Different versions of your data are stored in different subfolders of the Data Folder.
Contents of the Data Folder
Subfolders
InputData/: The data files you initially obtain or construct at the beginning of your project.
AnalysisData/: Files containing data that you have cleaned and processed so that they are ready to be used in the analysis you conduct for the project.
IntermediateData/: Files created at some point in the processing of your data that need to be saved temporarily so that they can be used at some later point in the processing.
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Does my Data/ folder have to contain all three of these subfolders?
Not necessarily.
If your input data files do not need any processing before you conduct your analysis:
- There is no need to create the InputData/, AnalysisData/, and IntermediateData/ subfolders. Instead, simply store your Input Data Files in the Data/ folder.
- This is most likely to be the case when the data are given to you by your instructor for a lab exercise or homework problem.
If your input data files need to be processed, but no Intermediate Data Files are created during processing:
- The only subfolders you need in the Data/ folder are InputData/ and AnalysisData/.
If your input data files need to be processed, and one or more Intermediate Data Files are created during processing:
- You need to create all three subfolders of the Data/ folder: InputData/, AnalysisData/, and IntermediateData/.
Naming the Data Folder
Give your Data Folder the name Data/.