Data Services

The DLI program allows access to geographical files in addition to data files to authorised users under the DLI license. The census spatial files are provided by Statistics Canada in both ArcInfo and MapInfo formats. The files currently available for downloading are in ArcInfo format but, until they are added to the web site, MapInfo files may be requested directly through the UNB Libraries DLI Contact.

Spatial files may be available as "digital boundary files" (.dbf files) which reflect administrative boundaries or "digital cartographic files" (.dcf files) which provide a more accurate geographical representation. Knowledge of a GIS package, such as MapInfo, ArcView, or ArcInfo, is usually a prerequisite for using these files.

Documentation and codebooks, which provide information on the files, are available in either PDF format, which can be downloaded and viewed with a viewer such as Adobe Acrobat, or as WordPerfect documents (downloaded in compressed format and, when unzipped, ready for loading WordPerfect). Print versions of codebooks may be consulted in the Government Documents, Data and Maps Department on the third floor of the Harriet Irving Library.

GUIDES & DOCUMENTATION:

• Standard Geographical Classification, 1996

• 1997 Geography Catalogue

• 1996 Street Network File Guide in PDF format

• GEOSUITE (1996 Census):

  In the summer of 1999, the Geography Division issued a CD-ROM product GeoRef, with population and housing data. Because of a trademark issue over the name, the title for this product is now Geosuite. It is only available via ftp and does not exist as a CD-ROM product.

  Please read the documentation provided for the installation of this product. It is advisable to delete the GeoRef software before installing GeoSuite; the steps necessary for successful installation are provided in the following file:

  • Installation instructions, provided as a zipped text file
  • Installation instructions, provided as an ascii text file
  • Geosuite, provided as a zipped executable file

• POSTAL CODE CONVERSION FILE:

  Note that these files are for postal codes as of November 2001; the file release date is January 2002. There is a Postal Code Conversion File available for Federal Electoral District ridings as well. Please request through the DLI Contact.

  • Postal Code Conversion File documentation in PDF format [very useful as a starting point]
  • Postal Code Conversion File names executable file (zipped)

  • Postal Code Conversion File, all Canada [executable file, zipped)
    Included in this zipped file are the following files; they are also available individually for downloading:
    • canada.pcf
    • Newfoundland
    • Prince Edward Island
    • Nova Scotia
    • New Brunswick (executable file, zipped)
    • Quebec
    • Ontario
    • Manitoba
    • Saskatchewan
    • Alberta
    • British Columbia
    • Yukon
    • Northwest Territories

• POSTAL CODE CONVERSION WEIGHT FILE:

  Some background about the Postal Code Population Weight File

  This product is aimed at sophisticated users of the PCCF. It offers an alternative to using the single link indicator where postal codes are linked to several geographic areas. By using the single link indicator, users allocate all their data to a single geographic unit when the population is really spread over a sometimes much larger area. Where Census data was available, the new file provides a distribution (weights) of the population across these multiple geographic units. This proportional allocation will be a particular interest to users trying to integrate data on postal geography with enumeration area data.

  This file will not be updated (not until data from the 2001 Census is available). As stated in the Reference Guide, not all postal codes are included, only those for which census data was available and deemed significant.

  Files Available:

  • Reference Guide, Postal Code population weight file (provided as a PDF document)
  • Canada Postal Code population weight file (zipped, 2150672 bytes)
  • Atlantic region Postal Code population weight file (zipped, 144306 bytes)
  • New Brunswick Postal Code population weight file (zipped, 144306 bytes)

  Files for other regions and provinces are also available upon request.

STEPS TO OBTAIN DATA FILES: