Getting Started
Getting Started
What is this?
This is a dataset publication containing original datasets referenced
by author. Its primary use is in delivering datasets to users who may
employ their own software for analysis, modeling, or other purposes. The
datasets have been structured for spatial and temporal comparability within
a Geographic Information System, and are fully compatible
with IDRISI (4.0 or later). Comprehensive
documentation
and metadata, including reprints are provided
in the Dataset Documentation.
Software provided on this product are not required for access to documentation
or data, however may be useful for many users. Users may find NewForm
helpful as a very flexible format conversion tool.
Getting Started
How to use the database
No installation is required to access all contents of the database,
although
optional software is provided.
All documentation, reprints, metadata and other user-readable files
are accessible through this interface using any commonly available Internet
(World Wide Web) browser to access the hypertext files (.htm) in this database.
All data are provided in open data formats
that were developed for the GED and are compatible with the Idrisi
GIS format. These formats are documented in the User's
Guide
-
Navigate the HyperText interface, access
documentation and reprints, and identify data files,
-
Copy datasets, entire databases, or individual data files using
the "File Lists" or "System Files" links in the dataset template (or your
operating system copy functions).
-
OR ... Install optional software for
data format conversion (Freeform).
-
OR …Use your own software to access data and metadata files in their
native
format copied or exported to work media.
Getting Started
The HTML Interface
HTML ("HyperText Markup Language"), ascii text, and HTML compatible bitmap
images are used exclusively for all documentation. Because some dynamic
features of the html interface are employed in these files, it will be
necessary to set the default browser file associations when accessing the
ascii files (with the possible exception of those ending in the .txt file
extension). For example, if the user's system does not properly display
the ascii text information linked from the dataset documentation, an association
between the ".txt," ".doc," ".dvl," ".dvc," etc. file extension and any
ascii text viewer may be necessary. Your operating system may prompt you
in making this association. Presumably all browsers will display the bitmap
(.gif) images, but if this should be a problem, a similar association may
be needed. The only other dynamic link feature employed is linking to a
directory for file listings. Again, most browsers should handle this correctly,
as it is currently a Web convention. Other functions that may be more unique
to a specific operating system or browser have been avoided to maximize
platform independence.
Sample images from each dataset are shown in their corresponding dataset
documentation sections for visual reference. These are samples of the
data only and must not be used in place of the actual data! Where time
series are present, only the first data layer from the time series is depicted,
however links to each of the system metadata files (<name>.doc, dvc,
dvl, etc.) describing the individual data layers are provided.
Getting Started
Installing Software
Additional capabilities can be obtained by installing software provided
online at the given web sites. The installable software gives the user
limited access, exploration, and
conversion capabilities.
The following software package was developed at NGDC and are designed
to operate in a multi platform enviroment.
The Newform
software provides format-level access and conversion of datasets. Newform
is part of the FreeForm suite and installation of FreeForm is neccessary
to run newform.
Instructions for installing FreeForm 3.1 on the different platforms
are found at the following site:
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/seg/freeform/get_ff.shtml
Getting Started
Using GIS and other Systems
The datasets in this database have been structured and formatted specifically
for use in a Geographic Information System (GIS). This product is not distributed
with GIS software capabilities, however, it is fully operable within the
IDRISI
GIS (Version 4.0 or later). The assumption is that users will access the
data through their own systems to take advantage of the data structures
and the extensive functionality typical of
modern
GIS.
For those users who have IDRISI (Version 4.0 or later), its full analytical
GIS functionality will be available to work with the GED without prior
data conversion (simply copy the data to your working directory). This
includes comprehensive tools for data management, attribute linking and
query, multi-thematic intercomparison, mathematical and statistical analysis,
data combinations and derivations, and many innovative capabilities for
derivative data modeling. IDRISI also supports data conversion to other
data systems. To use other systems, however, you must access or convert
the data files from the native file format according to the requirements
of your system.
See the section: Using GIS for more information.
Getting Started
Options for exporting data
IDRISI users can use the extensive export functions in IDRISI to convert
data between systems. For flexible export and translation capabilities,
Newform can be used to convert any of
the data files for export to other systems in a variety of flexible formats.
Since all data files are accessible in their documented native
formats, programmers can access the datasets directly and convert them
as needed. This too may be assisted by reference to the NewForm format
description files.
See the section: Software for this database
for more information.
Downloading Data Files (from on-line or media):
1. You may use any standard Web brouser to access the GED product
documentation (in HTML format), navigate to the GED Dataset
Selection list, select the desired dataset link (takes you to the
metadata where there are active links to data), then navigate to system
file links in either the Dataset Element Description / System Files
tables or the Dataset Description / File Lists for that dataset.
File downloading is then accomplished through your Browser functions.
2. You may directly access dataset directories using a File Transfer
Protocol (FTP) or equivalent program (or if using local media, one may
use the Operating System functions to copy files or directories). All dataset
directories are in the root-level directory named "datasets." The
individual dataset directories are named according to their number in the
GED-II Dataset Selection list. All file names
within a dataset begin with a standard two to four letter code for that
dataset. Be certain that you have obtained the correct directory and file
names from the documentation before downloading.
FTP Site: ftp.ngdc.noaa.gov
Username: anonymous
Password: <your email address>
Path for "A" datasets: Solid_Earth/Ecosystems/GED_IIa/datasets
Path for "B" datasets: Solid_Earth/Ecosystems/GED_IIb/datasets
Browse datasets.
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