Changes for page Guidelines for SDMX Data Structure Definitions

Last modified by Artur K. on 2026/05/29 14:28

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edited by Helena K.
on 2026/01/15 13:12

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To version 5.1

edited by Artur K.
on 2026/05/29 14:28

Change comment: Copied from sdmxsrlocalization:Methodology.Guidelines for SDMX Data Structure Definitions.WebHome

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  Target audiences for these guidelines include domain experts and official statisticians involved in DSD development. Thus focusing on the business/content side of DSD development, the document tries to avoid technical jargon when explaining underlying concepts and ideas, but tries to still be useful for IT experts supporting SDMX implementations. Ideally, the document can bridge the gap between IT and statistical experts. The scope of the guidelines is restricted to conceptual aspects. Organizational and technical aspects are treated in separate documents.
--* Code lists are the crucial building blocks of data structure definitions. Especially in the case of SDMX recommended code lists (particularly for cross-domain concepts; see SDMX Content Oriented Guidelines under “Guidelines” at http:~/~/sdmx.org/), list development and maintenance as well as DSD development and maintenance are carried out by different organizations at different points in time. For example SDMX recommended code lists for frequency and observation status already exist and should be used by reference in DSDs. While “SDMX” is responsible for the maintenance of these code lists, the DSD developing organization will be responsible for the maintenance of the DSD, that is, for the structure at a higher level. (Of course, a global DSD may also have “SDMX” as maintenance agency.) In any case, there is a strong interrelationship between DSD and code list development and maintenance (see SDMX Guidelines for the creation and maintenance of code lists under “Guidelines” at http:~/~/sdmx.org/).
--* Maintenance and governance rules for DSDs including issues of updating, versioning, retiring as well as questions of responsibilities, especially relevant in the context of global DSDs jointly developed by multiple organizations and maintained by “SDMX” (or multiple organizations), will be covered by separate guidelines (see “Guidelines” at http:~/~/sdmx.org/).
--* Issues related to SDMX registries (in general, and the global SDMX registry in particular) such as storage, federation, and registration of, as well as search for, retrieval and download of, code lists and DSDs are not in the scope of this document. For more information on the registry see the “Standards” page at http:~/~/sdmx.org/.
--* Guidelines for the development, maintenance, and governance of metadata structure definitions (MSDs) will be made available separately under “Guidelines” at http:~/~/sdmx.org/.
--* Documentation on more IT-related issues is available at the SDMX IT tools and SDMX tutorials site at http:~/~/sdmx.org/?page_id=13. The SDMX Tools Repository can be accessed at http:~/~/www.sdmxtools.org/. Many of the SDMX tools listed and described there are available free of charge.
++* Code lists are the crucial building blocks of data structure definitions. Especially in the case of SDMX recommended code lists (particularly for cross-domain concepts; see SDMX Content Oriented Guidelines under “Guidelines” at [[http:~~/~~/sdmx.org/>>https://http:sdmx.org]]), list development and maintenance as well as DSD development and maintenance are carried out by different organizations at different points in time. For example SDMX recommended code lists for frequency and observation status already exist and should be used by reference in DSDs. While “SDMX” is responsible for the maintenance of these code lists, the DSD developing organization will be responsible for the maintenance of the DSD, that is, for the structure at a higher level. (Of course, a global DSD may also have “SDMX” as maintenance agency.) In any case, there is a strong interrelationship between DSD and code list development and maintenance (see SDMX Guidelines for the creation and maintenance of code lists under “Guidelines” at [[http:~~/~~/sdmx.org/>>https://http:sdmx.org?page_id=13]]).
++* Maintenance and governance rules for DSDs including issues of updating, versioning, retiring as well as questions of responsibilities, especially relevant in the context of global DSDs jointly developed by multiple organizations and maintained by “SDMX” (or multiple organizations), will be covered by separate guidelines (see “Guidelines” at [[http:~~/~~/sdmx.org/>>https://http:sdmx.org]]).
++* Issues related to SDMX registries (in general, and the global SDMX registry in particular) such as storage, federation, and registration of, as well as search for, retrieval and download of, code lists and DSDs are not in the scope of this document. For more information on the registry see the “Standards” page at [[http:~~/~~/sdmx.org/>>https://http:sdmx.org]].
++* Guidelines for the development, maintenance, and governance of metadata structure definitions (MSDs) will be made available separately under “Guidelines” at [[http:~~/~~/sdmx.org/>>https://http:sdmx.org]].
++* Documentation on more IT-related issues is available at the SDMX IT tools and SDMX tutorials site at [[http:~~/~~/sdmx.org/?page_id=13>>https://http:sdmx.org?page_id=13]]. The SDMX Tools Repository can be accessed at [[http:~~/~~/www.sdmxtools.org/.>>https://http:www.sdmxtools.org.WebHome]] Many of the SDMX tools listed and described there are available free of charge.
  This document is structured as follows. Section 2 outlines general design principles of DSDs. Section 3 discusses different usage contexts of DSDs in more detail. Section 4 gives an overview of different data structuring approaches including benefits, drawbacks, and contextspecific recommendations. General minimum structural and semantic requirements are discussed in section 5. Section 6 provides a step-by-step guide to designing DSDs including a checklist for DSD designers. The three annexes include a glossary in Annex 1, a definition and brief introduction of the core components of a DSD in Annex 2, and a list of references in Annex 3.
  = 2 GENERAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES =
--Besides the evident requirement of //standard compliance//, a couple of general design principles apply to SDMX DSD development independently of the domain and the particular usage context the DSD is embedded in. Examples include //flexibility in changing requirements//; //stability//; //usage of existing// code lists or even DSDs; and //parsimony//, //simplicity//, //unambiguousness//, and //density// of the dimensional model. Please note that the SDMX-ML Standards do not impose an order on concepts (i.e., dimensions and attributes). Strictly speaking, standard compliance of a DSD only entails technical compliance with the SDMX technical standard. However, //adherence to// SDMX content recommendations, principles, and best practices as provided in the //SDMX Content-Oriented Guidelines// (see http:~/~/sdmx.org/?page_id=11) is strongly recommended. It should be kept in mind that one major aim of SDMX is to have transparency and agreement on the meaning of statistical concepts in order to allow their flawless communication.
++Besides the evident requirement of //standard compliance//, a couple of general design principles apply to SDMX DSD development independently of the domain and the particular usage context the DSD is embedded in. Examples include //flexibility in changing requirements//; //stability//; //usage of existing// code lists or even DSDs; and //parsimony//, //simplicity//, //unambiguousness//, and //density// of the dimensional model. Please note that the SDMX-ML Standards do not impose an order on concepts (i.e., dimensions and attributes). Strictly speaking, standard compliance of a DSD only entails technical compliance with the SDMX technical standard. However, //adherence to// SDMX content recommendations, principles, and best practices as provided in the //SDMX Content-Oriented Guidelines// (see [[http:~~/~~/sdmx.org/?page_id=11>>https://http:sdmx.org?page_id=11]]) is strongly recommended. It should be kept in mind that one major aim of SDMX is to have transparency and agreement on the meaning of statistical concepts in order to allow their flawless communication.
  == 2.1 Reuse of existing DSDs and code lists ==
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@
  == 9.1 SDMX Documents ==
--The SDMX documents referred to in these guidelines as well as the complete technical specification of the SDMX Technical Standard 2.1 (and earlier versions) are available online at http:~/~/sdmx.org/. The SDMX documents currently under development by the Statistical and Technical Working Groups will also be made available on the SDMX website.
++The SDMX documents referred to in these guidelines as well as the complete technical specification of the SDMX Technical Standard 2.1 (and earlier versions) are available online at [[http:~~/~~/sdmx.org/>>https://http:sdmx.org]]. The SDMX documents currently under development by the Statistical and Technical Working Groups will also be made available on the SDMX website.
  === 9.1.1 Existing documents ===
@@ -638,11 +638,11 @@
  == 9.2 Non-SDMX Documents ==
--6th Edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments Manual (BPM6). Available online at [[http:~~/~~/www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/bop/2007/bopman6.htm>>https://http:www.imf.orgexternalpubsftbop2007bopman6.htm||target="_blank"]].
++6th Edition of the IMF's Balance of Payments Manual (BPM6). Available online at [[http:~~/~~/www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/bop/2007/bopman6.htm>>https://http:www.imf.orgexternalpubsftbop2007bopman6.htm||rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"]].
--METIS: Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM). Available online at [[http:~~/~~/www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/metis/The+Generic+Statistical+Business+Process+Model>>https://http:www1.unece.orgstatplatformdisplaymetisThe+Generic+Statistical+Business+Process+Model||target="_blank"]].
++METIS: Generic Statistical Business Process Model (GSBPM). Available online at [[http:~~/~~/www1.unece.org/stat/platform/display/metis/The+Generic+Statistical+Business+Process+Model>>https://http:www1.unece.orgstatplatformdisplaymetisThe+Generic+Statistical+Business+Process+Model||rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"]].
--UN's System of National Accounts Manual 2008 (SNA2008). Available online at [[http:~~/~~/unstats.un.org/unsd/nationalaccount/sna2008.asp>>https://http:unstats.un.orgunsdnationalaccountsna2008.asp||target="_blank"]].
++UN's System of National Accounts Manual 2008 (SNA2008). Available online at [[http:~~/~~/unstats.un.org/unsd/nationalaccount/sna2008.asp>>https://http:unstats.un.orgunsdnationalaccountsna2008.asp||rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"]].
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