Annual Demographic Survey (March CPS Supplement) 1995 Data Page
The next few lines contain descriptive text and any applicable notes. Categorical value codes and labels are given where needed. Comment notes marked by an (*) are provided throughout. Comments should be removed from the machine-readable version of the data dictionary before using it to help access the data file.
Data. Alphabetic, numeric, and the special character (-). No other special characters are used. It may be a mnemonic such as ``H-HHTYPE'' or ``HFIN-YN'', or a sequential identifier such as ``MIG-MTR1'' or ``SUR-SC1''. Data item names are unique throughout the entire file (all 3 record types).
Size. Numeric. The size of a data item is given in characters. Indication of implied decimal places is provided in notes.
Begin. Numeric. Contains the location in the data record of the first character position of the data item field.
Category Value. Numeric. Contains the range of values for the given data item.
The first line of each data item description begins with the character ``D'' (left-justified, two characters). The ``D'' flag indicates lines in the data dictionary containing the name, size, and begin position of each data item. This information (in machine-readable form) can be used to help access the data file. The line beginning with the character ``U'' describes the universe for that item. Lines containing categorical value codes and labels follow next and begin with the character ``V''. The special character (.) denotes the start of the value labels. Two examples of data item descriptions follow:
D H-HHTYPE 1 20 (1:3)
Type of household
U All households
V 1 .Interview
V 2 .Type A non-interview
V 3 .Type B/C non-interview
D MIG-MTR1 2 218 (01:09)
Migration recode
U AGE = 1+
V 01 .Nonmover
V 02 .MSA to MSA
V 03 .MSA to nonMSA
V 04 .NonMSA to MSA
V 05 .NonMSA to nonMSA
V 06 .Abroad to MSA
V 07 .Abroad to nonMSA
V 08 .Not in universe (children
V .under 1 year old)
V 09 .Not identifiable
How to Distinguish Supplement Variables from Monthly Variables
Monthly variables have a prefix and trailer as follows:
1. H-, HG-, or H% for household record variables.
2. A-, A% for person record variables.
3. The family record contains no monthly variables.
Supplement variables are all one string or they have a suffix. For example HFIN-YN is a supplement variable on the household record.
Machine-Readable Data Dictionary Layout
Data dictionary lines are 46 characters. The character on the first position determines the type of lines. Each variable may have the following lines:
1. COMMENTS ( `` * '' ) lines
2. DATA DICTIONARY ( `` D '' ) ; line and DATA DESCRIPTION
3. UNIVERSE ( `` U '' ) lines
4. VALUE DESCRIPTION lines
5. One blank line at the end
FORMAT
``*'' Line - Comments
a. `` * '' in the first position indicates that this is a comment line. This line can appear any
place in the dictionary. It will be used for short comments or to nullify any value codes.
b. `` ** '' in the first two positions is also comments but it has additional meaning. It indicates this
is a block of comments which will be applied to several variables.
``D'' Line - Data Dictionary
This line contains the following information:
ID ``D'' COL. 1- 1
NAME Variable name COL. 3-10
SIZE Size of data field COL. 14-15
BEGIN Begin position of data field COL. 19-22
CATEGORY VALUE Range of values in parentheses COL. 26-46
Text describing the variable will follow this ``D'' line. Use COL. 6-4 and repeat as many lines as necessary.
``U'' Line - Universe Definition
This line contains the universe definition. Use COL. 3-46 and repeat as many lines as necessary.
ID `` U '' COL. 1- 1
DESCRIPTION Universe description COL. 3-46
(For continuation use COL. 3-46 and repeat as many lines as necessary.)
``V'' Line - Value Definition
ID `` V '' COL. 1- 1
VALUE Value code-right justified COL. 3-12
. ``.'' COL. 14
DESCRIPTION Value description COL. 15-46
(Repeat COL. 14-46 format for continued value description.)
Annual Demographic Survey (March CPS Supplement) 1995 Data Page
CPS Home Page