Software for data from the Statistical database

Statistical data from Statistics Sweden can be processed by a variety of different software. We have listed below some of these programmes and noted the appropriate file format for outdata from the Statistical database. We welcome any suggestions of other software than these mentioned below, on the condition that these have an easy method to accept data from our database.

Statistical programs for PC-AXIS files

PC-AXIS is a standard format for statistical files, containing metadata (variable texts, codes, sources, date, etc.) and data. It can manage multi-dimensional data. It is used by a large number of statistical offices and a package of software has been developed for this format:

 PC-Axis - free program for selection, calculation of totals, percent, production of diagrams, etc.
File format: px files downloaded from the Statistical database.

 PX-Map - free program for simple maps of the type colour-by-value and circles. Developed by Statistics Norway.
File format: px files for county and municipality, downloaded from the Statistical database.
Coordinate files – Statistics Sweden provides simple coordinate files for counties and municipalities in Sweden, NUTS2 Europe.

 PX-Web (link to example) - program for publishing of statistics on the Internet or Intranet, both data from Statistics Sweden or own data. The program is licensed by Statistics Sweden. The basic principle is that large PX files are produced and published on the Internet and then PX-Webb creates a content catalogue and provides the possibility for withdrawals. The program is used by several statistical offices and some authorities/municipalities in Sweden.
File format: px files that can be created for own data using the programs PX-Edit and PX-Make.

For questions on the PX programs, contact Lars Nordbäck or Ulrika Arver, Statistics Sweden.

 Mapper - program for publishing maps on the Internet. Developed primarily for statistics from the Swedish National Institute of Public Health (SNIPH) on the Internet. Now expanded to private enterprises. File formats px and xls. There will soon also be the possibility to produce maps from own data in Excel files directly on Mappers website.

Spreadsheet programs

Spreadsheet programs can be used to carry out calculations (i.e. percentages), create tables and diagrams and work out certain statistical functions. Some examples are:
Microsoft Excel, IBM Lotus, Openoffice Calc.
File format: download Excel files from the Statistical database. These can be opened in many spreadsheet programs.

One detail to be aware of is when codes are in figure format – these columns should be formatted as Text before data are inputted. For example, counties/municipalities have codes beginning with “0” that can be easily lost.

Spreadsheet programs can also manage slightly larger datasets such as databases or pivot tables. However for larger datasets, there may be the need to be able to work more systematically in various processing steps, for which more database-focused programs are preferable.

Statistical programs

File format: The larger program systems can accept data in many different ways. From Statistics Sweden’s Statistical database, it is possible to use Excel files for smaller datasets, Text files (separated) for larger datasets, Relation files for pivot tables.

Statistical programs, general system

Programs created for statistical processing have functions for selection, processing, checking, table formulation, statistical analyses, diagrams, thematic maps, and more. The larger software programs have been developed as general information systems ("business intelligence").

 SAS - large general system program, with everything from data input to calculations, analyses, tables, diagrams, maps, presentations. (The name sas originally stood for "Statistical Analysis System").

 SPSS - large general system program, with everything from data input to calculations, analyses, tables, diagrams, maps, presentations. (The name SPSS originally stood for "Statistical Package for Social Sciences").

Examples of systems for analysis of larger data quantities in enterprises (statistics and register data):

 Cognos - a large system for OLAP analyses of larger data quantities (OLAP = Online analytical processing).

 Business Objects - can integrate data from different sources, provide summaries, reports and analyse them using different methods and make it possible to work with the information with special tools.

Statistical programs, special

There are a number of programs that can make interesting analyses and visualisations. Here are some examples.

 Geowizard - for interactive analyses of Statistics Sweden’s data with tables, scatter diagrams, maps, profile diagrams (parallel coordinates), selections – all linked and possible to amend. Developed at Linköping University and freely available.
File format: Excel files with municipal data that can be taken from Staistics Sweden’s Statistical database.

 Gapminder - animated diagrams in which development over time is shown with circles (for different countries) that move as the countries’ values move for both an x variable and a y variable. In addition to these animations, a project is underway to link to the various statistical databases that are available on the Internet. In 2007, the program was incorporated with Google.

 R, from Statisticon, is a free program for statistical calculations and graphics.

GIS and map programs

Statistical data with geographic links can be handles by GIS programs (Geographical Information Systems). Data for municipalities can be taken from Statistics Sweden’s Statistical database. These data can be linked in a GIS program with coordinate files using the municipality code.

 MapInfo - general GIS programs for analysis and maps. Also contain some database functions
Powerpoint presentation (in Swedish) – drafted by MapInfo for a workshop at Statistics Sweden in 2006.

 ArcGIS, esri - general GIS program for analysis and maps, database links, used both in independent and widely-linked systems.
File format: The programs can accept data in many different ways. From Statistics Sweden’s statistical database, Excel files can be used for smaller datasets and dBase files or Text files (separated) for larger datasets. Links to coordinate files can be made using area codes. It is important that these are correct.

Coordinate files - Statistics Sweden provides simple coordinate files for counties and municipalities in Sweden, NUTS2 Europe.

More on GIS: At Statistics Sweden, GIS is also used to create new geographies (i.e. the delimitation of localities) and to produce statistics (i.e. for populations in buffer zones) and register data are then used linking to properties/addresses with coordinates. It is also possible to order data for GIS from Statistics Sweden, such as postcode areas, grids, SAMS, etc., see
 SCB - Regional statistics