← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

Keeping an untouched copy of the raw data

Keep the original data untouched on its own Raw sheet or file, then clean a copy on a Clean sheet, so any mistake can be undone. Version numbers like data_v2 and backups help.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 56, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 3 — Real-World Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 84

Understanding Keeping an untouched copy of the raw data in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10

What it does: Having separate Raw and Clean tabs means the raw data is never edited, so any mistake can be undone by copying it again. Saving a new numbered file before cleaning means the older version stays as a backup if something is deleted by mistake. The Raw sheet is your proof of what was originally collected. You may need it to check your work or fix a mistake you find later. A clear version number such as v1, v2, v3 shows the order of the files. Names like final_FINAL do not tell you which file is newest. Because the Raw sheet was never changed, the original column is still there to copy back.

Common mistakes: Renaming the file means the original raw file no longer exists. You must copy it to survey_clean.csv so the raw file stays untouched. Saving the edits as data_v1.csv overwrites the original file. Edits should be saved under a new version number such as data_v2.csv.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 255–329) and word search (Modules 226–329).

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Learning
Duo
Before you start cleaning a survey spreadsheet, what should you do first?
Keep the original data untouched on a Raw sheet and clean a copyStart fixing mistakes directly in the original data
Matches
Delete duplicate rows directly on the Raw sheet
↓
Editing the raw data permanently changes the original, so the deleted rows cannot be recovered
Applying
Meanings
Term
raw data copy
Meaning
Keep the original data untouched on its own Raw sheet or file, then clean a copy on a Clean sheet, so any mistake can be undone. Version numbers like data_v2 and backups help.
Practice
COPY sheet Raw TO sheet Clean
Testing
Gaps
=TRIM(!A2)
Check Answer
Spots
1Open survey_raw.csv
2Rename it to survey_clean.csv

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Quick Questions

1. Before you start cleaning a survey spreadsheet, what should you do first?
A. Start fixing mistakes directly in the original data
B. Keep the original data untouched on a Raw sheet and clean a copy ✓
Keeping the raw data untouched means that if you make a mistake while cleaning, you can go back to the original and start again.
2. Which setup follows good practice for cleaning data?
A. A sheet called Raw that is never edited and a sheet called Clean for changes ✓
B. One sheet called Data that you edit and save over each time
Separate Raw and Clean sheets keep the original safe. Editing and saving over one sheet means the original is lost.
3. True or false: You should delete the Raw sheet once the Clean sheet looks finished.
A. False - keep the Raw sheet in case you need to check or redo the cleaning ✓
B. True - the Raw sheet is no longer needed
The Raw sheet is your proof of what was originally collected. You may need it to check your work or fix a mistake you find later.
4. Which file name best shows version numbers?
A. survey_data_v2.csv ✓
B. survey_data_final_FINAL_new.csv
A clear version number such as v1, v2, v3 shows the order of the files. Names like final_FINAL do not tell you which file is newest.
5. You accidentally delete a column while cleaning the Clean sheet. What does having a Raw sheet let you do?
A. Nothing - the data is lost for good
B. Copy the column back from the untouched Raw sheet ✓
Because the Raw sheet was never changed, the original column is still there to copy back.

Match the Pairs

=Raw!B2 → Pulls a value from the Raw sheet into the Clean sheet so the original cell stays untouched
survey_data_v2.csv → A file name with a version number, showing this is the second saved version of the data
Keep the original data safe by cleaning only a copy on a separate Clean sheet → Sheets: Raw | Clean
Save a new version of the file before each big cleaning step so you can go back → results_v1.xlsx -> results_v2.xlsx
Delete duplicate rows directly on the Raw sheet → Editing the raw data permanently changes the original, so the deleted rows cannot be recovered
data.csv (saved over the old file after cleaning) → Overwriting the same file name destroys the earlier version, so there is no backup to return to

Key Term

raw data copy
Keep the original data untouched on its own Raw sheet or file, then clean a copy on a Clean sheet, so any mistake can be undone. Version numbers like data_v2 and backups help.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =TRIM(Raw!A2)
Hint: Type the name of the sheet that holds the untouched original data, so the Clean sheet can pull from it.
2. Raw: survey-v1.csv, Copy: survey-v2.csv
Hint: Type the next version number for the cleaned copy so the original file is not overwritten.
3. =PROPER(Raw!B2)
Hint: Type the text function that capitalises the first letter of each word in the copy while the Raw sheet stays unchanged.
4. =UPPER(Raw!A2)
Hint: Type the text function that turns text into all capital letters on the Clean sheet without altering the Raw sheet.
5. =COUNTA(Clean!A:A)=COUNTA(Raw!A:A)
Hint: Type the name of the sheet that holds the cleaned copy, so its row count can be checked against the original.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Open survey_raw.csv
B Rename it to survey_clean.csv
C Clean the copy only
D Keep survey_raw.csv unchanged
Line B — Renaming the file means the original raw file no longer exists. You must copy it to survey_clean.csv so the raw file stays untouched.
Question 2
A data_v1.csv <- original
B Save edits as data_v1.csv
C Never overwrite data_v1.csv
Line B — Saving the edits as data_v1.csv overwrites the original file. Edits should be saved under a new version number such as data_v2.csv.
Question 3
A Sheet1 is named Raw
B Sheet2 is named Clean
C Paste values into Raw A1
D Do all edits on Clean
Line C — The copied data must be pasted into the Clean sheet. Pasting into Raw overwrites the original data and defeats the purpose of the Raw sheet.
Question 4
A Download results_raw.csv
B Save a backup on cloud drive
C Edit results_raw.csv directly
Line C — Editing the raw file directly risks losing the original data. All cleaning should be done on the copy, results_clean.csv.
Question 5
A Clean the data before copying
B Clean only the copy
C Raw data stays unchanged
Line A — The copy must be made first. If you clean before copying, the original raw data has already been changed and can't be recovered.

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