Use the Environment Scanner tool search your computer for CRSP databases and automatically combine them into valid environments.
Folder Hint Paths
By default, the Environment Scanner looks for databases in a set of pre-defined locations, called Folder Hint Paths. The Folder Hint Paths provided with CRSPSift are C:\crspdata (the default install location for CRSP databases) and C:\ crspdata\Sample 3.21 (the location of the sample datasets provided with the CRSPSift software). Each time CRSPSift launches, the Folder Hint Paths are search for newly installed databases. When new databases are found by the Scanner, any valid environments based on those databases are presented to you to select and add to CRSPSift.
If your databases are installed outside the default locations, you can add your own Folder Hint Paths to guide the Environment Scanner’s search. Click the Add button next to the list of paths. Next click the Browse button and choose the directory where you would like the Scanner to search for databases. Click OK to add the directory to the list.
To delete a Folder Hint Path, select it from the list and click the Delete button.
Scan Options
The Environment Scanner’s Scan Options allow you to fine tune how its scan is performed. The default behavior for the Scanner is to search defined Folder Hint Paths, scanning the top level of those folders for valid databases.
If you would like to search a directory without adding it to the list of Folder Hint Paths, click the Scan Specific Location checkbox and then the Browse button to locate it.
Scanning
After setting the appropriate Scan Options, click the Start Scan button to activate the Environment Scanner. When the scan begins, the Start Scan button is replaced with the Cancel Scan button. Click this button at any time during the process to halt the scan.
The time it takes for a scan to complete depends on the number of directories scanned.
New Environments Founds
When the Environment Scanner completes its search, any new, valid environments it discovered are displayed in the New Environments Found table at the bottom of the screen. Each environment displays its attributes, such as its default nickname, full dataset name, and the folder paths of the databases it includes.
To add a discovered environments to CRSPSift, click the Create checkbox in its row. If you would like to modify the environment’s settings before adding it, click the Edit button. See the discussion of CRSPSift Environments for details on how environment editing options. When you are satisfied with the environment, click the Add button. The new environment will now be available for use by CRSPSift query tools.
The Enviroment Scan Log
To see a log of the databases found by the Environment Scanner, click the View Log button in the Scan Options area. The Environment Scan Log maintains a list of the databases discovered in each run of the Environment Scanner. The log of the most recent session is shown by default. To view a previous session, select a date and time from the Session drop-down menu.
CRSPSift Options - Services
The Services Options screen displays technical information about various subsystems of the CRSPSift application, including Manager Service and Query Engine connections. The only editable feature is the Query Engine Connection Account.
CRSPSift Options - Query Queue
The Query Queue lists and displays details for all batch queries, as well as any open standalone queries that have been executed at least once during the current CRSPSift session.
Searching For Batch Queries
Using the search options, you can filter the list to display only those queries that match certain criteria, including query owner name and query status, as well as the dates relating to when a query is scheduled to execute, when it started execution, and when execution ended.
Managing Batch Queries
A drop-down menu at the bottom left of the Query Queue screen contains actions that you can perform on a batch query.
Subscription Information
CRSPSift Options - Environment Scanner
Use the Environment Scanner tool search your computer for CRSP databases and automatically combine them into valid environments.
Folder Hint Paths
By default, the Environment Scanner looks for databases in a set of pre-defined locations, called Folder Hint Paths. The Folder Hint Paths provided with CRSPSift are C:\crspdata (the default install location for CRSP databases) and C:\ crspdata\Sample 3.21 (the location of the sample datasets provided with the CRSPSift software). Each time CRSPSift launches, the Folder Hint Paths are search for newly installed databases. When new databases are found by the Scanner, any valid environments based on those databases are presented to you to select and add to CRSPSift.
If your databases are installed outside the default locations, you can add your own Folder Hint Paths to guide the Environment Scanner’s search. Click the Add button next to the list of paths. Next click the Browse button and choose the directory where you would like the Scanner to search for databases. Click OK to add the directory to the list.
To delete a Folder Hint Path, select it from the list and click the Delete button.
Scan Options
The Environment Scanner’s Scan Options allow you to fine tune how its scan is performed. The default behavior for the Scanner is to search defined Folder Hint Paths, scanning the top level of those folders for valid databases.
If you would like to search a directory without adding it to the list of Folder Hint Paths, click the Scan Specific Location checkbox and then the Browse button to locate it.
Scanning
After setting the appropriate Scan Options, click the Start Scan button to activate the Environment Scanner. When the scan begins, the Start Scan button is replaced with the Cancel Scan button. Click this button at any time during the process to halt the scan.
The time it takes for a scan to complete depends on the number of directories scanned.
New Environments Founds
When the Environment Scanner completes its search, any new, valid environments it discovered are displayed in the New Environments Found table at the bottom of the screen. Each environment displays its attributes, such as its default nickname, full dataset name, and the folder paths of the databases it includes.
To add a discovered environments to CRSPSift, click the Create checkbox in its row. If you would like to modify the environment’s settings before adding it, click the Edit button. See the discussion of CRSPSift Environments for details on how environment editing options. When you are satisfied with the environment, click the Add button. The new environment will now be available for use by CRSPSift query tools.
The Enviroment Scan Log
To see a log of the databases found by the Environment Scanner, click the View Log button in the Scan Options area. The Environment Scan Log maintains a list of the databases discovered in each run of the Environment Scanner. The log of the most recent session is shown by default. To view a previous session, select a date and time from the Session drop-down menu.
CRSPSift Options - Services
The Services Options screen displays technical information about various subsystems of the CRSPSift application, including Manager Service and Query Engine connections. The only editable feature is the Query Engine Connection Account.
CRSPSift Options - Query Queue
The Query Queue lists and displays details for all batch queries, as well as any open standalone queries that have been executed at least once during the current CRSPSift session.
Searching For Batch Queries
Using the search options, you can filter the list to display only those queries that match certain criteria, including query owner name and query status, as well as the dates relating to when a query is scheduled to execute, when it started execution, and when execution ended.
Managing Batch Queries
A drop-down menu at the bottom left of the Query Queue screen contains actions that you can perform on a batch query.