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Working with SETS (Statistical Export and Tabulation System) Software

Often when you are working with an NCHS dataset from a CD-ROM you will need to know how to extract the data using SETS.  We have found that several version changes combined with little experience using the software makes accurate extractions somewhat tricky.

Below are step by step instructions on how to generally work with SETS and do a full data extraction.:
 

1. Obtain the most recent version of sets by going to: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/otheract/sets/download.htm

 
2. Once you have downloaded the program, you will need to run "SETS Interface".  You will get a desktop shotcut with this installation.  Once the SETS program is up and running, go to file and choose open.  Toggle the drive to be the CD drive on your machine.  The sets program for the data you want to extract will be the only data that appears (****.set).

 
3. You will need to read and click on the "I agree" button for the data use license before you can begin.

 
4. A menu will appear with folders for Documents, Data, and Search.  You will be able to get at the files/options in these folders by clicking on the plus sign to the left of the file folder icon. You need to click on the file name and not the folder icon to view/extract the file.

 
5. Documentation: You will be able to see which documents you need to read, print, or copy directly off of the CD.

 
6. Data Extraction - Full Data Set:

           1.    When you click on the data file name a menu will pop up with the following options: Browse Data,
                   Tabulate Data, Export Data, and Extract Data.  Choose "Extract."

           2.    A window will appear that says "Selecting extraction destination for ***.dat"  Choose the drive
                  destination and name for the data file that will be created.  When finished click on "Open."

           3.   Once you have clicked on "Open" a pop up menu will appear with the following tabs: Destination, Code
                 Generation, Record Selection, and Record Type.  Destination lists the path for where the data will go.
                 Now click on Code Generation.  Code Generation gives you the option to allow a SAS input statement
                 to be created.  Once you have decided what you want to do about SAS code, you'll want to skip
                 Record Selection (default is already full dataset extraction) and go directly to Record Type.
                 Here you will need to specify "delimited" by clicking on the button so that the data is not all on one line.

           4.    Now that everything has been specified, click on the button that says "Extract" at the bottom of the
                  menu.  Depending upon the size of the dataset this can be a very long process.  However, when it is
                  completed, you will have the full dataset (and modifiable SAS input statement should you choose).

Last modified: 11/01/06 | Contact Webmaster