Understanding Dataset Pages and Viewing Data in a Table
This guide describes how to understand the dataset pages on statistics.gov.scot, including how to filter datasets to generate tables. In this example we look at the dataset Delayed Discharges - Monthly Bed Days Occupied. Dataset pages have three tabs: data, about and API.
The Data tab shows the various dimensions in the dataset, and allows you to make choices about which filters should be applied to create a table. This tab also provides the ability to download the dataset (circled in red for this screenshot).
View data as a table
To view data as a table, you need to select which dimension should form the columns of that table. The rows of the table will always be reference areas. The columns will be whichever dimension you don’t apply a filter to. In our example dataset, let’s say we want a table that shows a time series of all ages and all reasons for delay. We should:
- Select Age ‘18 and over’ to specify the age group
- Select Reason for Delay ‘All’ to specify the delay category
- Select Measure Type ‘Count’ (some datasets have multiple measurement types, so you still need to select this)
This leaves just one dimension, reference area which will become the table columns:
If we decided to change the columns, this is possible by changing the selections. For example, to change the table above to a table showing the range of different reasons for delay, for the most recent time period, we should:
- Select the most recent reference period
- The table will then disappear, as it doesn’t know what dimension should be used as columns
- Deselect Reason for Delay ‘All’
If the dataset contains multiple reference area types, you can select which to display in the table using the ‘Filter Areas by type’ drop down tool above the table. You can download the full table as a CSV using a button at the bottom of the page.
The about tab contains metadata. This contextual information about the dataset can include licence details, date published, and the date the next update is due. This tab also contains a description of the dataset, including definitions and methodologies.
The API tab shows the underlying URIs of the dimensions, which of the dimensions are locked, and other information relevant to developers and others who might want to access the data programmatically (e.g. via SPARQL. A guide for using SPARQL on the site is coming soon.
- To filter a dataset to table level and/or download an entire dataset go to the Data tab
- The About tab gives you information about the dataset (licence details, date published, and the date for next update) plus a description of the dataset, including definitions and methodologies.
- The API tab shows information relevant to developers and others who might want to access the data programmatically as well as URIs of the dimensions
- To view data as a table, click on the dataset of interest and select the dimensions you want to see in the table.
To continue exploring our datasets, return to statistics.gov.scot.