Help Using the OCB Data System

Organization of the data
Required elements
Navigating the system
Displaying data
Downloading data from the system

Organization of the Data

The data served by this system are organized by Project.

For example, in the open access system directory list, one finds a link labeled 'EDDIES' indicating a directory of data for the EDDIES project. General project-level (i.e. non-cruise-specifiec results) data are located at this top project-level directory. Indented under 'EDDIES' are all available cruise directories, identified by ship's official cruise number (if known). The data found within each of these cruise directories was collected during the cruise indicated.

The same organizational schema holds for the rest of the participating projects. A list of all participating projects, with links to more extensive information for each is available from the OCB Home Page.

Common elements in the data

Each of the participating projects is an independent entity, and therefore they can not be expected to have any common elements across data sets. One should not expect to use the OCB data system to combine data entities from different projects.

However, wherever possible, the DMO has worked with contributing PIs to include sufficient metadata to support combination of discrete data entities within a project. Usually, some combination of X, Y, Z and T information is required to combine two or more data entities. Data objects in the OCB data collection, include a variety of metadata parameters. For example:

The date, time, latitude, longitude, station and cast number for each sampling event during a cruise are reported in the cruise event log. The cruise event log is usually named log, in the cruise data objects directory.

T: i.e. date and time
X and Y: i.e. latitude and longitude
X,Y and T: i.e. station and cast number
X,Y and T, i.e. event = a numerical identifier (usually a combination of date and time), unique within a cruise, identifying a particular sampling event.
Z: depth in water column, i.e. depth, pressure or sample bottle number

Navigating the Data System

Each of the entries under the word 'Data', forming the left-most column of the 3 column menu, represents a dataset (i.e. data entity or object). Clicking on any of these left-hand entries will display the data described in the right-most column on the same line.

The middle column, 'Investigator', names the originating Scientist who is responsible for the dataset. This is the person who must be acknowledged if the data is used for your own research.

The third column, 'Description and Documentation', is a link that, if followed, will display information about the data. Included here is a description of each parameter in the dataset. Units that are reported are described here, too. Supporting documentation, including methodology and notes relating to the data from the principal investigator may be available as well.

If you download data from this system, please take the documentation as well and remember to acknowledge the originating PI(s) as appropriate.

Every project and cruise will have an 'INVENTORY' data entity listed atop it's 'Directory of Data' catalog. The INVENTORY lists all data contributions expected for that project or cruise level. Clicking on the links may expand to the next level of data or link to a data entity itself. The INVENTORY includes links to all types of data (text documents, photos, images, raw data and data objects available from the relational database).

Displaying data

Once you have chosen to display data from the left column in the Directory list, you will be presented with its Level 0 data. This is the data that changes most slowly in a given dataset. In many of datasets served at this site, level 0 data are also links, which lead to more detailed data at level 1. Occasionally, there are more levels and consequently, level 1 data may contain links, as well. By clicking on specific values (links) at level 0 (or below), you can select particular data from the entire dataset. Alternatively, you may wish to see all of the data at the next level. In this case, choose the 'Next level' button or link displayed at the top of the page. This will present a 'levelized' display of the data. You may find it easier to read the data presented in this manner.

Downloading data from the system

If you wish to download displayed data to your local disk, click the 'Plotting and Other Operations...' button atop the data display. Selecting the Download Utility will guide you through a series of forms which will assist you in packaging up and downloading your data and associated documentation.

It is also possible to 'download' data without using the download utility.
Once you have a display of data in which you are interested, you may wish to download that data to your local disk. Try clicking on the 'Flat listing' button. This will remove the levels and repeat higher level data at each of the lower level records, where appropriate. Now, use the 'Save As...' item (remember to set the format to 'Text') on the 'File' pull-down menu to save the data locally on your machine's disk. This format can be easily imported into spreadsheets and database programs.

There is another alternative for large datasets reached by using the 'Plotting and Other Operations...' button at the top of the data display. Upon first displaying the dataset, use the browser's 'Stop' button to abbreviate the lengthy download-to-display. Click on the 'Plotting and Other Operations...' button. Choose the menu item entitled, 'Other data listing formats'. Here you are presented with a few options for the format to download. The most popular is the 'CSV style listing'. Hold down the SHIFT key on your keyboard and click on the link. This will begin the download operation by presenting you with the familiar dialog box asking for a filename to which to save the data.