Here are listed the central questions related to the use of SOTKAnet. The list is updated as needed. Additional instructions as to the use of SOTKAnet can also be found through the "site guide" link.
Why can't I get past the home page?
On the home page, there are four different ways to get to the search page. The first and primary way is to click the "BEGIN SEARCH HERE" link, whereupon the user moves to a blank search page and can begin choosing. Indicators can also be chosen on the basis of municipality, keyword or indicator number. The user can choose only one manner of search at a time. For example you can not choose municipality and keyword at the same time.
The second way is to choose the desired municipality from the "select municipality" menu and click "search". Only one municipality can be chosen from the menu. The user moves to the search page where the municipality chosen on the home page is pre-selected.
The third way is to choose a single keyword from the "select a keyword" menu and click "search". Also, only a single keyword can be chosen. The user moves to the search page where the indicators of the keyword chosen on the home page are pre-selected.
The search page can also be accessed by typing the desired indicator identification number or numerous indicator identification numbers, separated by a comma, in the section "Enter the indicator number (ID)". The numbers are available on the indicator's description page which can be accessed by clicking the link "indicator descriptions" in the upper blue menu bar or through the "indicator number (ID)" link in the left corner column of the home page . The indicator number (ID) is marked in parentheses following the name of the indicator in the menu, in which the indicators are listed in alphabetical order. Indicator based searches are primarily designed for the experienced user who often searches for the same indicators and who has memorized their identification numbers. In which case, it is not necessary to choose the indicators through the search pages hierarchy.
Why can't I get past the search page?
A vast majority of SOTKAnet indicators are available in different region groups, from the municipality level upwards. A portion of the indicators are nevertheless of the type that their information is only available of the level of the whole country. Indicators based on the National Public Health Institute's Finnish Adult Health Behaviour surveys (AVTK), which are based on approx. a 5000 person questionnaire study database, are such. Also, numerous population projection indicators are only available on the level of the whole country. Other regional groups can be such that they are not available for all indicators. There are also indicators for which data is not collected every year. A typical example of this kind of indicator is the School Health Promotion study whose data is collected every other year. Always in this type of situation, when the data is not available in the chosen region or year, the following text "Nothing was found for the chosen search criteria. Return to the search page and change your choices." will appear on your screen.
In the written definition of the indicator (section "Classifications") describes, among other things, on which regional groups the data can be presented and whether or not data can be obtained by sex. The "indicator descriptions" link in the upper menu bar of the SOTKAnet pages takes you to a page with pull down menus in alphabetical order through which you can click and choose indicators by name and get the indicator specific description page. In addition, as you move through the SOTKAnet pages, on the left side of the indicator's name is a small blue circle with a lowercase 'i' or info-link which you can click and be able to examine the indicator specific description. In terms of searches, it is beneficial to visit the indicator's description page to see the possible regions and sex choices available.
