NEWS

Stata 12 Released

Stata 12 has been released. It is currently installed on Linstat and will be installed on Winstat and in the computer labs soon. It has many new features, including automatic memory management (no more set mem), tools for Structural Equation Modeling (including working with Path Diagrams), Multiple Imputation by Chained Equations (i.e an official replacement for ice), exporting results to PDF files, and much more. For an overview, visit Stata's web site.

Invitation to SSCC Computer Orientation

SSCC staff will be offering a hands-on computer orientation on Wednesday, August 31, from 10:00AM - 11:30AM in SSCC's PC classroom in Sewell Social Science 3218 for new members arriving this Fall. We want to extend an invitation to any SSCC member who might also like to attend. Maybe you've been a member for a while, but haven't used your account much, or maybe you arrived mid-year and didn't get a one-on-one orientation. Whatever the reason, you are welcome to attend. Please e-mail Caitlin Tefft (ctefft@ssc.wisc.edu) if you plan to attend so we have enough materials for everyone.

New Sociology graduate students have already received their invitations, but if you know of other new arrivals -- post docs, faculty, staff, visitors -- please extend them an invitation.

 

Stata and SPSS Classes in Late August

The SSCC is offering classes on Stata and SPSS in late August, just before the start of the fall semester. These classes are ideal for anyone who'd like to get learning a statistical package out of the way before classes begin, especially first-year graduate students. We will offer the same classes again at the usual times early in the fall semester.

For details and to register visit the SSCC training page.

The challenge with this schedule is that many of those who would benefit from these classes do not yet know about SSCC classes or do not yet realize they need to learn a statistical package. If you know of anyone in this situation, perhaps a new RA or the students in a class you're teaching, we (and they) would appreciate you making them aware of this opportunity.

Reserving Computer Classroom for Fall Semester Courses

Now is the time to get a jump on reserving the 3218 classroom or mobile lab for your fall semester class before your spot gets taken by someone else. Reservations are filling very quickly. Contact Caitlin Tefft (ctefft@ssc.wisc.edu) to reserve. Caitlin's office is in the 4226 office suite and her phone number is 2-0862.  Visit our Instructional Support web page for more information about the 3218 classroom and the mobile lab.

Even if you do not need to reserve the classroom or lab, you can arrange for your students to have access to SSCC's drop in labs (3218 and 4218 Social Science) for doing their homework. Caitlin can help you with this as well.

Doug Hemken (dehemken@wisc.edu), statistical computing specialist for SSCC, is available to help students with homework and class projects. You can also arrange for Doug to come to your class and provide instruction on statistical software. Doug's office is in the 4226 office suite and his phone number is 2-4327.

NVivo 9.1 and Converting Project Files

NVivo 9.1 uses a different format for project files. If you open a project file from an earlier version of NVivo using NVivo 9.1, it will prompt you to convert the file. However, it does not actually change the file you opened. Instead it creates a new file in the new format.

The default location for the new file is the Documents Library. As always on Winstat, you must change the location to a network drive like U:. We suggest you put the new project file in the same location as the old project file since that's where you're used to looking for it, though that means you'll have to give it a different name to distinguish it from the old file.

If you save the new project file in the Documents Library it may be lost. If you save the new project file in the Documents Library but then in a future session open the project file on your usual network drive, that will be the old version of the file and you'll be asked to convert it again. Worse, that file will not contain any of the changes you made in your last NVivo session. Once you convert a project file you should always use the new version.

Tip: Consider Add-on Compatibility when Updating Mozilla Products

Before you update Mozilla Firefox or Mozilla Thunderbird, you should check to see if you are using any add-ons.  Many of us install add-ons to extend the functionality of Thunderbird or Firefox, and updates can potentially break these add-ons.  It may take some time for your add-ons to be updated to be compatible with the newest software, leaving you without access to them and their functions until this happens.

The update software for both Firefox and Thunderbird will try to check your add-ons and inform you if any of them will no longer work after an update, and SSCC Staff can also assist you with determining this.  If you'd like us to confirm that your add-ons will continue working after an upgrade, please send a list of your installed add-ons to the SSCC Help Desk.

You can check what add-ons you have installed in Firefox by going to the Tools -> Add-ons.  If you do not have a Tools menu in your browser, select the Firefox button in the upper left hand corner and choose Add-ons.

You can check what add-ons you have installed in Thunderbird by going to Tools -> Add-ons.