Do you have a number of different datasets that you would like to get an overall picture of what they’re telling you but don’t have the time or Excel skills to do it?
With data becoming both more central to a wider variety of roles, and also much more widely available, assistance is often required to instantly ‘get a feel’ for what a number of datasets of interest show. The GLA Multi-Dataset Index Tool allows you to do this.
This is a unique free Excel-based tool that can combine a number of seemingly disparate London ward-level datasets of your choice into a single hybrid dataset for simple analysis and visualisation.
It works by converting your data into values which are then comparable within each dataset and also across all datasets; this then not only allows you to compare datasets with one another but to average the ward values of each dataset to create the hybrid overall dataset.
A video walkthrough of how the tool works using sample data is shown below:
Advantages of the tool include:
- - Any dataset can be used as long as it is at London ward level;
- - Data can be visualised at both individual borough level, or pan-London (see images above);
- - The ability to upload multiple releases of the same dataset allows temporal trends to be considered;
- - Use of the tool is very simple, does not require expert Excel knowledge or an understanding of statistics;
- - The professional appearance and ability to copy and paste makes the tool ready-made for inclusion in reports and other presentations;
- - Each indicator can be weighted to suit your requirements.
To create your own tool, all you need are the datasets you wish to use (at London ward level) and the blank Multi Dataset Index Tool (download here). Follow the step by step process outlined in the walkthrough video below and your tool will be up and running in minutes.
Further detailed information about how the tool works is included here
If there are any comments or questions, please contact Richard Fairchild.
Copyright notice: If you publish any of the maps included in the tool, a copyright notice must be included within the report saying: "Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database rights 2012."
Macros - The tool works in any version of Excel. But the user MUST ENABLE MACROS for the features to work.
To check whether the macros are enabled in Excel 2003 click Tools, Macro, Security and change the setting to Medium. Then you have to re-start Excel for the changes to take effect. When Excel starts up a prompt will ask if you want to enable macros - click yes.
In Excel 2007 and later, it should be set by default to the correct setting, but if it has been changed, click on the Windows Office button in the top corner, then Excel options (at the bottom), Trust Centre, Trust Centre Settings, and make sure it is set to 'Disable all macros with notification'. Then when you open the spreadsheet, a prompt labelled 'Options' will appear at the top for you to enable macros.
Packages:
