STORETis a U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)
database of ambient environ-
mental data relating to water
quality. The original STORET
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was developed in the 1960s, and
today the system continues to serve as EPA's
principal repository for marine, freshwater, and
biological monitoring data. STORETis currently
used by a variety of groups, including federal
agencies, states, tribes, local governments,
academic groups, watershed and volunteer
monitoring organizations, and the public.
STORET, EPA's water quality data repository,
provides a standard data structure and data entry
tools for water quality data. STORET also has its
own set of reporting modules for agencies to use.
However, agencies involved in water quality monitor-
ing and assessment activities often need to incorpo-
rate their STORET data into other software tools,
such as Microsoft Access or ESRI's ArcGIS, to create
custom queries, maps, or reports. Agencies may also
need to import their data into statistical software
packages such as SAS. Open Database Connectivity
(ODBC) addresses this challenge by providing a
method for transferring data between software
packages.
ODBC is an interface that enables programs to
access data in database management systems that use
Structured Query Language (SQL) as a data access
standard. Software applications that are "ODBC
compliant" can seamlessly exchange data. This means
that all ODBC-compliant applications can read and
ODBC
analyze STORET data without having to extract or
convert data into a compatible form. ODBC can be
used to:
• Link STORET tables into database management
applications, such as Microsoft Access, SQL Server,
or Paradox.
• Analyze STORET data with query or reporting
tools such as BrioQuery or Crystal Reports to
create charts, construct ad hoc queries, and perform
drill-down analyses.
• Make maps or perform spatial analysis with
STORET data in geographic information systems
(GIS) applications, such as ArcGIS.
• Create business graphics or pivot tables with
Microsoft Excel.
• Perform statistical analysis with SAS, StatView,
or other statistical software.
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STORET Connecting STORET with Other Applications using OPBC
How can I use ODBC with STORET?
Because STORET is an Oracle-based system, and
Oracle is ODBC compliant, the capability to use
ODBC is inherent in the STORET system.
STORET contains several data views that facilitate
the use of ODBC (see below). These data views
allow you to access the data in STORET without
detailed knowledge of the underlying database table
structure. STORET data tables can also be accessed
directly through ODBC. How this capability is set
up depends on the installation, operating system,
and applications that will use ODBC (see inset).
Some useful data views in STORET
All Activity Details
(STORUSER.ALL_ACTIVITY_DETAILS)
All Regular Results
(STORUSER.ALL_REGULAR_RESULTS)
All Station Details
(STORUSER.ALL_STATION_DETAILS)
Setting up an ODBC driver
in Windows 2000/XP
1. From Start/Settings/Control Panel/Administrative
Tools, double click "Data Sources (ODBC)."
2. Choose the System DSN tab. Click "Add."
3. Choose a driver. For Oracle databases, choose the
Oracle ODBC driver.
4. In the driver set-up dialog box, enter "STORET"
for the data source and service names, and your
STORET user ID (e.g., STORUSER) for the
USERID. See your administrator or contact the
STORET hotline if you need assistance.
Provides information related to activities, including
organization, trip, station, procedure, and gear
Provides non-biological results for chemical and
physical characteristics
Provides information related to stations, including
geographical and georeferential data
All Station Visit Details
(STORUSER.ALL_STATION_VISIT_DETAILS)
All Project Details
(STORUSER.ALL_PROJECT_DETAILS)
Provides information related to station visits
Provides project definitions, project to station
assignments, and associated project station
weight information
All Habitat Results
(STORUSER.ALL_HABITAT_RESULTS)
All Biological Single Taxon Individual Results
(STORUSER.ALL_BIO_GROUP_STI_RESULTS)
All Biological Non-Single Taxon Individual Results
(STORUSER.ALL_BIO_GROUP_NON_STI_RESULTS)
All Biological Tissue Results
(STORUSER.ALL_BIO_TISSUE_RESULTS)
Provides information related to habitat assessments
including system-defined and user-defined assessments
Provides single taxon individual results
•
Provides multi-taxon population census, single taxon
group summary, and single taxon frequency class results
Provides individual and tissue results
Where can I get help using OPBC with STORET?
You may need to work with your database/network administrator to configure
ODBC for your installation. For more information, visit the STORET Web site,
www.epa.gov/STORET, or contact the EPA STORET assistance hotline at
1-800-424-9067 or at STORET@epa.gov.
EPA841-F-03-012b,
February 2004
US EPA,
MC 4503T,
Washington, DC
20460
Electronic copies of this document along with many others are available online atwww.epa.gov/STORET
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