← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

Keeping an untouched copy of the raw data

An untouched copy of the original data, made by duplicating the worksheet or using Save As before cleaning, so you clean only the copy and never lose the original.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 55, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Analysing and Visualising Data — Module 3, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 4 — Complex Digital Data Exchange Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 68

Understanding Keeping an untouched copy of the raw data in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8

What it does: Save As with a name like data_raw stores the original data safely before any cleaning changes are made. Keeping an untouched copy means the original raw data is never lost if you make a mistake. Right-click the tab, choose Move or Copy, and tick Create a copy to duplicate the worksheet. You clean only the copy so the raw data stays exactly as it was collected.

Common mistakes: If Create a copy is unticked, the sheet is only moved and no copy is made. Tick Create a copy so the original stays untouched. Saving with the same name as the open file overwrites the original. Save As with a new name like data_clean.xlsx so the original file is kept.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 261–300) and word search (Modules 261–324).

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Learning
Duo
You are about to clean a messy survey spreadsheet. What should you do FIRST?
Start deleting bad rows in the originalMake a copy of the data, then clean the copy
Matches
Delete duplicate rows on the only sheet, then make a copy
↓
The copy was made after cleaning, so the original raw data was already changed and lost.
Applying
Meanings
Term
raw data copy
Meaning
An untouched copy of the original data, made by duplicating the worksheet or using Save As before cleaning, so you clean only the copy and never lose the original.
Practice
Save As: survey_data_raw.xlsx
Testing
Gaps
Right-click the tab, pick
Check Answer
Spots
2Choose Move or Copy
3Leave Create a copy unticked

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Quick Questions

1. You are about to clean a messy survey spreadsheet. What should you do FIRST?
A. Make a copy of the data, then clean the copy ✓
B. Start deleting bad rows in the original
Keeping an untouched copy means the original raw data is never lost if you make a mistake.
2. Which way duplicates a worksheet inside a spreadsheet file?
A. Right-click a cell and choose Delete
B. Right-click the sheet tab and choose Move or Copy ✓
Right-click the tab, choose Move or Copy, and tick Create a copy to duplicate the worksheet.
3. Which file name is the best for saving a copy of your raw data before cleaning?
A. final final NEW (2).xlsx
B. survey_data_raw.xlsx ✓
A clear version name like data_raw tells you which file is the untouched original.
4. True or false: After you make a copy, you should clean the original sheet and keep the copy as a backup.
A. False: clean the copy and leave the original alone ✓
B. True: clean the original and keep the copy
You clean only the copy so the raw data stays exactly as it was collected.
5. In the Move or Copy box, which option makes sure the original sheet stays in the file?
A. Tick Create a copy ✓
B. Leave Create a copy unticked
If Create a copy is not ticked, the sheet is only moved and no duplicate is made.

Match the Pairs

data_raw_v1.xlsx → A file name that marks a saved copy of the original, untouched data
Right-click tab > Move or Copy > Create a copy → Duplicates the worksheet so you can clean the copy and keep the original sheet untouched
Before cleaning, save the file under a new version name so the original is never lost → File > Save As > data_raw.xlsx
Clean only the copy of the worksheet, leaving the raw data sheet unchanged → Sheet names: Raw | Raw (2) - clean Raw (2)
Delete duplicate rows on the only sheet, then make a copy → The copy was made after cleaning, so the original raw data was already changed and lost.
Save As data.xlsx over the original file name → Saving with the same name overwrites the original file, so the raw data is lost.

Key Term

raw data copy
An untouched copy of the original data, made by duplicating the worksheet or using Save As before cleaning, so you clean only the copy and never lose the original.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Right-click the tab, pick Move or Copy
Hint: Type the menu option that lets you duplicate a worksheet.
2. File > Save As > data-raw.xlsx
Hint: Type the menu command that saves a file under a new name.
3. Tick Create a copy then click OK
Hint: Type the checkbox label that makes a duplicate instead of moving the sheet.
4. Sheet 1: data-raw (never edit) Sheet 2: data-clean (edit here)
Hint: Type the word that names the working copy where cleaning happens.
5. File name: data-raw.xlsx Meaning: the untouched original
Hint: Type the version word in the file name that marks the original, unedited data.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Right-click the Survey tab
B Choose Move or Copy
C Leave Create a copy unticked
D Clean only the copy
Line C — If Create a copy is unticked, the sheet is only moved and no copy is made. Tick Create a copy so the original stays untouched.
Question 2
A Open data.xlsx
B Save As data.xlsx
C Clean data_clean.xlsx
Line B — Saving with the same name as the open file overwrites the original. Save As with a new name like data_clean.xlsx so the original file is kept.
Question 3
A Double-click the Survey tab
B Choose Move or Copy
C Tick Create a copy
Line A — Double-clicking a sheet tab only lets you rename it. You right-click the tab to get the menu with Move or Copy.
Question 4
A Duplicate the Raw sheet
B Delete the Raw sheet
C Clean only the Working sheet
D Keep Raw sheet unchanged
Line B — The Raw sheet is the backup of the original data. You must keep it, so you rename the copy to Working instead of deleting Raw.
Question 5
A Open results.xlsx
B Save As results_raw.xlsx
C Save As results_clean.xlsx
D Clean results_raw.xlsx
Line D — Cleaning results_raw.xlsx changes the raw copy. Clean only the working copy, results_clean.xlsx, and leave the raw file alone.

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