 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
||||||
Polaris
Products
Polaris
Polaris Demo
Polaris FAQ
White Paper
FAQ about
the Polaris Software for Public Safety
On which Windows operating systems does the Polaris software run? Polaris is a 32-bit application and runs on Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows NT operating systems. top Does the Polaris software allow us to keep the historical data we have collected using the DOS-based TRASER system? Polaris includes an import script that allows the user to import historical data files created using TRASER 5.0 and above. The user is able to write their own import scripts for historical data files created by other systems, if those systems can export an ascii data file. In addition, Data Nexus can provide those support services for you. top Can I interface Polaris with my CAD system? If your CAD system has the capability of exporting an ascii data file, the Polaris system administrator can write an import script to read that data into Polaris. If only partial data is imported from the CAD system, there must be a key to match that data to what is entered directly into Polaris. For example, if citation data is entered into the CAD system and you wish to download citations that match the crashes entered into Polaris, there must be a matching key in both files (e.g., citation number, incident number, etc.). top Can I export data from Polaris to use in other systems? Polaris has a powerful export script that allows the system administrator to set up exactly the variables and formats you need to analyze data in another system. Polaris data can be exported to numerous other systems that accept ascii data files such as ArcInfo, Intersection Magic, Excel spreadsheets, SPSS or SAS statistical packages, or legacy mainframe systems. top If I am using another vendor's software for field data computing, can I still use Polaris to manage, analyze, and report the data collected? Most field data collection software will create an ascii file that may be imported into Polaris. top Can the Polaris software interface with the NCS scan form that is the new official crash report form for the state of Tennessee? for Michigan? The Polaris software for Tennessee and Michigan imports the data file created by the NCS scantools program when the OMR crash reports are scanned. Polaris then automatically starts the crash edit process to allow for the entry of additional data that was not included in the scanned file. top Can Polaris be used for field data collection? Yes, Polaris can be used for field data collection. For a detailed discussion, see Technical Report 99: 04-01 or contact us at whitepaper@data-nexus.com for information. top Can I use a credit card to purchase the Polaris software? Yes. Data Nexus, Inc. is now authorized to accept American Express, Visa, and MasterCard as forms of payment for any of our services. top Is there a way to email reports generated by Polaris? Yes, reports generated by Polaris can be sent via email. Once you
run a report in Polaris, you are given several export choices which
include saving the report as a PDF file. Next, you determine the
destination for the exported file. The newly created PDF file can
be easily transmitted via email. top How do I export crash data to support a DUI grant application? Polaris allows users to export entire data sets or specific subsets of data determined by the user. First, you define and run a subset of the crashes you wish to export. In the case of a person-level variable such as DUI involvement, remember to select whether you want all drivers involved in the crash to be included in your subset or only the driver identified by the officer as under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (see "match/non-match" in your help file). Once the subset is run successfully, you can right-click on the subset definition and select the "Export subset" option. Next, select which of the four possible ascii text files you would like exported (environment, vehicle, occupant, and/or nonoccupant). Last, click on the Export button and the text file(s) will be created. Note that each file is always created as a comma-delimited file. Once the export is completed, these data are ready to use by other software packages such as MS Excel, SAS, SPSS, MS Access, etc. top What should I do if the results of a report aren't what I'm expecting? When displaying the results of a subset, Polaris returns the Matched and Not Matched records. (See View Subset Results in your help file.) The Match/Not Matched feature does not apply to the Environment (crash) field. When you run a subset in Polaris, you are given a results table that shows the crashes, people, and vehicles that matched the subset criteria. You can have multiple vehicles and/or people per crash record; therefore, Polaris shows those people/vehicles that did match the subset criteria and those that did not. In other words, there can be a crash that matches the subset criteria but multiple vehicles and/or people within that same crash that do not match the subset criteria. Polaris includes these people/vehicles in the subset results because they are part of a crash that matches the subset criteria. This is why when defining variables at the People or Vehicle level in reporting, you must also define whether you are wanting to search from within all the crashes for that subset, just those where the people/vehicle matched, or just those where the people/vehicle did not match. The Match/Not Matched feature is found under the Orientation and Fields tab of Polaris' report add/edit screen. (Note: You must select a report type first before you can access the Orientation and Fields tab.) top How do I ensure that my report shows just the records I want to find? When you have a complex subset with several variables, it is best to break the subset down into smaller subsets in order to get a better idea of what your results should look like. This method is termed "subsetting a subset". An example of this would be the breaking of [(A or B or C) and D and E] into three smaller subsets. The first subset would be (A or B or C). This is called the parent subset since all other subsets will be based on this subset of data rather than the full database. The second subset would be just D and is termed the "child" subset since you'd define the parameters of that subset so that Polaris will search just from among those records in the parent subset rather than the entire database. In other words, Polaris will find all the records that are either (A and D), or (B and D), or (C and D). Your third and final subset would be just E. This processes the records that matched the second subset and finds records that are either (A and D and E), or (B and D and E), or (C and D and E). The third subset is a child of the second subset because it is based on records that matched the second subset's definition. Once you have the results from running the child subsets, you can then run a report showing the values of the fields in your subset criteria (ie, A, B, C, D, and E) to help ensure that your results are reasonable before running the actual finished report(s) for these data. The best way to ensure you run an accurate report is to build well-defined and accurate subsets that provide you with just those records you need to be able to search from when you run your report. top Is there a way to delete multiple reports from a Polaris database? Yes, reports generated by Polaris can be deleted individually or as a group. To delete multiple reports within Polaris, it is necessary to multi-select the crashes for deletion. This can be several years worth of data or just a few records. To multi-select reports for deletion from the data management window, press and hold the "Ctrl" key on your keyboard while using your mouse to select those records you wish to delete. Once you have selected those records you wish to delete, then right-click and select "Delete Crash (Citation, Arrest)" from the pop-up menu. After Polaris asks you to verify the records for deletion, it'll remove those records from the database. Since data deleted from an official database cannot be restored/retrieved
for use in the future, it is advisable when you are deleting a large
amount of data to create a new database and transfer the information
you wish to delete to this new database. You can then copy the new
database to a CD if you wish to free up space. This way, the records
are no longer in the current database, but they can be retrieved
in the future. (Note: Creating a database requires administrative
privileges.) top How can I use the Polaris client from other computers besides the one where the Polaris server runs? For other Polaris client computers to access the Polaris server, the server program must be started in one of two ways: 1. In Network mode. This mode requires that the Polaris server program be started manually before client computers can connect and login. A shortcut is supplied in the Polaris installation to use this mode. 2. In Service mode. This mode uses the Windows Service capability to automatically start the Polaris server program each time the computer powers up. Shortcuts are supplied in the Polaris installation to use this mode. But it is strongly suggested that you call Data Nexus, Inc. for detailed instructions for using this mode. top |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||