U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DIGITAL DATA SERIES DDS-18-A

                     National Geochemical Data Base: 
                National Uranium Resource Evaluation Data
                   for the Conterminous United States


                    GETTING STARTED -- A BRIEF TUTORIAL

          Ŀ
                            **** NOTE ****                        
                                                              
           We HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you take the time to go 
           through this tutorial.  Steps included in it will  
           greatly speed subsequent use of the software.      
          

       If you have not already done so, make the CD-ROM drive the active
       drive and type INSTALL<Enter>.  Follow the on-screen instructions
       to complete the installation.

       The NURE48 Main Menu is displayed automatically after you have 
       completed the installation procedure.  To return to the NURE48 Main 
       Menu if you have previously completed the installation procedure, 
       change to the NURE48 directory on the hard disk drive on which you 
       installed the CD-ROM, and type the command NURE48.  

       Within the system menus, options may be selected by pressing the
       highlighted letter of the option, by moving the highlight bar using
       the up- and down-arrow keys and pressing <Enter>, or by moving the
       highlight bar using the mouse and clicking the <LeftMouse> button.

       Print a hard copy of the "Overview" and "Getting Started" options
       from the NURE48 Main Menu as follows:  

       Highlight "Overview", then press <Enter>.  Wait until the document
       is displayed, then press <F4>.  Do the same for the "Getting
       Started" option.  Save the hard copies for future reference.

       This tutorial is a search and retrieval exercise using the NURE
       data for the conterminous United States.  In this tutorial, you
       will search for and retrieve the records for -100 mesh sediments
       from dry streams from the Silver City, NM, quadrangle, narrow the
       search to those records that have two different levels of
       detectable silver, output the records to ASCII and MAPPER graphics
       files, and use MAPPER to look at the map quadrangle coverage and
       the locations of the retrieved records.



    Lesson 1:  Using GSSEARCH to retrieve records
      
       Step 1.   Make sure that the NURE48 Main Menu is displayed.  Select 
                 the "Search NURE conterminous U.S. data" line of the menu.
                 
                 You will then see the GSSEARCH Selection window.  As you 
                 make or change selections in your search criteria, the  
                 resulting selections appear in this window.  The menu bar 
                 at the bottom of the window shows the options you may 
                 select at this point. 

                 Within GSSEARCH, you can use three methods to select an 
                 option.  The first method is to use the left- and 
                 right-arrow keys (or up- and down-arrow keys) to highlight 
                 the option you want and then press <Enter>.  The second 
                 method is to press the highlighted letter of the option 
                 you want.  The third option is to use the mouse to move 
                 the cursor over the option and double-click <LeftMouse>.  
                 At any time during the option selection process, you can 
                 press <F1> to view HELP information for the highlighted 
                 selection.  After pressing <F1>, use the up- and down-arrow 
                 keys to select either "DATABASE INFO" or "PROGRAM INFO".  
                 At any time, you can return to the previous window by 
                 pressing <Esc> or clicking <RightMouse>.


       Step  2.  Begin choosing your first search criterion by selecting 
                 "Add".  
       
                 You can now scroll through a list of all the indexed 
                 fields in the data base using the up- and down-arrow keys. 
                 You can include any combination of these fields in a 
                 search. 

       Step 3.   Select the "QUAD" index and press <Enter>.  

                 A divided window will open.  The upper portion of this 
                 window is for entering a search term such as a quadrangle 
                 name.  As you type, the first match to the characters you 
                 have typed appears highlighted.  Uppercase and lowercase 
                 will be read the same.  When the desired search term is in 
                 the upper window, press <Enter> to make it a search 
                 criterion.
                 
                 The lower portion of the window contains a list of the
                 1:250,000 scale quadrangles in the data base and the 
                 corresponding number of records in the data base.  You also 
                 can select a quadrangle name from this list by highlighting
                 it and pressing <Enter>.  
                 

       Step 4.   Select "SILVER CITY".  

                 The search term SILVER CITY will be copied to the GSSEARCH
                 Selection window.  The righthand side of the window displays
                 the number of occurrences of the quadrangle name "SILVER 
                 CITY" in the data base.  

       Step 5.   Select "Add", then select "AND".
                 
       Step 6.   Select "SAMPTYP" in the INDEXES window.  
                 
                 The resulting list in the window displays the code for 
                 each sample type and the corresponding number of records 
                 in the data base.  To display detailed explanations of 
                 the sample type codes, press <F1> and select "DATABASE 
                 INFO".  Press the <Esc> key to return to the previous 
                 window. 
     
       Step 7.   Select sample type code 15 (-100 mesh sediments from a 
                 dry stream).
                 
                 You now have created search criteria that will search 
                 for all the records where QUAD=SILVER CITY AND SAMPTYP=15.  
                 The GSSEARCH Selection window contains both the search  
                 criteria and their corresponding record counts.

                 To add search criteria, you must connect them to the 
                 previous criteria, using AND, OR, or NOT.  AND narrows a  
                 search; OR widens a search; NOT excludes criteria from a  
                 search set.  You will likely use AND for most retrievals 
                 you will want to run.  At times, you may want to use OR 
                 or NOT.  You are now ready to run the search.  Logical  
                 operations are performed in the sequence that they appear 
                 in the window.  

       Step 8.   Select "Search" on the menu bar.  
            
                 The software first searches for each search criterion, 
                 and then performs a logical merge of the criteria.  The 
                 number of records that satisfy the search criteria, known
                 as "hits," appears in the lower right corner of the 
                 GSSEARCH Selection window.  For this exercise, that 
                 number should be 1149.



    Lesson 2:  Narrowing a search.

        Step 9.  Select the "Add" option on the menu bar to modify the 
                 search criteria set already in use to narrow the search.
                 Select "AND".  Add silver to the search criteria by 
                 selecting the AG index in a similar manner as in step 3.
                 
                 The right-hand window now shows silver concentrations in 
                 ppb for all records in the data base.  See the HELP files 
                 for additional information on selecting element 
                 concentration values.

       Step 10.  Search for only those records with silver concentrations 
                 of greater than or equal to 2000 ppb (2 ppm) by pressing 
                 <Alt> and > at the same time.  Then select the value 2000 
                 and press <Enter>.  Do not use a comma when entering 
                 numbers into a search set. 

                 Now the GSSEARCH Selection window displays all three 
                 search criteria.  Note that the entire silver 
                 concentration range (2000 ppb to 69,845,000 ppb) is  
                 displayed.  
     
       Step 11.  Run the amended search by selecting "Search" on the menu 
                 bar. 

                 The search now running is looking for all records of 
                 sample type 15 in the Silver City quadrangle with 
                 silver concentrations of greater than or equal to 2000 
                 ppb.  After a search has been completed, the number 13 will 
                 appear in the lower right corner of GSSEARCH Selection 
                 window.  That number indicates that 13 records satisfy the 
                 amended search criteria. 
     
       Step 12.  Edit the search criteria by selecting "Edit".  Use the  
                 down-arrow key to move the highlight bar until you have  
                 highlighted the silver concentration criterion.  Press 
                 <Enter> to select this line for editing.  Reselect "AND" 
                 and the AG index.  (You can retain or change any of the 
                 search criteria.)  Select a range of greater than or equal 
                 to 5000 and press <Enter>.  Now press <Esc> to exit the 
                 editor.  Run the amended search by selecting the "Search" 
                 option from the menu bar as before.  
                 
                 This search will result in four records as indicated in 
                 the lower right corner of the GSSEARCH Selection window.



    Lesson 3.  Viewing the search results and writing them to your hard 
               disk.

       Step 13.  View the records that satisfied the search criteria by
                 selecting the "Display" option on the menu bar.  

                 The first Browse screen is now shown.  Five browse 
                 formats are available as indicated by "12345 Format" in 
                 the lower right-hand corner of the screen.  

       Step 14.  Press <2>, <3>, <4>, and <5> sequentially to display the 
                 other four Browse screens.  Press <1> to redisplay the 
                 first Browse screen.

                 In each Browse screen, a one-line summary of each record 
                 that satisfied the search criteria will be displayed.  As 
                 many as fifteen records (or as many records as will fit 
                 into the available memory) will be displayed per screen.  
                 The up and down arrow keys and <Page Up> and <Page Down> 
                 allow movement between blocks of records.  
                 
       Step 15.  Tag the first and last records for output by moving the 
                 highlight bar to the first record and pressing <Ins> to 
                 tag that record, then pressing <End> to move the highlight 
                 to the last record and pressing <Ins> to tag it.  

                 Note the red triangles at the left of both record lines.  
                 To remove the tag of a highlighted record, press <Del>.   
                 To tag all the retrieved records, press <Ctrl> and <Ins> 
                 at the same time; to remove all tags, press <Ctrl> and 
                 <Del> at the same time.  

       Step 16.  Press <F8> to display the first pull-down Output menu.

                 In the Output menu system, press <Esc> to back up one 
                 menu and press <X> to exit the Output system.  The 
                 Records menu allows selection of All records or Tagged  
                 records.  
                 
                 If any records have been tagged, the menu will 
                 automatically have the "Tagged" option highlighted.

       Step 17.  Select all records by highlighting "All" and pressing 
                 <Enter>.
                
       Step 18.  Press <A> to select the columnar ASCII output format.

                 The Format menu allows selection of output format.  You 
                 may choose columnar ASCII, fixed-field ASCII, delimited 
                 ASCII, DBase, or MAPPER graphics.    

       Step 19.  Press <S> for "Selected" to select fields for output.  
    
                 The Field menu allows selection of all or selected 
                 fields.     

       Step 20.  Following the OUTPUT FIELDS menu in the top right corner of 
                 the screen, select and tag the LASLID, QUAD, LAT, LONG, 
                 SAMPTYP, AG, CU, PB, and ZN fields.  Press <Enter> to accept 
                 the field selections.

                 Select fields in much the same way as you tagged records 
                 for output.  Move the highlight to the desired field and 
                 press <Ins>.  Press <Del> to remove a tag from the 
                 highlighted field.  When fields have already been selected,
                 an intermediate menu gives you the option of using the
                 existing selection, editing the existing selection, or 
                 making a new selection.  

       Step 21.  Press <E> to exclude null fields.

                 The Null Fields menu gives you the option of retaining 
                 or excluding any null (empty) data fields in the tagged  
                 records.  Pressing <R> will retain them.  This option 
                 is available only for columnar ASCII format output.

       Step 22.  Press <F> to send the output to a disk file.

                 The Destination menu gives the option of directing the 
                 output to the printer or a disk file.  The printer option 
                 is available only for the columnar ASCII format.  This 
                 menu does not appear if other formats are chosen.

                 A message will appear showing the default path and name 
                 for the output file.  The default extensions are

                      .ASC for columnar ASCII format;
                      .FIX for fixed-field ASCII format;
                      .LIM for delimited ASCII format;
                      .DBF for dBase format;
                      .GRF for MAPPER graphics format.


       Step 23.  Edit the path and name as desired.  Press <Enter> to save 
                 the file with that pathname.  

                 If a file already exists with that name, you will be 
                 given the opportunity to edit the name, to overwrite the  
                 existing file, or to append the new data to the existing 
                 file.  The file append option is not available for DBase  
                 format output.

                 Upon completion of the save, the software will cause the 
                 speaker to beep.  

       Step 24.  Press <Esc> enough times to restore the browse screen. 
       


    Lesson 4.  Selecting display options.
       
       Step 25.  Move the highlight bar to any record and press <Enter> 
                 to view the full record.  
   
                 The menu bar at the bottom explains the options available 
                 at this point.  Scrolling allows you to view the entire  
                 record.  The RECORD TAGGED flag in the upper left corner 
                 of the record box indicates if a record has been tagged 
                 for output.  Pressing <Del> removes the tag.  You can 
                 move to the next record by pressing <+>; pressing <-> 
                 moves back to the previous record.  Pressing <O> brings 
                 up the Display Options menu.  You may select fields to   
                 display, select from three highlighting options, select 
                 single or double spacing, and choose to retain or exclude 
                 null (empty) fields.  

       Step 26.  Press <Esc> enough times to restore the browse screen.



    Lesson 5.  Creating a graphics format file for display using MAPPER.

       Step 27.  Press <F8> to invoke the output menus again.  Press <A> 
                 to select All records.  Press <G> to select GRF output 
                 format.  Press <F> to select magenta for the color for 
                 the display of the output records locations.  

       Step 28.  Edit the file name prefix to SILVER.  Accept the file 
                 name by pressing <Enter>.
   
                 You may edit the file prefix only.  MAPPER.EXE will only
                 find graphics files ending in .GRF in the directory from
                 which it was started.  Therefore, the path and the .GRF
                 extension may not be changed.  You may append new output
                 to an existing .GRF file.
                 
       Step 29.  Press <Esc> enough times to return to the GSSEARCH 
                 Selection window.  

                 The GSSEARCH Selection window is the one in which you 
                 entered the search criteria.

       Step 30.  Save the search criteria to a .SET file on your hard 
                 disk.  Select "SetFile", and then select "Save".  
                 Change the .SET  file name to SILVER.SET, and press 
                 <Enter> to save the search criteria.

       Step 31.  Erase the current search criteria from the screen by 
                 selecting "Clear".

       Step 32.  Select "SetFile", and then "Load".  

                 You will then see a window that shows directories that 
                 match the *.* wildcard, enclosed in angle brackets, and 
                 the files that match the "*.SET" wildcard.  Disk drives 
                 are enclosed in square brackets. 

       Step 33.  Press <F1> to display the HELP screen.  Read the contents 
                 of this HELP screen.  Press <Esc> to return to the file  
                 selection window.  Press <?> to show information about 
                 the highlighted file or directory.  

       Step 34.  Type SILVER to move the highlight to SILVER.SET.  Press
                 <Alt> and <B> at the same time to view this file.  Press 
                 <Esc> to exit the file viewer.  Press <Enter>.

                 You can view a .SET file, but you cannot change it. 
                 If search criteria are already in use, that is, in 
                 memory, the selected search criteria loaded from your
                 hard disk will be appended to the existing criteria.

                 You could use SILVER.SET to rerun the original search.  

       Step 35.  Instead, return to the NURE48 Main Menu by selecting 
                 "Quit" on the menu bar.



    Lesson 6.  Using MAPPER to display the graphics format file.
             
                 Next you will display a map of the conterminous United 
                 States, and plot the locations of the records you just
                 selected.  

       Step 36.  Make sure that the NURE48 Main Menu window is displayed.  
                 Select the "View NURE48 Coverage Map" option.

       Step 37.  Press <Enter> to select from the menu now displayed the 
                 one file, listed as NURE48.?MP, where the ? character is 
                 X, V, or E, depending on the type of graphics adapter 
                 board in your PC.  

                 A map of the conterminous United States will be drawn on 
                 the screen, with national and state boundaries, major 
                 rivers, and waterways.  The NURE coverage quadrangle 
                 outlines will be in green.  A menu bar will appear at the 
                 top of the screen.  

       Step 38.  Select "Analyze".  A new menu bar will appear.  Display 
                 the names of the quadrangles by first selecting "Plot" 
                 and pressing <Enter> to display the Plot submenu.  (You 
                 can access other MAPPER submenu items in the same manner.)
                 Then select "Graph" from the submenu.  
                 
                 A small window will appear with the names of the .GRF 
                 files available.  In this case, the files are N48NAMES.GRF, 
                 which contains the names of the quadrangles included in
                 the NURE data for the conterminous U.S., and SILVER.GRF, 
                 which you just made in GSSEARCH.  

       Step 39.  Select N48NAMES.GRF.  
 
                 Because of limited space on the map at the base zoom 
                 level, only the first four letters of the quadrangle name 
                 will be displayed.
               
       Step 40.  Select "System" and press <Enter> to display the submenu.  
                 Select "Zoom".  

                 A box will be drawn on the screen.  You will manipulate
                 this box in the next two steps.

       Step 41.  Select "Move Box".  Move the mouse cursor to the Silver  
                 City quadrangle, and click <LeftMouse>.  Click 
                 <RightMouse> to redisplay the "Zoom" menu.
  
                 The Silver City quadrangle is located in southwestern 
                 New Mexico.  

       Step 42.  Select "Smaller", and click <LeftMouse> to make the box 
                 smaller until it covers about a three quadrangle by 
                 three quadrangle area.  Accept that size by clicking  
                 <RightMouse>.  

                 If you make the box too small, select "Larger" and make 
                 the box larger by clicking <LeftMouse> until you have 
                 sized the box properly.  Click <RightMouse> to accept 
                 the size.  

       Step 43.  Select "Exit & Plot".  

                 The zoomed map will be drawn on the screen.  This time 
                 county boundaries and more detailed waterways will be  
                 drawn.  Since the zoomed map is being built from the 
                 digital data files, this process takes some time, so be 
                 patient.

       Step 44.  Select "Plot", and then select "Graph" from the submenu.  

                 The same small window that you saw in Step 39 will 
                 appear with the names of the .GRF files available.  

       Step 45.  Select N48NAMES.GRF.  

                 The complete names of the quadrangles selected will be  
                 displayed.  

       Step 46.  Repeat Step 44, then select SILVER.GRF.  

                 The locations of the records saved in Step 28 will be
                 displayed as small magenta plus signs.

                 Only .GRF files in the directory from which MAPPER was 
                 started (i.e. \NURE48 on your hard disk) will be found by 
                 the MAPPER software.

       Step 47.  Save the zoomed map image and graphics to the \NURE48 
                 directory on your hard disk.  This will speed any 
                 subsequent loadings of the zoomed map considerably.  Select 
                 "Return" from the menu at the top of the screen and then 
                 select "Map" to display the Map submenu.  Select "Save" 
                 from the submenu.

                 The map will automatically be saved as MAPPER00.?MP, where 
                 the ? character is X, V, or E, depending on the type of  
                 graphics adapter board in your PC.  You can load this map
                 file again when needed.  It may be renamed to make it more
                 meaningful, but the file extension must not be changed.
                 Any maps saved subsequently will be called MAPPER01.?MP,
                 MAPPER02.?MP, etc.  These map files will then be displayed
                 and may be selected from the map file menu (Step 37). 

                 The MAPPER map file selection software first looks for map 
                 files in the directory from which it was started, in this 
                 case the \NURE48 directory on your hard disk.  If any are 
                 found they are listed in the file menu.  If none are found 
                 it automatically looks in the directory where MAPPER.EXE is 
                 located, in this case the \MAPPER directory on the CD-ROM 
                 drive.  It then looks in any alternate paths which may be 
                 specified in the MAPPER command line.  These alternate paths
                 may be accessed by pressing <Esc> at the file selection 
                 menu.  Information on how to add an alternate path to the 
                 MAPPER command line is included in PROBLEMS.DOC in the 
                 \DOCFILES directory of this CD-ROM.

       Step 48.  Return to the NURE48 Main Menu level by selecting "QUIT".  
                 Press <Esc> to exit the Main Menu and return to DOS.



       You have now completed a brief tutorial running GSSEARCH and MAPPER 
       using NURE data for the conterminous United States.  Remember 
       that if you use the dBASE output option and select all fields,
       184 fields will be output.  The dBase software system  you use may 
       not be capable of handling more than 127 fields.  Check your 
       manual(s) to determine the number of fields that your system can  
       process.
         
       If you encounter problems running the software, additional help 
       is available in PROBLEMS.DOC, found in the DOCS directory.

       A more complete tutorial on the use of MAPPER and related software
       is located in the MAPPER/TUTORIAL directory on the CD-ROM.