraction and analysis tool. It lets you search for survey variables across the collection, and supports basic tabulation and analysis online. It also allows for the downloading of the PUMF files into statistical software for further analysis.
www62.statcan.ca
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

16. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
DLI Website
DLI EFT site
Only DLI Contacts have access
Complete DLI collection (including PCCF and CIHI files)
Faster downloads than Web site
Requires FTP application (ex. WS_FTP Pro, FileZilla, etc)
MAD_DLI
MAD_DLI_CIHI
MAD_DLI_PCCF
When files are released, they are placed on the EFT within a short delay. Files are prepared in statistical packages and formatted (data; doc) for distribution.
Although not always intuitive to the first time user, the EFT directory structure is quite logical. The same directory structure has been used for all recent additions to the DLI collection. The readme file is a very useful tool to help users understand the set-up of each folder.
The initial screen upon entering the DLI EFT site provides a listing of folder names.  The folders are named according to their corresponding survey acronym and are sorted alphabetically.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
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17. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
DLI Website
DLI EFT site: MAD_DLI
Census (Agriculture and Population)
Geography Folder
Other Products
Surveys
Reports
Bi-annual report
EAC meeting mins
Mirror Site
Includes non-DLI files
MAD_DLI
MAD_DLI_CIHI
MAD_DLI_PCCF
When files are released, they are placed on the EFT within a short delay. Files are prepared in statistical packages and formatted (data; doc) for distribution.
Although not always intuitive to the first time user, the EFT directory structure is quite logical. The same directory structure has been used for all recent additions to the DLI collection. The readme file is a very useful tool to help users understand the set-up of each folder.
The initial screen upon entering the DLI EFT site provides a listing of folder names.  The folders are named according to their corresponding survey acronym and are sorted alphabetically.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

18. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
DLI Website
DLI Survival Guide
Nesstar is a web-based data exploration, extraction and analysis tool. It lets you search for survey variables across the collection, and supports basic tabulation and analysis online. It also allows for the downloading of the PUMF files into statistical software for further analysis.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

19. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
DLI Website
DLI Survival Guide
Nesstar is a web-based data exploration, extraction and analysis tool. It lets you search for survey variables across the collection, and supports basic tabulation and analysis online. It also allows for the downloading of the PUMF files into statistical software for further analysis.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

20. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
The DLI Collection
Still unsure?
Consult the Survival Guide on the DLI website
Send a question to the DLI team
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019

21. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
DLI Collection
Thank you
Contact us at
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
19/09/2019