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LG Inform Plus Search Help Guide

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Searching for reports & data

Your first step after entering the LG Inform Plus website (http://about.esd.org.uk) is either to register for an account or sign in using your LG Inform details. The links for this can be found in the top right hand corner of the screen.

Screenshot of the top navigation bar showing where the 'Sign in' and 'Register' links are

Once you have registered and signed in, select ‘Data and reports’ from the options shown below:

Screenshot of the landing page highlighting the link to the Data and Reports Hub page.

 

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Data and Report options

Users will be taken to this ‘Hub’ page:

Screenshot of the Data and Reports 'Hub' page

The page is divided into four areas:

  • ‘Data and Reports’
    • Search the database by topics
  • ‘Your Organisations Reports/Reports from the LGA’
    • Useful pre-built reports covering a variety of areas and themes (See our Report Builder Guide)
  • ‘Explore the Data’
    • Search the database via themes
  • ‘Go straight to the data’
    • Access the Data Tool to extract data (see our Data Guide)

‘Data and Reports’

Type in search terms such as ‘Obesity’, ‘Housing’ or ‘Population’ to obtain a listing of metrics:

Screenshot of the search bar with an example: typing in the term 'obesity'

Click ‘Search Data’ to see the results.

‘Your Organisations Reports/Reports from the LGA’

This features a number of pre-built reports that users can access, view, save or modify:

Screenshot of where 'Your Organisations' Reports and 'Reports from the LGA' are located on the Hub page.

To view other available reports just click ‘See more reports’

‘Explore the Data’

This function allows users to interrogate the database via a series of key themes and groupings of metrics:

Screenshot showing the access to the ‘Explorer'

Either select one of the themes displayed for a tailored search or click ‘Explore all themes’ to view all themes, select one and obtain results.

‘Go straight to the data’

This function takes you to the data tool where detailed data queries can be created to mine the data in various formats.

Screenshot of the link to the data tool: 'Go straight to the data' and 'Use the Data tool' button.

Just click on the ‘Use data tool’ to progress.

 

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Using the Search Engine

Search offers the user the flexibility of completing simple searches for data and reports or taking a more specified approach. Using ‘Explore the data’ click on ‘Explore all themes’:

Screenshot showing the 'Explore All Themes' button.

Users will be taken through to the ‘Explorer’ where all available themes are shown:

Screenshot of the opened Explorer showing all available themes and the modifier to change the area type.

The ‘Area Type’ offers users the ability to view the data at a number of levels e.g. Local Authority, Ward, LSOA, MSOA etc.

The total number of results are shown:

Screenshot of the counter: Total number of results shown - 9668 results

The results listing can be downloaded as a csv file:

'Download results as csv' link

Select an Area type e.g. ‘Ward’, you are interested in and then one of the themes e.g. ‘Administration and Government’ to get more detailed results. You can select other themes too.

Screenshot of results. Metric types shown post selecting a theme - e.g. 'Administration and Government'

Scroll down to find a metric you are interested in and click on ‘INFO’ to see the detailed ‘Meta data’ about that metric.

Screenshot showing an open ‘INFO’. Showing the detailed ‘Meta data’ about that metric.

Use the ‘Cross’ to close the info.

Cross button

When satisfied click on ‘COUNT’ to see the data.

Screenshot of an example 'Count' button. Click this to go to the data.

The following details will be shown:

Screenshot of the Total Population data in various options. At the top the modifers e.g. change the area. At the side, change the view from table to bar chart or map view

 

Initially a ‘Table is displayed’.

The icons on the left can be used to view the data as a ‘Table’ (shown), ‘Bar Chart’ or ‘Map’. The fourth icon produces a query so the data can be exported.

Map view:

Screenshot: data shown as a map view

The modifiers at the top of the Dialogue box can be used to change the ‘Area Type’, ‘Local Authority Area’, a comparison grouping and Breakdown e.g. geographical level.

Use the controls to download a csv file, link to the image or save the component.

Screenshot of the 'Controls' used to download a csv file, link to the image or save the component.

Further information can also be found:

Screenshot of the contents within the 'Ready made reports' section

The default is ‘Inform Plus reports’ but reports available in LG Inform can also be viewed (where appropriate). By clicking on ‘Ready-made reports’ a listing of available reports containing this metric can be found:

Reports listed include a ‘Standard Report’ plus others that use this metric:

Screenshot of report examples: Various Ready made reports, the Standard reports and custom reports

To open any report, click on the blue title. The report will open. Just scroll down to see the details. Note the modifiers at the top can be used to change the focus of the report.

Screenshot of an Example report that opens when the blue link is clicked

To return to your search results use the ‘back arrow’.

 

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To go directly to the Explorer Search Engine, quick links are provided via the left-hand side navigation.

Screenshot highlighting the direct access to Explorer page by clicking on the left hand side navigation bar

Users are taken directly to the ‘Explorer’:

Screenshot of the Explorer opened - Showing the 'Explain' button which helps if no data is shown

If no results are obtained, click ‘Show explain’ for information as to a likely reason e.g. data not available at this geography.

 

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Need more help?

We hope you found the introduction to the Search module useful, but if you have any further questions or would like to learn more, please get in touch.

Screenshot of the top navigation highlighting the 'Help' button

Use the Help link in the navigation bar anywhere in LG Inform Plus to read through our online help guides, or send an email to support@esd.org.uk and the support team will get back to you (Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.).

Note: there is a ‘Chat’ icon if users need specific help:

Screenshot of the available Chat function button.

 

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