Basic Download

The Basic Download sub-tab displays the types of files that would result from a basic download:

• Tagset (list of selected variables)
• Datafile of selected variables to be read by SAS® or SPSS®
• SAS® and SPSS® control files to read the datafile
• STATA® dictionary file of selected variables
• Codebook of selected variables
• Comma-delimited datafile of selected variables (to be read in Excel, etc.)

You can name all of the generated files by entering a name into the box to the right of “Tagset File Name.”

To download a tagset, click the “Start Download” button at the bottom of the screen. A new window will open to indicate the download status. When the download is complete, simply click the “click here” link to open or save the extract files. Note that the files are delivered in one zipped file.

The following screen shows the files generated from the basic download once the file is unzipped.

The files generated have the following extensions and contents:

• .log file - the log file for the download process
• .cdb file - the codebook of the selected variables; this is a text file which can be opened in WordPad or a similar text editor
• .sas file - the SAS program to read in the data set
• .sps file - the SPSS program to read in the data set
• .do file - the STATA program to redefine the variables
• .NLSY97 (or whichever survey used) - the tagset, which you can use to open up the same list of variables at a later date; this is a text file which can be opened in WordPad or a similar text editor
• .dat - the data file to be read in by SAS or SPSS
• .csv - comma delimited file to be read in by Excel and other software
• .dct - the STATA dictionary file of selected variables