FIN FAQ's
FIN FAQ's
This page contains answers to common questions handled by our support staff,
along with some tips and tricks that we have found useful.
Q: How do I get report results down loaded to my PC?
A: On the top right hand side of the tool bar you will see the Orange Arrow pointing away from a document. Just click it and your results can then be sent to your PC in either an excel spreadsheet format or HTML format
Q: How do I get a old report updated?
A: Old Reports are updated each time you access them.
Q: How do I send my report results to another person?
NOTICE: Confidential data should never be released unless you are certain that the individual you are sending the data to has the correct data access levels and has signed a "STATEMENT OF NON-DISCLOSURE".
A: Download the report to you computer via excel or html and email these results to whoever you desire
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Q: Where can I find help a online user guide for FINd?
A: http://www.gsmfc.org/fin/FIND_User_Guide.pdf
Q: Where can I find the people responsible for all this stuff?
A: Go to Customer Support - Point of Contact list.
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Q: Why does my report fail to return data (No data to fetch)?
A: You have chosen fields that the system does not understand. As an example: Select shrimp where the gear code = 'Hook and Line". Shrimp are not caught with hook and line.
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Q: Who is the person in charge of the data?
A: You can find each person and which project they are responsible for under the CONTACT button on the main page. Customer Support - Point of Contact list.
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Q: I received a message stating that my report will create a Cartesian product and then it would not run. What is that? Why wont it run?
A: A Cartesian result or product is when fields are selected from different tables that are not related together. Example: Select Fishermen_Last_Name and Water_Depth from enviromental_data and Fishermen. These 2 tables will not be related so a Cartesian product would be the result. We have made every attempt to prevent this, so please notify us if this occurs. Save your program so we may review it. WHY WONT IT RUN? If allowed to run, the report would simply overload the system resources and flood the drives with output data. Additionally, the report results would be incorrect and of no use to the end user.
Q: I ran my report and some of the totals appeared as "Confidential Data". What in the heck is that all about?
A: In some cases, it is required by commission standards (rule of 3), that we do not display actual totals as they may represent confidential amounts to an individual dealer. In order to show that the species had some amount of landings, we chose this Term. If we had left it blank, it could be assumed that there were 0 pounds for that year, for that species.
Q: What is the difference between confidential and non-confidential data?
A: Confidential data violates the "RULE OF THREE (3)". In all cases, it is required by commission standards, that we do not display any totals that violate this rule. The "RULE OF THREE (3)" consists of a landings for two (2) or less dealers for a single (1) species.
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Q: When is the data in the FIN system updated?
A: The database is updated each time that a State sends Landings data to the FIN. The NON-CONFIDENTIAL layers are re-summarized the next working day..
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