Downloading the STAR Research Data File

Research files are available in a variety of formats, depending on the type of system that you use (Windows or Macintosh) and record format (Fixed length ASCII, tab delimited, or dBASE IV).  You should check your application software manuals to verfiy which record format best suits your needs.

These downloads contain the same information as the internet reports.  Each self-extracting file contains one file in the specified format.  The self-extracting file requires approximately 3 MB of storage on your system.  Expanding the file will require approximately 25 MB of storage on your system.

Click the link for the file that corresponds to your system and preferred record format, the file will automatically download.  After the download is complete, you will need to uncompress the file by running it.  After the file has been uncompressed, follow the directions in your application software manuals to open the file in your database, spreadsheet, or other program.

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Fixed-Width ASCII Files

Fixed-Width ASCII files are structured much like files typically used on a mainframe.

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Tab-Delimited Files

Tab-Delimited files can be imported into most databases.

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dBASE IV Files

dBASE IV files are a PC-specific format

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Zip Files

The Research files for Windows are packaged in a self-extracting archive, to save on space and download time.  Self-extracting archives have an extension of .EXE, and can be run as commands or double-clicked on just like any other application. When a self-extracting archive is run, the files in the archive are automatically extracted into the directory of your choice.  You do not need an unzip program (like PKZIP or WinZip) to extract files from these self-extracting archives.

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Binhex-Sit Files

The Research files for the Macintosh are packaged using the Binhex format for transmission over the Internet, and compressed using the StuffIt format.  Once you have downloaded and expanded the file, it will be ready for use.

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Research File Format

The format of the research file is described below.

Record definition

"Results Info" field definition