Selecting Tables to Integrate or Display
After you have selected "Integrate Bookmarked Resources" from the "Workspace" drop down box, you will be taken to the "Data Integration: Select Tables" screen. This is the first step in starting the integration process.
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Now you will need to check the boxes that correspond with the data tables you would like to integrate. You must have at least two tables to integrate. It is important to remember that some datasets may have multiple tables (e.g. Excel workbook with multiple spreadsheets or Access databases with multiple tables). When uploading a dataset file, tDAR saves the file in its original form. However, if there are multiple tables, they will be separated out in the "Data Integration: Select Tables" screen.
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In order for the data integration to work properly you have to make sure that the columns that you want to integrate have been normalized and translated. tDAR provides tools for normalization and translation. In order to translate, make coded values into understandable words, you will need to have attached and mapped a coding sheet to the data table you would like to integrate. tDAR also has the ability to allow you to compare data entries based on an "Ontology," or hierarchical groupings of values, which streamlines the normalization process. To find out more information on ontologies or coding sheets please select one of the links below:
- Ontologies
- Coding Sheets
You should also check to make sure the data table is the one you are looking for by clicking on "show/hide columns" link that is beside the name of the table in the dataset.
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Once you click on the "show/hide columns" link you will get a summary display of the column names, column data types, and if there is an attached ontology to the column. This is a good way to double check to make sure that the columns you want integrate on have the both an ontology and the correct ontology mapped to them. The integration process will not work effectively if the variables you want to integrate on do not have the same ontology mapped to both of the similar varies in each data table (e.g. "Species Ontology 1" should be mapped to the "Species" variable in all of the data tables you are integrating on for "Species".
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***RR (replace screen shot with a dataset that is mapped to an ontology and make sure you update the coded variables)
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Once you have varified that you are ready to proceed to step two: selecting columns to integrate. Click below to proceed to the next step or two log onto tDAR if you are ready to integrate.
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