FAQ

Terms Explained and FAQ’s

If your question isn’t answered here or you need further assistance, contact the viewdata support team.

General Questions

Can I use viewdata for free?
Unfortunately we don’t offer a free version, significant time and resources go into developing software products and their maintenance and upgrades which is supported through your user subscriptions.
What is the difference between the plans?

The Getting Started plan introduces you to Viewdata and offers basic functions
The Getting Serious plan opens up a group of enhanced functionality such as saving projects.
And the All In plan provides all the functionality of the Getting Serious plan but with greatly enhanced user support.
A full list of the features available in each plan is shown on the Features page of the website.
How do I sign up for viewdata?
Do I need a credit card to get started?

Membership and billing

What Payment methods are accepted
Is there a minimum subscription period
Can I cancel my subscription
Will I lose my data if I cancel my subscription
Can I upgrade or downgrade my subscription at any time

Software

What is an SA1,SA2,SA3,SA4

SA1, SA2, SA3, and SA4 are geographical units in Australia’s Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS), creating a hierarchy from small neighborhoods (SA1) to larger regions (SA4) for statistical analysis, with SA1s being the smallest, covering 200-800 people (avg 400), SA2s representing suburbs/functional areas, SA3s being larger regions of 30k-130k people, and SA4s defining major labour markets of 100k-500k people, all nesting within each other. It makes sense to do this so statistical boundaries align.
How do Postcodes fit within SA1 etc
How do Electoral areas fit with SA1s etc
Unfortunately they don’t, electoral boundaries are set by the state and federal authorities and do not align with ABS SA1s etc.
What is Geocoding

Geocoding is the process of aligning textual data with a point on the map, for example Address geocoding queries a database of addresses that each have a latitude and longitude associated with them, to align a physical address with a place on the map. The same can be done with suburbs that align the suburb name with a geometry of a suburb boundary
Whats the difference between Point map, Heat Map and Clusters
A point map assigns one point on the map for every record in the database, both heat and clusters aggregate this data based on the points proximity to each other. Either as clusters of points with a number designating how many points in each cluster. Or in the case of a heat map as a couloured area based on the number of points and their proximity to each other.
How are the demographic profiles calculated for display on the map

When you, as a user selects a particular demographic profile the software queries a database of all the population data and extracts that data for rendering on the map. The data is then organised for each geography based on that geographies relation to others in the country.
How are the categories in demographic profiles calculated for the legend

Viewdata uses the Jenks natural breaks classification method, Jenks is a data clustering method designed to determine the best arrangement of values into different classes. This is done by seeking to minimize each class’s average square deviation from the class mean, while maximizing each class’s deviation from the means of the other classes. In other words, the method seeks to reduce the variance within classes and maximize the variance between classes.
Where does the ABS Census data come from

The demographic data is sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, (ABS). In Australia a population census is held every 5 years and the data collected is de-identified and collated to understand the current state of the population based on a variety of attributes such as age and income for example. The Last census was held in August 2021 and the next will be in 2026
What the difference between an Excel file and a CSV

A CSV file is a data file that is just values, csv stands for Comma Seperated Values. There is no configuration or formulas it is straight raw data.
An excel file on the contrary can be configured in multiple way depending on the users requirements
Viewdata only accepts the raw data in CSV files.
What is Socio Economic data

The socio economic indices for Australia (SEIFA) are created by the ABS to inform each areas advantage or disadvantage socially. They are made up of a group of indicators such as education level, income level and occupation to name a few.
More information on these can be found here
https://www.abs.gov.au/methodologies/socio-economic-indexes-areas-seifa-australia-methodology/2021
How does Rank work when selecting Demographic Data

The Rank allows you to build a customer Avatar with multiple demographic indicators in the same map. To do this select Rank and then each demographic indicator you want to include. The software gives each indicator a value for each SA1 area to indicate the proportion of people within that area with the indicators. It is important to note that all people in the area will not have all the indicators just on average higher or lower than other areas.
What are catchments
How do I create a catchment

You can create a catchment by selecting the catchment tab, this will open up a dialogue box on the left hand side. The catchment will be defined by selecting a point on the map and is built by selecting again and again on the map based on SA1’s. The more SA1’s you select side by side the larger the area gets. You can then name and save your catchment.
Why do we compare catchments

Its important to not just know the data in a catchment but to place that data in context of say the surrounding area or the state to understand how it compares.
An example might be the comparison of two potential areas to open a new shop location and which best suits your products.
What is a Polygon

Data

What Data types are supported
What if I have data in an excel file or in another format
Do I need to organise my data in a special way
Include a geographical column (e.g. postcode or suburb).
Each row represents a single record (e.g. event, customer, or transaction).
Add columns as required for your business.
Large files (thousands of rows) are supported.
Do you have any sample data sets that I can take a look at and test with
How do I know if my CSV files has been matched to the correct geography as I am worried about the quality of my data.

Once your csv file has been imported the software will identify how many of your records have and have not been matched to a geography. This can be found in the right hand dialogue box directly beneath the Statistics heading. By selecting View Records the spreadsheet will open and the rows that have an issue will be highlighted allowing you to rectify and clean the data.
What Geographical areas are supported

Is there Training and support available

Training is available through the online Training videos, these can be accessed through selecting the ? symbol in the software, or by going to our Youtube Channel at ———–
Support is available also with the level of support available dependent on your chosen plan level. You can access support via email at admin@viewdata.com.au
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