II.    Data File Characteristics

       Each record on the annual tape files contains two multiple cause-of-death fields
       which have been coded using ICD-9.  In addition, underlying cause,
       demographic, and geographic detail data accompany the multiple cause-of-
       death data.  The tape files contain the complete level of detail coded by NCHS
       except where precluded by confidentiality restrictions or lack of data reliability.

       Specifications for the 1997 tape files are as follows:

       File Organization:           Multiple files, multiple reels
       Record Type:                 Blocked, fixed format
       Record Length:               440
       Blocksize:                   26400

U.S. DATA SET:

       1.     Record count:                               2,317,586
       2.     Data counts:   a. By occurrence:            2,317,586
                               b. By residence:           2,314,245
                               c. To foreign residents:        3,341

PUERTO RICO, VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, AND AMERICAN SAMOA DATA SET:

       1.  Record count:                                       30,848

PUERTO RICO:
       2.  Data counts:      a.  By occurrence:                29,120
                             b.  By residence                  28,963
VIRGIN ISLANDS:
       2.  Data counts:      a.  By occurrence:                  608
                             b.  By residence:                   620
GUAM:2. Data Counts: a.  By occurrence:                          863
                             b.  By residence:                   615
AMERICAN SAMOA:
       2. Data Counts:       a.  By occurrence:                  257
                             b.  By residence:                   257

       1.  The data were processed using the PL/1 language on an IBM 3081.

       2.  The last block for the data year may be a short block.

       3.  The data are recorded in IBM/EBCDIC 8-bit code for each character.



        4.  Codes may be numeric, alphabetic, or blank (Hex 40).

        5.  A code "z" is the EBCDIC code for the letter "z".

        6.  A code "&" is the EBCDIC code for an ampersand (a punched card
               code 12).