Wiki source code of 1 Overview

Version 7.2 by Helena on 2025/05/14 13:28

Hide last authors
Helena 7.2 1 {{box title="**Contents**"}}
2 {{toc/}}
3 {{/box}}
4
Helena 2.1 5 **Revision History**
6
7 |Revision|Date|Contents
8 |DRAFT 1.0|May 2021|Draft release updated for SDMX 3.0 for public consultation
9 |1.0|October 2021|Public Release for SDMX 3.0
10
11 = 1 Overview =
12
13 SDMX version 3.0 introduces new features, improvements and changes to the Standard in the following key areas:
14
15 **Information Model**
16
17 * Simplification and improvement of the reference metadata model
18 * Support for microdata
19 * Support for geospatial data
20 * Support for code list extension and discriminated union of code lists
21 * Improvements to structure mapping
22 * Improvements to code hierarchies for data discovery
23 * Improvements to constraints
24
25 **Versioning of Structural Metadata Artefacts**
26
27 • Adoption of the three-number semantic versioning standard for structural metadata artefacts [[(>>url:https://semver.org/]][[__https:~~/~~/semver.org__>>url:https://semver.org/]][[)>>url:https://semver.org/]]
28
29 **REST Web Services Application Programming Interface (API)**
30
31 * Change to a single ‘structure’ resource for structure queries simplifying the REST API specification by reducing the number of resources to five
32 * Improvements to data queries
33 * Improvements to reference metadata queries
34 * Support for structural metadata maintenance using HTTP PUT, POST and DELETE verbs
35
36 **SOAP Web Services API**
37
38 • The SOAP web services API has been deprecated with version 3.0 standardising on REST** **
39
40 **XML, JSON, CSV and EDI Transmission formats**
41
42 * The SDMX-ML, SDMX-JSON and SDMX-CSV specifications have been extended and modified where needed to support the new features and changes such as reference metadata and microdata
43 * Obsolete SDMX-ML data message variants including Generic, Compact, Utility and Cross-sectional have been deprecated standardising on Structure Specific Data as the sole XML format for data exchange
44 * The SDMX-EDI transmission format for structures and data has been deprecated
45 * The organisation of structures into ‘collections’ in SDMX-ML and SDMX-JSON structure messages has been flattened and simplified
46 * The option to reference structures in SDMX-ML and SDMX-JSON messages using Agency, ID and Version has been deprecated with URN now exclusively used for all non-local referencing purpose
47
48 **Breaking Changes**
49
50 Many of the changes made are ‘breaking’ meaning that, while conversion between versions may be possible in certain circumstances, the 3.0 specification is not directly backwardly compatible with earlier versions of the Standard.
51
52 A summary of the main breaking changes is given in chapter 2.
53
54 **Content of the Document**
55
56 The remainder of the document provides a summary of the main changes. More detailed information can be found the SDMX 3.0 Technical Specifications, in particular:
57
58 * Section 2 – Information Model
59 * Section 5 – Registry Specification
60 * Section 6 – Technical Notes
61 * SDMX-TWG GitHub for the REST API and the XML, JSON and CSV formats
62
63 = 2 Summary of Breaking Changes in 3.0 =
64
65 Version 3.0 introduces breaking changes into the web services API, transmission formats and information model. A summary is given in the table below.
66
67 == //2.1 Web Services API// ==
68
69 |**REST API**|(((
70 The REST API is not backwardly compatible due to modifications to the URLs and query parameters resulting in breaking changes in four of the five main resources:
71
72 * Structure queries
73 * Data queries
74 * Metadata queries
75 * Availability queries
76
77 Schema queries are backwardly compatible.
78
79 //Guidance for implementors//
80
81 REST API implementors may provide partial backward compatibility by using web server URL rewriting rules to translate version 2.1 structure queries to the 3.0 equivalent.
82
83 Implementors are also recommended to version their API services providing users with an explicit choice of which version to use.
84 )))
85 |**SOAP API**|The SOAP API has been deprecated.
86
87 == //2.2 Transmission Formats// ==
88
Helena 7.1 89 :
Helena 2.1 90
91 (((
92 |**SDMX-ML**|(((
93 The following legacy XML data messages have been deprecated:
94
95 SDMX-ML 1.0/2.0 Generic (time-series) data message
96
97 SDMX-ML 1.0/2.0 Compact (time-series) data message
98
99 SDMX-ML 1.0/2.0 Utility (time-series) data message
100
101 SDMX-ML 1.0/2.0 Cross-Sectional data message SDMX-ML 2.1 Generic data messages (for observations, time-series and cross-sectional data)
102
103 Structure Specific is the only data message option in version 3.0 but is not backwardly compatible with version 2.1 due to several changes including deprecation of the option to reference structures like the DSD, Dataflow and Provision Agreement using their Agency, ID and Version. The time series variant of the message has also been deprecated.
104
105 The SDMX-ML structure message is not backwardly compatible primarily due to:
106
107 * Changes to the information model
108 * Changes to the way the structures are organised into
109
110 ‘collections’ within the message
111
112 * Deprecation of the Agency, ID, Version option for referencing of structures in messages
113 )))
114 |**SDMX-JSON**|(((
115 The JSON data message is not backwardly compatible with version 2.1 primarily due to changes needed to support the improved REST API data queries, in particular the ability to retrieve in one operation data from multiple datasets with potentially different Data Structure Definitions.
116
117 The JSON structure message is not backwardly compatible primarily due to:
118
119 * Changes to the information model
120 * Changes to the way the structures are organised into
121
122 ‘collections’ within the message
123
124 * Deprecation of the Agency, ID, Version option for referencing of structures in messages
125 )))
126 |**SDMX-EDI**|The EDI format for both structures and data has been deprecated.
Helena 7.1 127 |**SDMX-CSV**|The CSV data and reference metadata messages are not backwardly compatible with those under version 2.1 due to changes to the structure of the messages needed to support new features such as the improved REST API data queries.**     **
Helena 2.1 128 )))
129
130 == //2.3 Information Model// ==
131
Helena 7.1 132 :
Helena 2.1 133
134 (((
135 |**Data Structure Definition**|(((
136 The version 3.0 Data Structure Definition (DSD) model is not directly backwardly compatible with 2.1 primarily due to the deprecation of the special MeasureDimension.
137
138 //Conversion guidance for implementors//
139
140 Version 2.1 DSDs can be converted to the 3.0 model by creating a measure with the “MEASURE” concept role applied as described in paragraph 3.5.
141
142 Version 3.0 DSDs cannot be reliably converted to the 2.1 model due to the introduction of new features such as multiple measures and value arrays for measures and attributes.
143 )))
144 |**Structure mapping model**|(((
145 The structure mapping model has changed significantly in version 3.0 with deprecation of the Structure Set maintainable artefact and introduction of five new ones: Representation Map and four variants of item scheme map.
146
147 //Conversion guidance for implementors//
148
149 Version 2.1 structure sets can be practically converted to the version 3.0 structure mapping model.
150
151 Conversion from the version 3.0 structure mapping model to 2.1 is generally possible. However, when attempting to convert mapping rules from 2.1 to 3.0 and back to 2.1, the resulting Structure Set will not be precisely the same as the original. In converting to version 3.0, the system must generate IDs for each of the new maintainable artefacts, but details of the original Structure Set artefacts are lost.
152 )))
153 |**Reference metadata model**|(((
154 The reference metadata model has changed in version 3.0 with modifications to the role of the Data Structure Definition, Metadata Structure Definition and Metadataflow artefacts. Metadata Provision Agreement and Metadata Provider Scheme have been added. Metadatasets are now identifiable.
155
156 Version 2.1 reference metadata models are not valid in version 3.0.
157
158 //Conversion guidance for implementors//
159
160 A version 2.1 Metadata Structure Definition can be converted to the version 3.0 model under some circumstances, but target information is either lost or has to be translated into a metadataflow. Further, conversion of a Data Structure Definition for collecting reference metadata against a dataset would need to make changes to the dataset’s Data Structure Definition. As the Data Structure Definition may not actually be specified, judgement would need to be taken, perhaps determining the most likely candidate by examining which
161 )))
Helena 7.1 162 | |(((
Helena 2.1 163 already have metadata reported against their datasets. A 2.1 metadata report could be converted to a version 3.0 Metadataset if it is attached to a structure, but requires a Metadata Provision Agreement which would need to be created if not already in existence.
164
165 Conversion from the version 3.0 model to version 2.1 cannot be performed reliably. The process would need target information to be derived from analysis of the Metadataflows and Metadata Provision Agreements. Depending on the complexity it may not be possible to express that information in a version 2.1 Data Structure Definition.
166 )))
167 |**Constraint model**|(((
168 The version 2.1 Content Constraint artefact has been deprecated in version 3.0 and replaced by the Data Constraint for data, and the Metadata Constraint for reference metadata.
169
170 //Conversion guidance for implementors//
171
172 2.1 Content Constraints can be converted without loss to the equivalent version 3.0 Data Constraint model.
173
174 Conversion from 3.0 to 2.1 presents challenges where wildcards have been used, in those cases requiring expansion of the wildcard into explicit values.
175 )))
176 |**Hierarchical codelist structures**|(((
177 The version 2.1 Hierarchical Codelist artefact has been deprecated in version 3.0 and replaced by two new artefacts, Hierarchy and Hierarchy Association.
178
179 //Conversion guidance for implementors//
180
181 Version 2.1 Hierarchical Codelists can be successfully converted to the version 3.0 hierarchy model. Information on which artefacts to link the hierarchies to on what context would need to be added as a separate procedure.
182
183 Conversion from the version 3.0 model to version 2.1 is possible, but with loss of the linking information
184 )))
185 )))
186
187 = 3 Information Model =
188
189 == //3.1 Version 3.0 Information Model// ==
190
191 [[image:SDMX 3-0-0 Major Changes FINAL-1.0_en_6fc573fe.png||height="404" width="718"]]
192
193 //Figure 1 Version 3.0 simplified Information Model UML class diagram with ‘heat map’ illustrating the areas with most change//
194
195 The schematic above is a simplified UML class diagram of the SDMX 3.0 information model illustrating the major areas of change as a ‘heat map’. Darker colours indicate where new structures have been added in version 3.0 or where structures have been significantly changed.
196
197 A number of ancillary structures including organisation schemes, process and reporting taxonomy are unchanged and have not been shown. Similarly, Organisation Scheme Map and Reporting Taxonomy Map have been omitted for simplicity. A schematic of the 2.1 model is given in Appendix A for comparison purposes.
198
199 == //3.2 Key Changes from Version 2.1// ==
200
201 New Maintainable Artefacts
202
203 * Structure Map
204 * Representation Map
205 * Organisation Scheme Map
206 * Concept Scheme Map
207 * Category Scheme Map
208 * Reporting Taxonomy Map
209 * Value List
210 * Hierarchy
211 * Hierarchy Association
212 * Metadata Constraint
213 * Data Constraint
214 * Metadata Provision Agreement
215 * Metadata Provider Scheme
216 * Metadataset
217
218 New Identifiable Artefacts
219
220 * GeoFeatureSetCode
221 * GeoGridCode
222 * Metadata Provider
223
224 Removed Maintainable Artefacts
225
226 * Structure Set – replaced by Structure Map and the four item scheme maps
227 * Hierarchical Codelist – replaced by Hierarchy and Hierarchy Association • Constraint – replaced by Data Constraint and Metadata Constraint
228
229 Changed Maintainable Artefacts
230
231 * Data Structure Definition – support for microdatasets and reference metadata linked to data
232 * Metadataflow – simplifies exchange of reference metadata, in particular those linked to structures
233 * Metadata Structure Definition – simplified model for reference metadata
234 * Codelist – support for codelist extension and geospatial specialised codelists (GeographicCodelist, GeoGridCodelist)
235 * VTL Mapping Scheme – VTL Concept Mapping Scheme removed to align the VTL / SDMX interface with the 3.0 model
236
237 New Component Representation Types
238
239 * GeospatialInformation – a string type where the value is an expression defining a set of geographical features using a purpose-designed syntax
240
241 == //3.3 Areas Unchanged from Version 2.1// ==
242
243 The following areas of the information model are unchanged from version 2.1:
244
245 * Categories
246 * Concepts
247 * Data providers
248 * Agencies
249 * Data consumers
250 * VTL transformation and expressions – with the exception of VTL mapping scheme as already noted
251 * Reporting taxonomy
252 * Process
253
254 == //3.4 Reference Metadata// ==
255
256 Reference metadata has been substantially re-designed for version 3.0 to simplify the model and better support practical use cases.
257
258 === Simplify Metadata Structure Definition ===
259
260 The Metadata Structure Definition (MSD) has been simplified to remove target information, and the support of multiple report structures. The MSD now only contains Metadata Attributes which are used to define the structure of a report.
261
262 [[image:SDMX 3-0-0 Major Changes FINAL-1.0_en_ad5f5c97.png||height="346" width="494"]]
263
264 //Figure 2 version 2.1 Metadata Structure Definition (MSD)//
265
266 [[image:SDMX 3-0-0 Major Changes FINAL-1.0_en_f2695ed5.png||height="172" width="374"]]
267
268 //Figure 3 the simplified version 3.0 MSD//
269
270 === Change to reference metadata reported against data ===
271
272 Reference metadata associated with datasets, data series or observations are now reported with the data. The dataset’s DSD must reference an MSD to define the structure of its reference metadata. In practice reference metadata for data are transmitted as part of the data message. The metadata attributes are treated in a similar way to the data attributes appearing in the message at the dataset, data series or individual observation level as appropriate. In contrast to simple data attributes, metadata attributes defined by an MSD can be organised into a hierarchical structure as illustrated in Figure 3 above. For this reason, metadata attributes appear in data messages structured in the same way as metadata messages.
273
274 The SDMX-ML example below is an excerpt from a structure specific data message illustrating reporting of reference metadata with a hierarchical structure at the observation level.
275
276 For completeness, the excerpt also shows:
277
278 * OBS_STATUS – a simple observation-level data attribute
279 * TITLE – a multi-lingual data attribute
280 * SOURCE_AGENCY – a multi-value data attribute
281
282 <Obs xsi:type="dsd:ObsType" OBS_VALUE="112" OBS_STAUS=”A” TIME_PERIOD="2010-09">
283
284 <!—- complex multi-value and multi-lingual data attributes ~-~->
285
286 <Comp id="TITLE" xsi:type="ns1:TITLE_ATTRIBUTE">
287
288 <Value>
289
290 <common:Text xml:lang="en">Some English Text</common:Text>
291
292 <common:Text xml:lang="fr">Quelques textes en anglais</common:Text>
293
294 </Value>
295
296 </Comp>
297
298 <Comp id="SOURCE_AGENCY" xsi:type="ns1:SOURCE_AGENCY_ATTRIBUTE">
299
300 <Value>4F0</Value>
301
302 <Value>4D0</Value>
303
304 <Value>CZ2</Value>
305
306 </Comp>
307
308 <!—- metadata attributes are reported like in metadata messages ~-~->
309
310 <Metadata>
311
312 <Attribute id="COLLECTION">
313
314 <Attribute id="METHOD">
315
316 <Text lang="en">AAA</Text>
317
318 </Attribute>
319
320 </Attribute>
321
322 <Attribute id="CONTACT">
323
324 <Value>CONTACT 1</Value>
325
326 <Attribute id="NAME">
327
328 <Value>Contact 1 Name 1</Value>
329
330 </Attribute>
331
332 <Attribute id="NAME">
333
334 <Value>Contact 1 Name 2</Value>
335
336 </Attribute>
337
338 </Attribute>
339
340 <Attribute id="CONTACT">
341
342 <Value>CONTACT 2</Value>
343
344 <Attribute id="NAME">
345
346 <Value>Contact 2 Name 1</Value>
347
348 </Attribute>
349
350 <Attribute id="NAME">
351
352 <Value>Contact 2 Name 2</Value>
353
354 </Attribute>
355
356 </Attribute>
357
358 </Metadata>
359
360 </Obs>
361
362 === New - Metadata Provision Agreement ===
363
364 In version 2.1 a Provision Agreement could be used to report information against a Dataflow or Metadataflow. From version 3.0 this is managed by two separate structures, the Data Provision Agreement and the Metadata Provision Agreement.
365
366 === Move target to Metadataflow and Metadata Provision Agreement ===
367
368 For reference metadata that is reported against structures, the allowable targets information which is used to specify what structures the reference metadata can be reported against, has moved to the Metadataflow and can be further refined in the Metadata Provision Agreement.
369
370 === Add maintainable properties to reference metadata ===
371
372 A Metadataset now has mandatory identification information, (owner id, id, version) enabling metadata providers to uniquely identify their reports for create, update or delete maintenance operations.
373
374 == //3.5 Microdata Exchange// ==
375
376 Several changes have been made the Data Structure Definition to support microdata use cases in addition to aggregated time series.
377
378 === Multiple measures ===
379
380 Multiple measures are a common characteristic of microdatasets. To support this use case, the MeasureDimension has been deprecated and replaced with the option to define zero or more measures. Measures now act like any other component in that they use concepts, can have their own local coded or uncoded representation defined within the
381
382 Data Structure Definition, and can be either mandatory or conditional. Creating a measure with the “MEASURE” concept role applied emulates the version 2.1
383
384 MeasureDimension behaviour as illustrated in the SDMX-ML example below:
385
386 <str:MeasureList id=”MeasureDescriptor”>
387
388 <str:Measure id=”OBS_VALUE” minOccurs=”1” maxOccurs=”1” usage=”mandatory” > <str:ConceptIdentity>
389
390 <Ref id=”OBS_VALUE” maintainableParentID=”CONCEPTS” agencyID=”SDMX” maintainableParentVersion=”1.0.0” />
391
392 </str:ConceptIdentity>
393
394 <str:LocalRepresentation>
395
396 <str:TextFormat textType=”String” isMultiLingual=”true” />
397
398 </str:LocalRepresentation>
399
400 <str:ConceptRole>
401
402 <Ref id=”MEASURE” maintainableParentID=”SDMX_CONCEPT_ROLES” agencyID=”SDMX” maintainableParentVersion=”1.0.0” />
403
404 </str:ConceptRole>
405
406 </str:Measure>
407
408 ...
409
410 <str:Measure>
411
412 </str:MeasureList>
413
414 === Multi-value measures and attributes ===
415
416 Both measures and attributes have been extended with the option to take ‘arrays’ of 193 multiple coded or uncoded values. This supports use cases like multiple observation 194 status flags. New //minOccurs// and //maxOccurs// properties define the valid number of 195 values. The //usage// property separately defines whether the measure or attribute is
417
418 //mandatory// or optional. In the SDMX-ML measure example above, the properties
419
420 //minOccurs=”1” maxOccurs=”1” usage=”mandatory”// specify that OBS_VALUE must be 198 reported, and can only consist of a single value.
421
422 === Attributes relationship to measures ===
423
424 In addition to attaching attributes to a specific level within the dataset, their relationship 202 to measures can also be defined.
425
426 === Value lists ===
427
428 Value lists help in modelling microdata by providing an enumeration similar to code lists 206 but allowing any string values without being restricted to the rules of SDMX identifiers.
429
430 That allows ValueItems (the equivalent to Code) to contain symbols like ‘¥’ and ‘€’, but 208 also means they are not identifiable.
431
432 == //3.6 Geospatial Data Exchange// ==
433
434 The version 3.0 model has been extended to provide explicit support for geospatial data.
435
436 === GeospatialInformation type ===
437
438 A new GeospatialInformation string type has been added which can be used as the 214 representation for any dimension, attribute or measure component. The value which is a 215 string expression conforming to the syntax defined in Section 6 of the technical 216 specifications precisely defines a ‘Geo Feature Set’ – a collection of geographical 217 features like points, lines or polygons. Its use is recommended in conjunction with the “GEO_FEATURE_SET” concept role.
439
440 === Geospatial code lists ===
441
442 Two new specialised types of code list have been added where the definition of each code includes additional geospatial information in addition to the standard ID, name and description:
443
444 * GeographicCodelist – each item includes an element to represent a specific Geo Feature Set which is described using the same expression syntax as for GeospatialInformation type.
445 * GeoGridCodelist – A code list defining a geographical grid composed of cells representing regular squared portions of the Earth. Each item references a cell within the grid.
446
447 === //3.7 Structure Mapping// ===
448
449 The Structure Set in version 2.1 is a container for many mapping structures including Data Structure Map, Codelist Map and Concept Map. For version 3.0 the Structure Set artefact has been deprecated and replaced with a number of new maintainables giving better flexibility and reusability, specifically: Structure Map, Concept Scheme Map, Representation Map, Reporting Taxonomy Map, Category Scheme Map and Organisation Scheme Map.
450
451 The version 2.1 Codelist Map been replaced with Representation Map which allows mappings to be defined between any combination of Code Lists, Value Lists and noncoded representations such as text strings and numbers.
452
453 ==== Many-to-many source and target components ====
454
455 Structure mapping rules may be defined with both multiple source components and multiple target components in contrast to version 2.1 where only one source and target was allowed. That supports many-to-many (n-n) mapping use cases where the output of a mapping rule may be dependent on the combination of a number of input components. For instance:
456
457 Set the output component INDICATOR=”DE_A” if the input components are FREQ=”A” and REF_AREA=”DE”.
458
459 Similarly, an n-n rule may also set the values of any number of output components:
460
461 Set the output components FREQ=”A”, REF_AREA=”DE” if the input component INDICATOR=”DE_A”.
462
463 **Fixed source and target**
464
465 The Structure Map may now define input or output components which have a fixed value.
466
467 ==== Time representations mapping ====
468
469 Non SDMX time representations may now be described in a Structure Map, allowing them to be mapped into SDMX time formats.
470
471 ==== Regular expression and substring mappings ====
472
473 All item maps allow the use of regular expressions and substrings to match source values, specifically: Concept Scheme Map, Reporting Taxonomy Map, Category Scheme Map and Organisation Scheme Map.
474
475 ==== Item maps validity period ====
476
477 Item maps may further define the period for which the mapping is valid, meaning the mapping rule will only be applied if the row of information being mapped is within the period.
478
479 === //3.8 Constraints// ===
480
481 Constraints in version 3.0 are modelled using two separate artefacts which replace the version 2.1 content constraint:
482
483 * data constraint for data; and
484 * metadata constraint for reference metadata.
485
486 Metadata constraint differs from its data counterpart in having a simplified cube region model better suited to reference metadata reporting use cases and not carrying details of the constrained targets – that information instead being defined directly within the metadataflow and Metadata Provision Agreement. Thus, metadata related constraints only specify constraints to the values of metadata attributes.
487
488 The ‘%’ wildcard character can now be used when defining cube region constraints to match multiple codes with a single expression, for instance for economic activity, ISIC4_% matches all codes beginning with ‘ISIC4_’ avoiding the need to maintain an explicit list.
489
490 The validity period definition has been moved from the constraint to the individual constraining terms, specifically CubeRegion, DataKeySet and MetadataTargetRegion providing more granular control.
491
492 Attachment constraints have been deprecated due to a lack of use cases.
493
494 === //3.9 Code List Extension// ===
495
496 In addition to the two new specialised geospatial forms, the option has been added to define a code list as an extension of, or by inheriting codes from, other lists. An optional prefix can be added to inherited codes to disambiguate duplicates.
497
498 This feature allows new code lists to be easily derived from existing lists without the need to make and manually maintain copies. When querying for extended code list structures using the REST API, the option has been added to retrieve either the definition or the materialised list. Traditional literal lists of codes continue to be supported.
499
500 === //3.10 Discriminated Union of Code Lists// ===
501
502 Combining code list extension with wildcarded constraints solves the discriminated union of code lists problem where a classification or breakdown has multiple “variants” which are all valid but mutually exclusive. A common example is economic activity where several alternative classification schemes are in use including ISIC revisions 1 to 4 and NACE as used in the European Community.
503
504 === //3.11 Code Hierarchies// ===
505
506 Code hierarchies allow the definition of complex hierarchies of codes from potentially multiple lists for data discovery purposes. Hierarchical Codelist has been deprecated and replaced by two new artefacts: Hierarchy – the actual hierarchy of codes, and Hierarchy Association links hierarchies directly to any other identifiable object, a capability missing 312 from the version 2.1 model. Further, the linkage can be within a particular context, for instance linking a hierarchy to a dimension within the context of a specific Dataflow (dimension REF_AREA in the context of the ECB:EXR Dataflow).
507
508 = 4 Versioning of Structural Metadata Artefacts =
509
510 Version 3.0 adopts semantic versioning principles for versioning of metadata artefacts following the rules set out at [[__https:~~/~~/semver.org__>>url:https://semver.org/]][[.>>url:https://semver.org/]] However, this is not mandatory, and organisations may continue to use the pre-existing two-digit versioning strategy, or not to version artefacts by omitting the //version// property. The version number no longer defaults to 1.0 if not explicitly set.
511
512 Semantic version numbers are three digits:
513
514 MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
515
516 Where
517
518 * The first digit (major) indicates that changes (either new features or bug fixes) are not backward compatible.
519 * The second digit (minor) indicates that features have been added in a backward compatible manner.
520 * The third digit (patch) indicates that bugs have been fixed in a backward compatible manner.
521
522 Examples:
523
524 SDMX:CL_AREA(1.0.0)
525
526 SDMX:CL_AREA(2.3.2)
527
528 == Dependency management ==
529
530 Additional constructs are possible for dependency management when referencing structures. For instance:
531
532 2.3+.1 Means the currently latest available version >= “2.3.1” and < “3.0.0” (all backwards compatible versions >= “2.3.1”).
533
534 2+.3.1 Means the currently latest available version >= “2.3.1” (even if not backwards compatible).
535
536 == Draft structures ==
537
538 A key principle is that semantically versioned structures are immutable and must not be changed without a corresponding change to the version number, except where explicitly marked as draft using extensions to the version number.
539
540 MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH-EXTENSION
541
542 1.10.0-draft Means that version 1.10.0 is still being modified and may change – equivalent to setting isFinal=false in SDMX 2.1.
543
544 1.10.0-unstable Alternative to -draft.
545
546 1.10.0-notfinal Alternative to -draft.
547
548 The SDMX 2.1 isFinal property is deprecated in 3.0.
549
550 = 5 REST Web Services API =
551
552 == //5.1 Simplified list of resources// ==
553
554 The version 3.0 REST API has just five main resources:
555
556 * structure
557 * data
558 * schema
559 * availability
560 * metadata
561
562 All structure and item queries have been organised under the structure resource in contrast to the version 2.1 API which specified a separate resource for each structure.
563
564 This and changes in the URLs and query parameters on the data, availability and metadata resources means that, with the exception of schema queries, the version 3.0 API is not backwardly compatible.
565
566 == //5.2 Improved data queries// ==
567
568 Data queries have been changed to provide more granular selections from contexts wider than just a Dataflow.
569
570 === Extend the context of data retrieval ===
571
572 Version 2.1 data queries always retrieved data from a single specific Dataflow. In version 3.0, the query context may be specified as:
573
574 * Dataflow;
575 * Data Structure Definition – i.e., all Dataflows that use it; or
576 * Provision Agreement – i.e., all Dataflows associated with it.
577
578 Data queries may also search across datasets, for instance “retrieve all data about a country”.
579
580 === Component-based filters ===
581
582 Expressions filtering on individual components can now be included as part of the data query URL.
583
584 /data/dataflow/ESTAT/ICP?c[REF_AREA]=CH&c[CONF_STATUS]=F
585
586 === Support for operators ===
587
588 Filter expressions can also include operators.
589
590 /data/dataflow/ESTAT/ICP?c[REF_AREA]=DE&c[ICP_ITEM]=sw:01&c[TIME_PERIOD]=ge:2015 Operators include:
591
592 |eq|Equals
593 |ne|Not equal to
594 |le|Less than
595 |ge|Greater than or equal to
596 |sw|Starts with
597
598 === Support for multiple keys ===
599
600 Queries can now specify multiple series keys.
601
602 /data/dataflow/ESTAT/ICP/1.0.0/M…A.ANR,M…A.INX,M…B.CTG
603
604 == //5.3 Improved reference metadata queries// ==
605
606 Reference metadata queries have been improved with a number of new options to retrieve metadata reports.
607
608 **Get metadata reports by ID**
609
610 /metadata/metadataset/ESTAT/QUALITY_REPORT/1.0.0
611
612 **Get metadata reports by Dataflow**
613
614 /metadata/metadataflow/ECB/METHODOLOGY/*/FR2
615
616 **Get metadata reports about a Data Structure Definition**
617
618 /metadata/structure/datastructure/BIS/BIS_CBS/1.0
619
620 == //5.4 Structural metadata maintenance// ==
621
622 Support has been added for maintenance of structural metadata.
623
624 HTTP verbs PUT, POST and DELETE may be used to submit SDMX-ML or SDMX-JSON structure messages to an SDMX registry for the purposes of adding, updating or deleting structural metadata artefacts.
625
626 = 6 XML, JSON, CSV and EDI Transmission formats =
627
628 == //6.1 SDMX-ML// ==
629
630 The SDMX-ML XML messages have been modified and updated for version 3.0. While they broadly follow the same principles, there have been significant changes which break backward compatibility.
631
632 === Structure message ===
633
634 The SDMX-ML structure message is used for transmission of structural metadata. It closely reflects the SDMX information model and has therefore been significantly updated for version 3.0 with the addition of new structures, modifications where structures have changed, and removal of deprecated structures like Structure Set.
635
636 Additionally, the way the individual artefacts are organised into ‘collections’ within the message has been significantly revised with a simpler flat structure adopted as set out in the following table:
637
638 |**Artefact type**|**Version 2.1 Collection**|**Version 3.0 Collection**
639 |AgencyScheme|OrganisationSchemes|AgencySchemes
640 |DataConsumerScheme|OrganisationSchemes|DataConsumerSchemes
641 |DataProviderScheme|OrganisationSchemes|DataProviderSchemes
642 |MetadataProviderScheme|OrganisationSchemes|MetadataProviderSchemes
643 |OrganisationUnitScheme|OrganisationSchemes|OrganisationUnitSchemes
644 |GeographicCodelist|Codelists|GeographicCodelists
645 |GeoGridCodelist|Codelists|GeoGridCodelists
646 |ConceptScheme|Concepts|ConceptSchemes
647 |ValueList|Codelists|ValueLists
648 |StructureMap|StructureMappings|StructureMaps
649 |RepresentationMap|StructureMappings|RepresentationMaps
650 |ConceptSchemeMap|StructureMappings|ConceptSchemeMaps
651 |CategorySchemeMap|StructureMappings|CategorySchemeMaps
652 |OrganisationSchemeMap|StructureMappings|OrganisationSchemeMaps
653 |ReportingTaxonomyMap|StructureMappings|ReportingTaxonomyMaps
654 |DataConstraint|Constraints|DataConstraints
655 |MetadataConstraint|Constraints|MetadataConstraints
656 |MetadataProvisionAgreement|ProvisionAgreement|MetadataProvisionAgreements
657 |CustomTypeScheme|CustomTypes|CustomTypeSchemes
658 |VtlMappingScheme|VtlMappings|VtlMappingSchemes
659 |NamePersonalisationScheme|NamePersonalisations|NamePersonalisationSchemes
660 |RulesetScheme|Rulesets|RulesetSchemes
661 |TransformationScheme|Transformations|TransformationSchemes
662 |UserDefinedOperatorScheme|UserDefinedOperators|UserDefinedOperatorSchemes
663
664 No changes have been made to the way the following artefacts are organised in the structure message:
665
666 |**Artefact type**|**Collection**
667 |Dataflow|Dataflows
668 |Metadataflow|Metadataflows
669 |CategoryScheme|CategorySchemes
670 |Categorisation|Categorisations
671 |Codelist|Codelists
672 |Hierarchy|Hierarchies
673 |HierarchyAssociation|HierarchyAssociations
674 |MetadataStructure|MetadataStructures
675 |DataStructure|DataStructures
676 |ReportingTaxonomy|ReportingTaxonomies
677 |Process|Processes
678 |ProvisionAgreement|ProvisionAgreements
679
680 From version 3.0, collections can appear in any order within a structure message.
681
682 === Data messages ===
683
684 All legacy SDMX-ML data messages have been deprecated with the exception of Structure Specific Data which becomes the sole standard format for transmission of SDMX data in XML in version 3.0.
685
686 Specifically, the following data messages are not supported in version 3.0:
687
688 * SDMX-ML 1.0/2.0 Generic (time-series) data message
689 * SDMX-ML 1.0/2.0 Compact (time-series) data message
690 * SDMX-ML 1.0/2.0 Utility (time-series) data message
691 * SDMX-ML 1.0/2.0 Cross-Sectional data message
692 * SDMX-ML 2.1 Generic data messages (for observations, time-series and crosssectional data)
693
694 The Structure Specific Data message has been extended to support the transmission of microdata sets, in particular those with multiple measures and array values for measures and attributes.
695
696 As detailed in paragraph 3.4, the message now additionally allows data’s reference metadata to be reported as an integral part of the dataset. Like data attributes, these metadata attributes are included in the data message at the dataset, series or observation level as appropriate.
697
698 The time series variant of the Structure Specific Data message is no longer used.
699
700 === Reference metadata message ===
701
702 The Generic Metadata message remains the standard format for transmission of reference metadata sets in XML but has been modified to support the revised version 3.0 reference metadata model.
703
704 === Registry structural metadata ‘query’ messages ===
705
706 As a consequence of the deprecation of the SOAP API and standardisation on REST, the structural metadata ‘query’ messages have all been removed. In version 3.0, querying an SDMX Registry for structural metadata is performed solely using REST GET.
707
708 === Structure referencing ===
709
710 The option to reference structures using Agency, ID and Version has been removed. From SDMX version 3.0 URN is used for all referencing purposes with the exception of local references such as where groups reference dimensions within a DSD.
711
712 == //6.2 SDMX-JSON// ==
713
714 Like SDMX-ML, the SDMX-JSON messages have been significantly modified and updated for version 3.0. They are not backwardly compatible with version 2.1.
715
716 === Structure message ===
717
718 The SDMX-JSON structure message closely replicates the SDMX-ML equivalent. Like that of SDMX-ML it has been updated to align it with the version 3.0 information model with addition, deletion and modification of artefacts as required. The organisation of the structure collections has also been revised as detailed in paragraph 6.1.
719
720 === Data message ===
721
722 The SDMX-JSON data message has similarly be updated. Additional changes have been made to allow a single message to carry data from multiple datasets with potentially different Data Structure Definitions to support REST data queries of the form “retrieve all data about a country”. For this reason, the version 3.0 SDMX-JSON is not backwardly compatible with version 2.1 data messages. Support has been added for the transmission of microdata and reporting of reference metadata on data as an integral part of the dataset.
723
724 === Reference metadata message ===
725
726 The SDMX-JSON metadata message has also been updated to support the version 3.0 reference metadata and Metadataset specifications.
727
728 === Structure referencing ===
729
730 As for SDMX-ML, the option to reference structures using Agency, ID and Version has been removed with URN used for all non-local referencing purposes.
731
732 == //6.3 SDMX-CSV// ==
733
734 CSV in SDMX is used transmission of data and reference metadata only.
735
736 === Data message ===
737
738 The SDMX-CSV data message has been modified to align with the version 3.0 information model, support the enhanced REST API and ensure that data can be freely converted to and from the XML and JSON formats without loss. These changes include:
739
740 * An additional column identifying the type if the artefact defining the structure of the data: “dataflow”, “datastructure” or “dataprovision”; • A column for the structure artefact’s identification of the form
741
742 ESTAT:NA_MAIN(1.6.0) which replaces the dataflow identifier in version 2.1; and
743
744 * A column for the dataset action: information, append, replace or delete, which is consistent with both the the SDMX-ML and SDMX-JSON data messages.
745
746 === Reference metadata message ===
747
748 The SDMX-CSV metadata message is new for version 3.0 and, like the SDMX-ML and SDMX-JSON equivalents, is used for the transmission reference metadata sets.
749
750 === //6.4 EDI deprecation// ===
751
752 The EDI format for transmission of both structures and data has been deprecated. Version 3.0 is therefore not backwardly compatible with legacy EDI messages.
753
754 = Appendix A – Version 2.1 Information Model =
755
756 [[image:SDMX 3-0-0 Major Changes FINAL-1.0_en_5f21cdf9.png||height="319" width="718"]]