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ACCC Statistics Home

 
Welcome to the UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago) ACCC (Academic Computing and Communications Center) Statistics home page. Only current members of the UIC community (faculty, staff, or students) may access this page and its UIC web page links. Any other person viewing this web page, and/or its UIC web page links is trespassing on UIC intellectual property. If you have any questions, please email stats@uic.edu.
  
   
 
     
What Statistical Products Does ACCC Provide to the UIC Community?
 
ACCC allows members of the UIC community to purchase sophisticated statistical applications at a significant discount. We are able to sell these products at a discount because the software manufacturers offer lower prices to academic institutions having a large number of users/customers. ACCC also assumes some of the administrative and technical support burden that these companies would otherwise experience. We can sell you SPSS (and other SPSS, Inc. products), SAS, Stata, S-PLUS, and SYSTAT. We sell these products to the UIC community via the University of Illinois Webstore. To learn more about these individual products, click on the links below.

SPSS
SAS
SAS Enterprise Guide
Stata
S-PLUS
SYSTAT
Other SPSS products - AMOS, AnswerTree, Data Entry, SamplePower
DBMSCopy - (DataFlux/SAS)

Not all versions of the above software are available to students.

Several of the above applications have "Enterprise" versions (client/server or network versions scaled up for large departments or organizations). If you are interested in purchasing an enterprise/network version for your department, ACCC can sell it to you.
 
     
What Instructional Services Does ACCC Provide to the UIC Statistical Community?
 

The ACCC statistical consultant teaches a series of workshops for our most commonly used statistical applications (SPSS, SAS, Stata) and the database application MS Access. These courses cover the basics of importing and exporting data, restructuring data, using graphical user interfaces, writing simple programs, performing simple analyses, producing text and graphical output, and integration with MSExcel and MSWord.

List of ACCC Statistical Workshops.
Information on All ACCC Workshops

ACCC also teaches customized statistical applications workshops for SPSS, SAS, and Stata. These workshops are available both for faculty (the classes that they teach) and for staff (UIC departments). If you guarantee at least three students, the statistical consultant can teach SPSS, SAS, or Stata at the time and place of your choice. The consultant will reserve computer lab space for you. Or, if you already have a computer room with SPSS, SAS, or Stata, the consultant can teach at your site. If you are interested in a customized workshop, contact the ACCC statistical consultant at:stats@uic.edu.
 
     
What Statistical Services Does ACCC Provide to the UIC Community?
 

  1. ACCC maintains approximately 12 computer labs across the UIC campus. All computers within these labs have recent versions of various statistical applications installed on them. Thus, if your statistical computing needs are light, you can go to any ACCC lab and analyze data from your H: drive, diskette, or USB drive. ACCC lab computers also have a few statistical packages that we do not sell.

    2. List of ACCC Labs

  2. ACCC makes statistical applications available to the UIC community via Server Services. Through a Server Services subscription, you are able to download and run applications on your computer for the duration of your subscription.

    3. Information on Server Services

  3. The ACCC statistical consultant provides technical support to the UIC community for statistical applications sold by ACCC. This support includes purchasing software, installing the software on your machine, diagnosing and resolving system errors related to statistical software, and renewing the annual licenses. We make certain that you are able to run your statistical software. Our general policy (there are exceptions) is to support older versions as long as the software developer does so.

    4. Most of our technical support is for the individual user (single-machine installations). We also provide some support for enterprise (client/server or network) installations. To contact the ACCC Statistical Consultant, send email to: stats@uic.edu.

    Unfortunately, due to limited resources, we cannot provide operational or statistical support. Operational support is usually defined as "How do I ...?" questions, such as "How do I enter my data?". Statistical support is advice on which statistical analyses are appropriate for your data.

  4. The ACCC statistical consultant maintains a listserv (UICSTATS-L) whereby members of the UIC community can communicate on statistical topics. ACCC announcements, statistical software vendor communications, and UIC-user comments and questions are posted to this listserv.

    5. Learn about the UICSTATS-L listserv.
 
     
I Want to Purchase a Statistical Application
 
You can purchase statistical software at a discount through at the University of Illinois Webstore: http://webstore.illinois.edu/

You will need to authenticate yourself (provide your netid and password) to access this site. Authentification will determine which software packages are available to you (students may not be eligible to purchase as wide a variety of software as faculty and staff). You may purchase software with either a credit card or a UIC CFOAP account. UIC P-Cards are not accepted.

ACCC sells software on a per-machine basis (not per-user). Thus, if you want to install an application on both your office and home machines, you will need to purchase two licenses (not one). If you want to install an application on both your machine and an assistant’s machine, you will need to purchase two licenses.

The method by which you can purchase software is described at: http://www.accc.uic.edu/software/sales.html

Users purchasing SPSS, SAS, or S-PLUS may need to sign an additional form when they pick up their software.

ACCC sells two separate versions of SPSS for Windows - regular (for faculty and staff only) and GradPack (for students only). The faculty/staff version has approximately ten add-on modules, and must have its license renewed every year. GradPack has two add-on modules (and AMOS) and runs for approximately four years without needing license renewal.

Before a student can purchase SPSS for Macintosh, s/he will need to provide a letter (not email) to ACCC, from his/her advisor (with signature), stating that the student needs SPSS to perform UIC-sponsored research. The letter may be sent via campus mail (ACCC, attention: statistical consultant, Benjamin Goldberg Research Building, M/C 135) or faxed to 3-7583. Students purchasing SPSS for the Windows platform purchase SPSS GradPack, which is not subject to the same restrictions as the Macintosh platform.

Details on students purchasing SPSS for Macintosh.

All software sold through the Webstore can be installed on stand-alone machines. We also offer some network versions of applications. If you purchase a network version through us, you must provide us with a number of "nodes". The number of nodes is the maximum number of simultaneous users you expect to be running the application from your file server. There is an extra charge for each node (currently $25/node). We need to know the maximum number of simultaneous users you expect in order to supply you with the proper enabling license.

As long as you are a member of the UIC community, ACCC allows you to renew the license of the current version of your software for free. You will probably need to make a new purchase if you upgrade to a later version of the software. ACCC has a system whereby UIC users renew their software licenses going back to the University of Illinois Webstore. When you make your software purchase through the Webstore, please print the page that confirms your purchase. It will contain the license or authorization code you need to install your product.

Any questions can be addressed to the ACCC statistical consultant (stats@uic.edu) or the ACCC software consultant (software@uic.edu).
 
     
I Want to Install a Statistical Application
 
Click on the link below for the product your wish to install. Before doing so, however, you might want to review some of the terminology in this section.

SPSS
SAS
SAS Enterprise Guide
Stata
S-PLUS
SYSTAT
Other SPSS Inc. Products (Amos, AnswerTree, Data Entry, SamplePower)

Many products (SPSS, S-PLUS, Stata) require your machine to be connected to the internet in order to complete the installation process. Their software licensing requires that your machine be able to access the vendor's specialized license server then will enable your machine to run the product. A mere license or authorization code may not be sufficient. In some cases, you will be able to install the product "off-line", but you will need to be connected to the internet when you first launch the product in order to complete the license authorization.

Several applications will require that Internet Explorer be the default browser on your machine. They use Internet Explorer as the means of running their Help interface. If you use another browser as your default, you may need to make Internet Explorer your default browser when you want to invoke Help. Afterwards, you can return to your original default browser (Firefox, Netscape, Mozilla, Opera …).

SPSS, Stata and S-PLUS will require you to enter sets of numbers (or alphanumeric characters). Others, like SAS or SYSTAT, will require that a license file be copied to your machine.

Some useful terminology:

Serial Number: This is usually the first number to be entered. It indicates the source of the media (you purchased the product through ACCC at UIC). This is the first “check” performed by the installation process to make certain that you have a legal version of the software. The serial number usually appears on the CD (or in the paper documentation that we give to you when you purchase the product).

License Code: This is usually a much longer series of numerals or alphanumeric characters. You are prompted to enter the license code during the installation process. It allows the software to be installed, determines what options are installed, and determines the expiration date of the software.

Authorization Code: This is the final series of numerals or alphanumerics that you enter. The authorization code is what activates the software (allows it to run). It is possible to install the software (via the license code) but not be able to run it (a valid authorization code was not provided). Entering the authorization code is also the step at which your machine makes contact with the software vendor’s licensing server over the internet. The licensing server keeps track of the number of machines using the serial number & license code, making certain that UIC is not violating the terms of its agreement with the software vendor.

S-PLUS 7.0 uses a serial number and LAC (a combined license and authorization code).

SPSS and AMOS use authorization codes. Other SPSS products use license codes.

SAS has a more complicated installation, and requires a setinit or SID file. You obtain this setinit/SID file from us (ACCC at UIC).

SYSTAT has a simpler installation. It requires only a serial number and a license code.

SAS, SPSS, SPSS products, and S-PLUS run on annual licenses. You will need to obtain new licenses each year to keep them running. You obtain these license codes (or SAS’s setinit file) from ACCC. When you purchase Stata, you can choose between an annual (less expensive) or perpetual (more expensive) license code. If you are a student using SPSS for Macintosh, we may require documentation that you are still a graduate student at UIC, using SPSS to perform UIC-sponsored research for license renewal.
 
     
I Need to Uninstall a Windows Application
 


Many applications require that a previous version of the product be uninstalled before a newer version may be installed (SPSS is an exception). Or, sometimes a license renewal may become so complicated that the best way to resolve the situation is to uninstall, then reinstall, then product, using the new license information. A properly-performed un-install will not affect your work. If you have any personal files (data, programs, output ...) in the application's directory, copy those files into another directory for safe-keeping.

Instructions on how to uninstall a Windows application.

 
     
Does My Software Require Any Patches?
 
Maybe. Commercial software, as it is currently written, is never “perfect” when released. As software companies learn about defects in their products, they periodically make patches available at their web sites. We at ACCC cannot maintain a library of the constant flow of patches advertised by statistical software manufacturers. We suggest that you periodically visit the vendor’s web site to see if there are patches available for your software. Make certain that you only apply patches appropriate to the exact version of software that you have installed. Software manufacturers tend to use more “upbeat” terminology to describe their patches, and each vendor uses different terminology. If you are uncertain when navigating through a company’s menu, try looking first under “support”. Sometimes a company will create a bundle of patches. This bundle is usually called a service pack.

  • SAS Institute Inc. calls its patches “hotfixes”, and maintains a web page devoted to them at: http://ftp.sas.com/techsup/download/hotfix/hotfix.html

  • SPSS Inc. maintains its patches at: http://support.spss.com/tech/. You will need to log in. Use the user name “guest” and the password “guest”. Choose “Patches & Utilities”).

  • StataCorp (Stata) maintains “software updates” at: http://www.statacorp.com/support/updates/

  • Insightful Inc. (S-PLUS) has patches and service packs at: http://www.insightful.com/support/patches_packs.asp
    		•   
         
    I Need Help – Where Do I Go?
     

    Installation and Systems Support from ACCC

    One of the agreements in our contracts with statistical software providers is that you seek technical support from us (ACCC), rather than contacting the company itself. It is because ACCC provides local technical support that we are able to offer you premium statistical software at discount prices. Thus, your first inquiry should be to the statistical consultant at ACCC via stats@uic.edu or to seek an answer on these UIC web pages. If the ACCC statistical consultant cannot resolve your problems regarding installation, system errors, or licensing, then s/he will contact the software vendor on your behalf.

    If your question is operational (how do I enter my data, how do I produce this report/graph ...) or statistical (what analysis should I run to determine whether two groups differ ...), then you should contact your professor, advisor, or departmental specialist. ACCC is unable to provide support for operational or statistical questions.

    If you contact (call or email) the technical support departments of the software vendors, you may be denied service. They will almost certainly not help you with operational or statistical inquiries. They may help you with installation or system-error issues, or they may deny you such support. It all depends on whether the technical support representative feels generous when your call or email arrives.

    Applications Have Help Menus and Tutorials

    Remember that these software packages have sophisticated on-line Help systems. Click on the menu bar’s pull-down Help menu, and search on key words. The software manufacturer’s documentation may be all you need to resolve an operational or statistical question.

    Most of these applications also have sophisticated tutorials. If you have the time, try working through your application's on-line tutorial (almost always under the Help menu).

    ACCC Workshops

    ACCC will assist you with problems concerning purchasing and installing software, trouble-shooting and correcting system errors, and renewing your licenses. Though we cannot offer individualized operational and statistical support, we do teach workshops each semester that cover operational and statistical issues. You might consider taking these workshops.

    A list of ACCC Statistical Workshops.

    Software Vendor Classes

    Yet, the statistical software providers have resources that may help you. The larger providers teach classes across the country. They usually have Chicago classes about once a year. You can check their web sites to see when they will have classes in the Chicago area, and enroll in one of their classes. However, be prepared to pay a premium price to enroll in their classes.

  • SAS classes may be found at: http://support.sas.com/training/us/index.html

  • SPSS classes may be found at: http://www.spss.com/training/index.cfm?source=homepage&hpzone=nav_bar

  • Stata offers net-classes, described at: http://www.statacorp.com/netcourse/

  • S-PLUS describes its training at: http://www.insightful.com/services/training.asp

    • Knowledge Bases

    Software vendors also have Knowledge Bases, which provide solutions and work-arounds for known problems and questions. Usually, these Knowledge Bases discuss installation and system error issues. You might considering checking a vendor’s Knowledge Base for answers to technical questions.

  • SAS has its Knowledge Base at: http://support.sas.com/techsup/search/sasnotes.html

  • SPSS has its Knowledge Base at: http://support.spss.com/tech/. You will need to log in. Use the user name “guest” and the password “guest”. Choose “Troubleshooting”, then “Resolution Search”).

  • Stata has its Knowledge Base at: http://www.statacorp.com/support/faqs/

  • S-PLUS has its Knowledge Base at: http://www.insightful.com/insightful_faq/search.asp

    • Listservs

    There are yet other resources that may assist you – listservs. When you join a listserv, you see commonly asked questions, and, hopefully, appropriate answers. You can examine the archives of the listservs to see if someone else has recently experienced the problem you have. You can post your questions to the listserv, and somebody may respond with helpful information. Naturally, we encourage you to enroll in UIC’s own statistical listserv.

  • Learn More About (or Enroll in) the UICSTATS-L listserv.

    • The University of Georgia maintains two international listservs, one for SAS, one for SPSS. These listservs are independent of UIC; SAS Institute, Inc.; and SPSS, Inc.

  • To enroll in the University of Georgia’s SAS listserv: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=sas-l&A=1

  • To enroll in the University of Georgia’s SPSS listserv: http://support.spss.com/ -> Log in as “guest”, password = “guest” -> Other Links -> SPSS Listservs and News Groups

  • The Harvard School of Public Health maintains a Stata listserv. To enroll: http://www.stata.com/statalist/

  • SAS Institute Inc. maintains its own Learning Edition listserv. You can enroll at: http://support.sas.com/rnd/le/listserv_info.html
    		•   
         
    I Want to Renew the License of my Current Statistical Application
     
    Choose the software you wish to renew from the links below. You must be a current member of the UIC community to access these pages.

    SPSS
    SAS
    SAS Enterprise Guide
    Stata - Contact stata@stata.com from whom you purchased the product.
    S-PLUS
    SYSTAT
    Other SPSS Inc. Products (AnswerTree, Amos, Data Entry, SamplePower)
    DBMSCopy

    Each application has its own unique way of renewing the annual license. Sometimes there are multiple methods by which to renew the license. In a worst case scenario, there is always one method that works for every application: uninstall the product via the Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs utility of Windows, then reinstall the product from the original media, using the new license information. Click Here for instructions on how to uninstall a Windows application.
    		 
         
    UIC Links and Resources
     
    ACCC Home Page
    http://www.accc.uic.edu/

    ACCC Server Services
    http://www.accc.uic.edu/lan/server_services/

    University of Illinois Webstore
    http://webstore.illinois.edu/
    http://www.accc.uic.edu/software/sales.html
    		 
         
    External Links and Resources
     
    SPSS Inc.
    http://www.spss.com

    SAS Institute Inc.
    http://www.sas.com

    StataCorp (Stata)
    http://www.statacorp.com

    Insightful, Inc. (S-PLUS)
    http://www.splus.com

    SSI (SYSTAT)
    http://www.systat.com

    DataFlux (DBMSCopy)
    http://www.dataflux.com/Product-Services/Products/dbms.asp


    Comments and questions can be directed to the ACCC statistical consultant, Joseph Schreiner, at: stats@uic.edu.

    		  

    2009-1-12  stats@uic.edu
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