How do I turn an excel file into a MARK-friendly input file?

[Eliza]

I am a complete novice with MARK and I need some advice on how to properly arrange an input file so that MARK will accept it. My data is currently arranged in excel: each row is a different individual's capture history and each column is caught/not caught for a particular occassion (i.e. x rows for x individuals, and 17 columns - 1st being tag number, 2-16 being either 0 or 1 for each trapping night). I will be using closed populations models to estimate population size. How do I convert this file into a format MARK will accept? Is there a way of doing this automatically so I don't have to do it by hand (there's a lot of data). How do I turn .xls into .inp? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

[egc]

I am a complete novice with MARK and I need some advice on how to properly arrange an input file so that MARK will accept it. My data is currently arranged in excel: each row is a different individual's capture history and each column is caught/not caught for a particular occassion (i.e. x rows for x individuals, and 17 columns - 1st being tag number, 2-16 being either 0 or 1 for each trapping night). I will be using closed populations models to estimate population size. How do I convert this file into a format MARK will accept? Is there a way of doing this automatically so I don't have to do it by hand (there's a lot of data). How do I turn .xls into .inp? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

It sounds as if you're data are already pretty close to what you want. First, have you read Chapter 2 in 'the book'? If so, you'll know that what you've described (above) is basically what you need - simply copy out of Excel, and paste into and something you can save in ASCII format. As long as each of your individuals has the same number of columns (i.e., same number of trapping occasions) you probably don't need to do more than this. Just make sure that your INP file looks like those represented in Chapter 2.

Again, given your long-term goals, make sure you read chapter 2, first (data formatting). Then, once you have your data in place, you're ready for the next step. Given your intents, it will likely to be tempting to jump right into the new chapter on closed estimators (chapter 14). Resist. The material in that chapter will be only partially accessible until you done the preliminar work, which means going through chapter 3 -> 7 first.

[Bernd Gruber]

I am a complete novice with MARK and I need some advice on how to properly arrange an input file so that MARK will accept it. My data is currently arranged in excel: each row is a different individual's capture history and each column is caught/not caught for a particular occassion (i.e. x rows for x individuals, and 17 columns - 1st being tag number, 2-16 being either 0 or 1 for each trapping night). I will be using closed populations models to estimate population size. How do I convert this file into a format MARK will accept? Is there a way of doing this automatically so I don't have to do it by hand (there's a lot of data). How do I turn .xls into .inp? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

Dear Eliza,

if it is just a technical question how to convert, I programmed once an excel makro that do convert a two column excel sheet (with first row and unique id and second row a number for the session into an mark inp style. I have not tested it intensively, so if you want to try it (please check the results carefully) write me your mai address and I can send it to you via direct mail as here is no way to attach files (I think)

Cheers, Bernd