Since the data files on SAMHDA are zipped with WinZip, they must be decompressed before they can be used with statistics applications. If the downloaded file is represented with a vice-grips folder icon, the computer has WinZip installed. In this case, extract the files from the file with WinZip. If the file is represented with a folder icon that has a zipper on the left-hand side of the folder, WinZip is not installed on your computer. In this case, files can be extracted by moving the nested folders and/or files to a decompressed folder. Please see the FAQ on decompressing downloaded files for further information on this topic.
If you chose to save the downloaded zipped files to a removable media such as a CD or external hard drive, be aware that the compression issue may still need to be addressed.
The statistical application still does not see the data file. What else could it be?
Some statistical applications have a limit on the number of characters that can be used to specify a file location. The default folder hierarchy in which SAMHDA distributes its files comprises at least three levels. If this folder hierarchy is extracted to a folder that is already nested within several other folders, the length of the resulting drive, folder hierarchy, and filename specification could exceed that which is usable by the statistics application. In cases such as this, SAMHDA recommends that the lowest folder in the hierarchy be moved or copied to a location as high in the folder hierarchy as possible and that this new location be specified in the setup files.
