DLI
and
EQUINOX
Phyllis.Ross@Dal.ca
Question 1
How do I find out what survey
datasets are available from
Statistics Canada?
Via the Daily
 Every
data release must be announced in the
Daily
 the discursive articles usually contain links to
further information
 So I use it as a catalogue
 Keep in mind that Dalhousie users have FREE
access to CANSIM data via E-Stat as well as
the CHASS interface
Via the DLI collection on the
Statistics Canada site
Browsing by title of survey, no searching at
the variable level
Question 2
How do I gain access to a specific Statistics
Canada Public Use Microdata File (PUMF)?
Not via the DLI collection on the
Statistics Canada site
 While
this is useful for confirming
availability and downloading the
documentation, NO data is accessible
from the Stats Can site except to the
institutional contact.
EQUINOX
While contacting me is always an option,
Dalhousie also provides self-serve access to
most DLI files via EQUINOX, a data delivery
and web extractor housed at the University
of Western Ontario.
EQUINOX
Formerly known as IDLS
 Accessible
via the database search on the
library web site, or on the DLI subject guide.
 Scroll
down to agree to the terms of the DLI
license
Basic Search
(default screen)
 allows
you to find data files within Equinox by
searching holdings at the file and variable level
Advanced Search
 permits
robust searching of the Equinox
holdings at the file (default) or variable level.
Data Retrieval
 Equinox
provides the choice of extracting a
subset of a microdata file, or downloading a
microdata file in its entirety, which includes all
cases and variables from that file.
Canadian Community Health Survey
[2008-2009]: Healthy Aging
1.
Variable Selections
2.
Value Selections (optional)
3.
Submit (specify delivery options)
Delivery Options
 Enter
your Dalhousie email address
 Choose the format/software you require,
SAS, SPSS, or STATA
 Do not remove the ticks for Data file and
Code book file
 Submit
Download and Unzip
 On
the next screen click on the download link
starting with ft9….. Open file
 Unzip/Extract all files to your drive
OR
if it is the first time you have used Equinox, wait for
the email message to arrive momentarily
PIN
 Open
the email message from Equinox which
includes the ftp….. link as well as a 4 digit PIN
 Input
 If
the PIN as your password
the PIN doesn’t work, or it is not visible please
contact me
RDC