WONDER Quick Start Guide

How do I request data from WONDER databases?

The Request screen has sections to guide you through the making a data request as step-by-step process. However, to get your first taste of how the system works, you might want to simply press any Send button, and execute the default data request. The data results for your query appear on the Table screen. After you get your data results, try the Chart and Map screens. Or export your data to a file (tab-delimited line listing)for download to your computer.

Back to Top

How can I organize a table of my data results?
(What is a "By-Variable"?)

On the Request screen, you can select "By-Variables," which serve as keys (indexes) for organizing your data. For example you can select to show the results grouped by Year and by Sex, so that the data results display in a table, summarized (stratified) by the values in the Year and Sex variables. The table's first column is the first By-Variable selection (Year values in the given example), the second column is the second By-Variable selection (Sex values in this example), with a row for each grouping (each combination) of the selected By-Variable values (this example yields a row for each combination of Year and Sex values). These groupings shape the charts and maps you can create for your data. If you choose to export your data results to a file, then you see a line-listing structured by your "By-Variable" choices.

The data is ordered by the By-Variables as well, when Year is the first By-Variable selection, then the rows are ordered so that the first row contains the least year value. In this example, when the data is limited to 1999-2000, then 1999 values display in the first rows. Categorical values are ordered alphabetically. In this example, when the Sex values are Female and Male, then the Female rows display above the Male rows.

Hints:   

1. To make a map, you must request data with a geographic location variable, such as Region or State, as a "By-Variable." Then click the Map tab.
2. You cannot make charts when your data has more than two By-Variables.
3. You cannot make charts for data grouped by Region and also by State, because the number of states per each region varies.

How do I make a map of my data results?

1. First, you must send a request for data, and you must select at least one geographical location as a "By-Variable" for grouping your data, such as State.
2. Next Click on the Map tab near the top of the screen, to go to the Map Options page, where you can set which data items to map, the number of quantiles (or set your own break points) for your data, and control your map's size, color, legends and more.
   -Or-
   To get a quick idea of what your map might look like, just proceed to the the next step with a default map of your data.
3. Then press any Map button, located along the right side of the screen, to create a map of your data.
4. Want to save the map to your computer?
   To capture the entire page, with the description, citation, other issues, and (optional) table of data results, open your web browser's File menu, and then select either the Save or Save As option.
   -Or-
   It is simply a web page with image file(s), so you can select the sections you want, and copy and paste the selected material into an e-mail or document.
   -Or-
   You can also simply click your right Mouse button to see options for saving each image.
   Note:   The legend and outlying areas may be separate image files.

Back to Top

How can I make charts of my data results?

1. First, you must send a request for data. The "By-Variables" you select before sending your data request shape the charts you can create. For example, you can create a histogram plotting changes over time, if you you select a time data item, such as Year, as a By-Variable.
   Note:   Charts can be made with only one or two By-Variables, such as plotting Rate by Year and by Disease. Rate is the statistical "measure" distributed "by" Year and by Disease.
2. Next Click on the Chart tab near the top of the screen, to go to the Chart Options page, where you can select which data items to chart and organize your data axis, and select your chart's style,colors, size, labels, and more.
   -Or-
   To get a quick idea of what your chart might look like, just proceed to the the next step with a default chart of your data.
   Hints:

   • Each measure you select creates a chart, so that you can compare side-by-side charts.
   • When you have selected more than one measure, such a Rate and Previous Year Rate, then you can create complex charts by opting to combine the measures on one chart. Both measures are plotted on one chart, for an immediate visual comparison.
3. Then press any Chart button, located along the right side of the screen, to create a map of your data.
4. Want to save the chart to your computer?
   To capture the entire page, with the description, citation, other issues, and (optional) table of data results, open your web browser's File menu, and then select either the Save or Save As option.
   -Or-
   It is simply a web page with image file(s), so you can select the sections you want, and copy and paste the selected material into an e-mail or document.
   -Or-
   You can also simply click your right Mouse button to see options for saving each image.

Back to Top

How do I download my data extract as a file for use in other software?

You can download a simple text file, which is a tab-delimited (the columns of data values are separated by Tabs) line-listing of your data results.

1. First, you must send a request for data. The "By-Variables" you select in your data request define the columns and rows, as well as the detail of your data. See tables for a quick example.
2. After you have the results of your data request, you can click on the Table tab near the top of the screen, to go to the Table Options page, where you can set whether to show totals and sub-totals, zero value rows, labels on every row and the decimal precision of data items, such as rates.
   Where are the options?   Click on the link that says "Options" or look near the bottom of the page, below the the table of data, and above the data description, citation and other issues, for a box with the table option controls.
3. Then press the Tab Export button, located at the top of the page, above the data results.
4. Your web browser then asks you whether to save the file, or to open it now. If you open it now, you can later select your File menu's Save As option to save the file to computer with your preferred folder and filename.
5. Most analysis software packages can load delimited simple text, when the rows and columns are separated by commas or by tabs. If your software has trouble importing a delimited file, you may wish to remove all titles and descriptive text included in the file above and below the numeric values.
   Note:   More information about importing the data extract into Epi Info and other applications can be found here.

• Tabs separate the data values (columns).
• Character values are encapsulated with double quotation marks.
• Character values are limited to 130 characters.
• The descriptive information items, such as the title, citation and other issues, appear as character values in rows at the bottom of the file.

How do I save my data for later use?

You can save a request, a results table, a chart, or a map by hitting the "Save" button on those pages.

1. Each of the Request, Results, Chart and Map tabs have a "Save" button on the page. Hitting that causes the system to save the parameters used to create the page, so it can be created again.
2. When you hit "Save" the system creates a unique URL for the page, and shows the saved page in a disabled state using that URL, allowing you to review the page. After review, if you want to be able to access page later, save its URL:
   • Bookmark the page (Chrome or Firefox)
   • Or, add the page to Favorites (IE or Edge)
   • Or, copy the URL and save it in any other preferred fashion.
   When done saving the URL, hit the button that says "Resume Current Work" to get back to your WONDER session.
   Note: Regardless of what you do at this point, the page has been saved in the WONDER system and is accessible via the URL.
3. To access the saved page, click the Bookmark or Favorite, or enter the URL into your browser's address bar. If you saved a Request page, the request page is displayed with the parameters you saved. If you saved a Results, Chart or Map page, the request originally used to create the page is run to obtain current data, and the Results, Chart or Map are redisplayed using the settings at the time the page was saved.
4. If the dataset has changed since you saved the page, the data you see may be different since the saved page accesses the dataset in its current state. If the dataset has changed a note to that effect will alert you to this condition.
   Hint: If you are only interested in a range of years, pick that range explicitly even if initially it is equivalent to "All Years". In this way the years range won't change if additional years of data are added.
5. You will also be informed if your saved request is part of a series and a new dataset has more current data, like the Compressed Mortality or Cancer datasets. In this case the data your saved page accesses hasn't changed. If you want to use the latest data you'll have to use the new dataset. The message will provide a link to the new dataset.

How do I find the technical notes and other information for the data in my data request?

• Click the "More information" link to see the technical notes for the specific data collection. This link is found near the top of the Request screen, above the request controls.
  Hint:   Click on the Request tab near the top of the screen, to go to the Request screen.
• Click any label for a data item shown on the Request screen, to pop up a window with the technical notes for that data item. For example, the "Location" label next to the Location box links to the technical notes about the location data elements.
• Look below the table, chart or map. On each page that displays your data results, near the bottom of the page, the query description, citation, link to the on-line technical notes, and other issues for your data results are displayed.
• Look at the last rows of your data extract file, to find the citation, web address of the dataset's technical notes, and more.

What citation is suggested for my data?

Look below the table, chart or map, or at the bottom of your data extract file. The suggested citation for each database is shown in the information that appears below the data results. The data collection's specific technical notes include more information about the data sources for the database.

How do I set how many quantiles are used my data analysis, or define my own break-points?

You can define how many quantiles, and also set your own custom break-points, for maps of your data on the Map Options page.

The quantile setting defines the number of categories or distribution sets used for analysis of your data. The default quantile setting for the mapped data values is quartiles, which distributes your data into four ordered sets. You can choose up to 10 sets for your distribution. You can also define your own custom break-points, which are the range values that define the distributions of your data.

More about quantiles: Each set represents an approximate fraction of the data less than or equal to number of quantiles. The f (fraction) quantile of a dataset is a value with an approximate fraction less than or equal to 1/f of the quantity measured. The sample median, corresponding to f = 0.5, is a measure of the center of a distribution, the middle value of the ordered data. The lower and upper quartiles correspond to f = 0.25 and f = 0.75, respectively. The interquartile range, the difference between the upper and lower quartiles, is a measure of variation. A range of values may satisfy the definition of the quantile distribution, and an interpolated value can be used.

How do I increase the "time-out" limit for database access, when I request a complex or large query?

In the last section of the Request screen, there is a setting labeled "Data Access Timeout." This value specifies the maximum time for the database access to wait for a query to complete. If the data access takes too long to complete, a message notifies you of the problem. Then you can increase the timeout or simplify your request.

Note:   If a request cannot complete with the maximum timeout, contact us and ask for a custom data request for you.

Hint:   Click on the Request tab near the top of the screen, to go to the Request screen.

How do I select items from the list box?

First, look at the box to see if you are able to select more than option.

Multiple-selection list boxes:
If the box shows more than one item, and shows a scroll bar along the right side, then you can usually select more than one item. The highlighted line(s) indicate the selected item(s).

• To select only one item in the list...
  click on that item with your Mouse,
  -or-
  use your up and down arrow keys to move the highlighted area to indicate the desired item.
• To select a range of items...
  click your Mouse on the first item, and while the Mouse button (or your Shift key) remains pressed, move the Mouse to highlight the desired range of options;
  -or-
  use your up and down arrow keys to move through the list, while you hold the Shift key down.
• To select distinctly separate items...
  click your Mouse and press the Ctrl key,
  -or-
  move the arrow keys to desired item and press the Ctrl key, to select many items, one item at a time.

Single-selection list boxes:
If you only see one item at a time in the box, then this list box only allows you to select one item from the list.

• With your Mouse...
  click your Mouse on the box with an arrow, on the right side of the list box, to open the box and see the other options. Then click your Mouse on the desired option.
  -Or-
• if you prefer to use your keyboard,
  then press the Tab key to move the cursor to the box, and then use your up and down arrow keys to move through the list of options.

How do I change a "CheckBox?" A "Radio Button?"

• To change whether the box displays the checkmark...
  • click your Mouse in the box,
    -or-
  • use your Tab key to move to the box,and then press your Spacebar.
• To change which circle displays the dot...
  • click your Mouse in the circle indicating your preferred option,
    -or-
  • use your Tab key to move to the first circle for the set of options, then use your up and down arrow keys to move the selection indicator, as you move the cursor between the options.

How do I save my data results to my own computer?

• To download a data extract, see How do I download my data extract as a file for use in other software?
• To get a section from a web page:
  Use your mouse to "click and drag" and highlight your desired selection from the page. Then "copy" the selection, move to your word processor with the target file open, place your cursor where the selection should go, and "paste" the selection. The "Copy" and "Paste" commands are usually found in your web browser's "Edit" menu at the top of the window, or found by clicking the right-hand mouse button. Your computer may also have "short-hand" key strokes for these commands.
  Hint:   Right click your Mouse on any web image, such as a map or chart, and a menu opens with options for saving that image. Note that the legends for your map or chart may be separate image files.
• To get the entire web page:
  When the page is displayed in your web browser, click on the "File" menu option at the top of the browser, and then select "Save As." This action saves the web page to a file on your computer, and you can choose the file's name and location. Later, you can "open" this file with your web browser or other software applications, such as a word processor. If your word processor cannot load web pages (HTML file format) then save the document as a text file.

Refer to the help feature for your computer's operating system, and for your specific desktop applications to learn more.

How do I use a Finder Tool to select values?

The Finder Tool helps you look up items in hierarchical code sets. For example, location codes can be grouped into regions, which contain divisions, which contain states, which contain counties. Disease codes may be structured into categories that are organized into various subordinate levels of detail.

1. Go to the Finder Tool for the variable, the Regular Finder Options will be displayed.
2. The Finder Tool displays the top level items for the variable you've selected. Underneath this list is a group of buttons for the different actions you can perform.
   • How do I see what which counties are in Alabama?
     Assuming you're looking at a states Finder, click on Alabama and then click the Open button below the box.
     See Selections about how to select items in a list box.
     
   • How do I make those counties go away again?
     Click on the Alabama and then click the Close button below the box.
     
   • What if I just want to look up something by name?
     Click on the Search tab at the top of the Finder Tool. When the Search window displays, you can type in up to three words or phrases to search for. The results show up in a list box that has the same controls (actions) as the Hierarchy list box you saw first.
     
3. I see an item I want!
   • How do I select it?
     Click on the item(s) you want to select, all items highlighted in that box are used as selections for your request. If your browser has JavaScript enabled, there will be a box labeled Currently selected that shows all selected items in the box regardless of whether they are currently visible.
     
   • What if I change my mind?
     Just click a highlighted item to un-select it.
     
4. I want to select a lot of items and it's awkward.
   • If your browser has JavaScript enabled (most do), click the "Advanced Finder Options" link. That will bring up a version of the Finder Tool that makes it easier to do this.
   • Now you can make selections as usual in the box on the right and click the "Move Items Over" button to move them to the "Selected Items" box. You can accumulate items there, much like a shopping cart, until you have the items you want to include in the request.

What if my question isn't addressed here?

Please also see Frequently Asked Questions for more general information about CDC WONDER.

CDC WONDER is a product of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to cwus@cdc.gov.