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Preparing Data
 

The database should be in the format that is best for use by PayEval. The layout is as follows:

  • Individual employee observations arranged in rows or lines.
  • Each employee's characteristics arranged in columns.
  • A single-line header describing all of the data fields in the first line. The header can be a word or phrase (without punctuation), but it should only occupy one row.
  • Rows should only occupy one line and not "wrap" to fit a certain page format.
  • Data values should be separated by a comma, tab, or whatever method is specific to the file management type (e.g. a spreadsheet table for MS® Excel). If a simple text file is used, any string values with punctuation should be enclosed in quotes.
  • If a value is to be understood as a numeric value (e.g. pay), none of the values can contain letters or characters that are not interpretable as a number ("50,000.00" is understood to be a number, "50,000 dollars" will not be).
  • Dates need to be in a commonly accepted format. The preferred format is "month/day/year", where "month" can be the month name or number, day is a number between 1 and 31, and year is the four-digit year, e.g. 1/12/2007 (many formats can be interpreted as dates, but the previous format ensures proper reading of the information).

If the database is not in this format, PayEval may not be able to properly read or interpret the information.

Following is an example of a data table that is properly formatted to be used in PayEval:

empid,jobtitle,empstat,regtemp,ftpt,hiredt,dob,gender,race
281,"Head of Food Services","A","R","F",7/22/2002,5/4/1969,"F","H"
296,"Guard","A","R","F",5/28/1991,8/19/1946,"M","H"
153,"Ticket Booth Operator","A","R","F",12/22/2003,11/26/1980,"F","B"
305,"Vice President","A","R","F",11/13/2000,1/10/1973,"M","H"
324,"Human Resources","A","R","F",5/16/1997,5/31/1961,"F","API"
372,"Cheerleader","A","R","F",11/2/1992,11/10/1960,"M","B"
225,"Back-up Mascot","A","R","F",11/2/1992,4/7/1962,"F","W"
249,"Team Security","A","R","F",5/24/2004,2/5/1955,"M","W"
236,"Mgr-Internet Ticket Sales","A","R","F",2/2/1994,7/9/1962,"M","W"
171,"Public Address Announcer","A","R","F",1/28/2002,6/28/1974,"M","B"
45,"Human Resources","A","R","F",9/17/2001,4/10/1972,"F","B"
264,"Halftime Activities Staff","A","R","F",9/15/2003,12/4/1976,"F","H"
341,"Owner","A","R","F",7/21/1997,4/3/1947,"F","API"
90,"Halftime Activities Staff","A","R","F",6/14/2004,12/24/1978,"F","B"

which will look like the following table when brought into PayEval:

empid jobtitle empstat regtemp ftpt hiredt dob gener race
281 Head of Food Services A R F 7/22/2002 5/4/1969 F H
296 Guard A R F 5/28/1991 8/19/1946 M H
153 Ticket Booth Operator A R P 12/22/2003 11/26/1980 F B
305 Vice President A R F 11/13/2000 11/10/1960 F H
324 Human Resources A R F 5/16/1997 5/31/1961 F API
372 Cheerleader A R P 11/2/1992 4/7/1962 F B
225 Back-up Mascot A R F 11/2/1992 1/10/1973 F W
249 Team Security A T F 5/24/2004 2/5/1955 M W
236 Mgr-Internet Ticket Sales A R F 2/2/1994 7/9/1962 F W
171 Public Address Announcer A R F 1/28/2002 6/28/1974 M B
45 Human Resources A R F 9/17/2001 4/10/1972 F B
264 Halftime Activities Staff A R P 9/15/2003 12/4/1976 M H
341 Owner A R F 7/21/1997 4/3/1947 F API
90 Halftime Activities Staff A T P 6/14/2004 12/24/1978 F B