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Tape Loading & Data Analysis


Quite often, databases are acquired using 9-track magnetic tapes. This method of loading data, which is very common among state agencies, is regularly used on mainframe computers because large amounts of information can be stored on tape very cheaply. Depending on the database, a single acquisition can require anywhere from 1 to 20 tapes.

We can then feed the tape(s) into a 9-track tape machine, and use the software 9-Track Express to extract the data from the tape and import it into a FoxPro table, or any other text format. 9-Track can:

  1. transfer records stored in ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) or EBCDIC (Extended Binary Coded Decimal Interchange Code) on labeled or unlabelled tapes,
  2. handle unblocked, fixed blocked, variable blocked or variable unblocked formats,
  3. translate a variety of number, field types including packed, binary, COBOL, COMP-3 and zoned decimal formats (However, most formats are provided in character or number field types).

There are five basic things a reporter should know when acquiring a database that requires magnetic tapes:

  1. Record Layout and Code Descriptions (Also called File Description, File Format, or File Structure)


  2. Blocking Factor

  3. Tape Density

  4. Tape Structure

  5. Coding


For more information on how to acquire databases via 9-track tapes or more information about the tape loading process, please email David Raynor or call him at 829-4798.


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