| The SRC/Allocate software is the commercial name of the software used for the Summary Tape File CDs/DVDs. The Census Bureau often referred to it as Go2000 until the first disk was published. |
| Accessibility | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Factor | Factfinder | SRC/Allocate | Geolytics |
| Format | Internet | DVD for nation; CDs for one state | CD |
| Cost | Free | $50 per state Free to Depositories |
SF1: One State: $349 All States: $695 |
| Order Info | http://factfinder.census.gov | https://catalog.mso.census.gov/esales4boc/ | http://www.geolytics.com/products/ productlist.html |
| Availability | Available immediately | SF1 - Available; Schedule: Six months after release? |
SF 1 - Available; Schedule: Two months after release of last state? |
| Accessibility | Can access anywhere Can be slow Sometimes shut down on weekends for maintenance |
Must come to library/office Very fast Can save hours |
Must come to library/office Very fast Can save hours |
| Contents | All variables All geographic areas |
All Variables All geographic areas |
All variables All geographic areas Additional historic data on Redistricting Some non-Census data in 1990 version |
| Data Sets | |||
| Operation | Factfinder | SRC/Allocate | Geolytics |
| Choose individual variables in table (e.g. women not both men and women) |
Yes - using Custom Tables Option only. Normally you have to download the entire table | Yes | Yes |
| Combine variables from different tables |
Yes - using Custom Tables Option only. Normally makes separate tables on same spreadsheets | Yes | Yes |
| Mathematical Manipulation on Screen | No | Some | Some in MAP mode |
| Geographic Limit | 500 | None | Some limits when choosing AREA;no limits when choosing SUBAREA |
| Mix Geographic Levels in Same Table (compare city, county, state) |
Yes | Yes | No |
| Choose Sub-Sub Geographies (e.g. all block groups in all tracts in one city) |
Yes - new feature with May 2002 release | Yes - more efficient than Factfinder | Limited to a few sub/subs |
| Radius to Select Geographic Area | No | Yes | Yes |
| Select Data Using Criteria | No | Not apparent | No |
| Rank Data | No | Theoretically yes but not found in SF1 | No |
| Data Formats | .csv .lst/.txt | .csv .db .dbf .htm .mdb .xls | .csv .dbf .lst/.txt |
| Reference Maps | |||
| Operation | Factfinder | SRC/Allocate | Geolytics |
| Reference Maps Feature | Yes | No | No |
| Thematic Maps | |||
| Operation | Factfinder | SRC/Allocate | Geolytics |
| Thematic Maps Feature | Yes | No | Yes |
| All Themes Can Be Mapped | No - selective | n.a. | Yes |
| Lowest Geographic Level | Block but must zoom in close enough to view | n.a. | Block with block disk; otherwise block group |
| Sub-subgeography mapped e.g. all tracts in state, BGs in county |
Yes | n.a. | Yes with some limitations (e.g. tracts and below by county only |
| Boundary Overlays | Complete, including blocks, street names | n.a. | Tract numbers only |
| Select Data by Radius | No | n.a. | Yes |
| Maximum Data Ranges | 7 | n.a. | 12 |
| Identify Area/Data with Mouseclick | Yes | n.a. | Yes |
| Enlarge Map without Losing Data | No | n.a. | Somewhat |
| Saved Output | GIF | n.a. | Bitmap |
| Export Output | No | n.a. | Arcview, MapInfo |
| THE BOTTOM LINE | |||
| Factfinder | SRC/Allocate | Geolytics | |
| Has data first Reference maps unique Free |
Most flexible subject/geographic selections Handles large data sets well Blazing speed |
Most thematic maps Data exportable to ARCVIEW Second best on data extraction |
|
Grace York, Coordinator, Documents Center
University of Michigan Library
Send comments and suggestions to govdocs@umich.edu