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201 201  In addition to looking at collection and reporting, it is also important to consider the dissemination of data. Data and metadata – no matter how they are exchanged between counterparties in the process of their development and creation – are all eventually supplied to an end user of some type. Often, this is through specific applications inside of institutions. But more and more frequently, data and metadata are also published on websites in various formats. The dissemination of data and its accompanying metadata on the web is a focus of the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] standards. Standards for statistical data and metadata allow improvements in the publication of data – it becomes more easily possible to process a standard format once the data is obtained, and the data and metadata are linked together, making the comprehension and further processing of the data easier.
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203 -In discussions of statistical data, there are many aspects of its dissemination which impact data quality: data discovery, ease of use, and [[timeliness>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Timeliness.WebHome]]. [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] standards provide support for all of these aspects of data dissemination. Standard data formats promote ease of use, and provide links to relevant metadata. The (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)concept(%%) of registry services means that data and metadata can more easily be discovered. [[Timeliness>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Timeliness.WebHome]] is improved throughout the data lifecycle by increases in efficiency, promoted through the availability of metadata and ease of use.
203 +In discussions of statistical data, there are many aspects of its dissemination which impact data quality: data discovery, ease of use, and [[timeliness>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Timeliness.WebHome]]. [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] standards provide support for all of these aspects of data dissemination. Standard data formats promote ease of use, and provide links to relevant metadata. The concept of registry services means that data and metadata can more easily be discovered. [[Timeliness>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Timeliness.WebHome]] is improved throughout the data lifecycle by increases in efficiency, promoted through the availability of metadata and ease of use.
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205 205  It is important to note that [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] is primarily focused on the //exchange// and //dissemination// of statistical data and metadata. There may also be many uses for the standard model and formats specified here in the context of internal processing of data that are not concerned with the exchange between organizations and users, however. It is felt that a clear, standard formatting of data and metadata for the purposes of exchange and dissemination can also facilitate internal processing by organizations and users, but this is not the focus of the specification.
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211 211  == 3.4 The SDMX View of Statistical Exchange ==
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213 -(% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Version(%%) 1.0 of ISO/TS 17369 [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] covered statistical [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] and the metadata related to the structure of these [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]]. This scope was useful in supporting the different models of statistical exchange ([[bilateral exchange>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Bilateral exchange.WebHome]], gateway exchange, and data-sharing) but was not by itself sufficient to support them completely. (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Versions(%%) 2.0 and 2.1 provide a much more complete view of statistical exchange, so that an open data-sharing model can be fully supported, and other models of exchange can be more completely automated. In order to produce technical standards that will support this increased scope, the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]] provides a broader set of formal objects which describe the actors, processes, and resources within statistical exchanges.
213 +Version 1.0 of ISO/TS 17369 [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] covered statistical [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] and the metadata related to the structure of these [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]]. This scope was useful in supporting the different models of statistical exchange ([[bilateral exchange>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Bilateral exchange.WebHome]], gateway exchange, and data-sharing) but was not by itself sufficient to support them completely. Versions 2.0 and 2.1 provide a much more complete view of statistical exchange, so that an open data-sharing model can be fully supported, and other models of exchange can be more completely automated. In order to produce technical standards that will support this increased scope, the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]] provides a broader set of formal objects which describe the actors, processes, and resources within statistical exchanges.
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215 215  It is important to understand the set of formal objects not only in a technical sense, but also in terms of what they represent in the real-world exchange of statistical data and metadata.
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217 -The first (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) of [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] provided for [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] - specific statistical data reported according to a specific structure, for a specific time range - and for [[data structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] - the metadata which describes the structure of statistical [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]]. These are important objects in statistical exchanges, and are retained and enhanced in the second (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) of the standards in a backward-compatible form. A related object in statistical exchanges is the "[[data flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]" - this supports the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)concept(%%) of data reporting or dissemination on an ongoing basis. "[[Data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]" can be understood as [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] which are not bounded by time. Data structures are owned and maintained by agencies - in a similar fashion, [[data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] are owned by [[maintenance agencies>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Maintenance agency.WebHome]].
217 +The first version of [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] provided for [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] - specific statistical data reported according to a specific structure, for a specific time range - and for [[data structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] - the metadata which describes the structure of statistical [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]]. These are important objects in statistical exchanges, and are retained and enhanced in the second version of the standards in a backward-compatible form. A related object in statistical exchanges is the "[[data flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]" - this supports the concept of data reporting or dissemination on an ongoing basis. "[[Data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]" can be understood as [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] which are not bounded by time. Data structures are owned and maintained by agencies - in a similar fashion, [[data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] are owned by [[maintenance agencies>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Maintenance agency.WebHome]].
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219 -[[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] allows for the publication of statistical data (and the related [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]]) but also provided for the standard, systematic [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] of [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]]. In (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) 2.1, [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] were reported independent of the statistical data.
219 +[[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] allows for the publication of statistical data (and the related [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]]) but also provided for the standard, systematic [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] of [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]]. In version 2.1, [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] were reported independent of the statistical data.
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221 221  However, in 3.0 [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] associated directly with data such as footnotes are reported as [[attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Attribute.WebHome]] of the [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]]. For other [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]], principally that linked to structures like “[[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept.WebHome]]”, [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] provides reference "[[metadata sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata set.WebHome]]", "[[metadata structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]]", and "[[metadata flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]]". These objects are very similar to [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]], [[data structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]], and [[data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]], but concern [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] rather than statistical observations. In the same way that [[data providers>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] may publish statistical data, they may also publish [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]]. Metadata structural definitions are maintained by agencies in a fashion similar to the way that agencies maintain [[data structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]], the structural definitions of [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]].
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223 223  The structural definitions of both data and [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] associate specific statistical [[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept.WebHome]] with their [[representations>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]], whether textual, coded, etc. These [[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept.WebHome]] are taken from a "[[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept scheme.WebHome]]" which is maintained by a specific agency. [[Concept schemes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept scheme.WebHome]] group a set of [[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept.WebHome]], provide their definitions and names, and allow for semantic relationships to be expressed, when some [[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept.WebHome]] are specializations of others. It is possible for a single [[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept scheme.WebHome]] to be used both for data structures - key families - and for [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] structures.
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225 -Inherent in any statistical exchange – and in many dissemination activities – is a (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)concept(%%) of "service (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)level(%%) agreement", even if this is not formalized or made explicit. [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] incorporates this idea in objects termed "[[provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]]". [[Data providers>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] may provide data to many different [[data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]. [[Data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] may incorporate data coming from more than one [[data provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]]. [[Provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] are the objects which tell you which [[data providers>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] are supplying what data to which [[data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]. Similarly, metadata [[provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] for [[metadata flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]].
225 +Inherent in any statistical exchange – and in many dissemination activities – is a concept of "service level agreement", even if this is not formalized or made explicit. [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] incorporates this idea in objects termed "[[provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]]". [[Data providers>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] may provide data to many different [[data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]. [[Data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] may incorporate data coming from more than one [[data provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]]. [[Provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] are the objects which tell you which [[data providers>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] are supplying what data to which [[data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]. Similarly, metadata [[provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] for [[metadata flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]].
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227 -[[Provision Agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] allow for data collection restrictions to be applied at the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)level(%%) of the [[Data Provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] in the context of the collection ([[data flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]), this set of information is termed a ‘Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Constraint(%%)’ in the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]]. Additionally, in a dissemination environment, data can be queried at the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)level(%%) of the [[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]], this can be a complete [[dataset>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] as supplied by a specific [[Data Provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] for the [[Dataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]], a subset of data, or information about what data exists (Data Availability).
227 +[[Provision Agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] allow for data collection restrictions to be applied at the level of the [[Data Provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] in the context of the collection ([[data flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]), this set of information is termed a ‘Data [[Constraint>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]]’ in the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]]. Additionally, in a dissemination environment, data can be queried at the level of the [[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]], this can be a complete [[dataset>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] as supplied by a specific [[Data Provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] for the [[Dataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]], a subset of data, or information about what data exists (Data Availability).
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229 229  A brief summary of the objects described in the information model includes:
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231 231  * //**[[Data Set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]]:**// Data is organized into discrete sets, which include particular observations for a specific period of time. A [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] can be understood as a collection of similar data, sharing a structure, which covers a fixed period of time.
232 -* //**[[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] ([[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]], also known as Key Family in (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Version(%%) 2.0): **//Each [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] has a set of [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]]. These descriptions are referred to in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] as [[Data Structure Definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]], which include information about how (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)concepts(%%) are associated with the [[measures>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Measure.WebHome]], [[dimensions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]], and [[attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Attribute.WebHome]] of a data “cube,” along with information about the [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] of data and related identifying and descriptive (structural) metadata. In (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Version(%%) 2.1, the term "Key Family" was replaced by "[[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]]" ([[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]]) both in XML Schemas and the Information Model. The [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] has been modified in (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) 3.0 to better support microdata by providing the option to define multiple [[measures>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Measure.WebHome]] and for [[attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Attribute.WebHome]] and [[measures>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Measure.WebHome]] to take arrays of values. An optional reference to a [[Metadata Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] has also been added for describing the [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] associated with the data. When reported, these [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] are included as part of the [[dataset>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]].
232 +* //**[[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] ([[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]], also known as Key Family in Version 2.0): **//Each [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] has a set of [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]]. These descriptions are referred to in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] as [[Data Structure Definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]], which include information about how concepts are associated with the [[measures>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Measure.WebHome]], [[dimensions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]], and [[attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Attribute.WebHome]] of a data “cube,” along with information about the [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] of data and related identifying and descriptive (structural) metadata. In Version 2.1, the term "Key Family" was replaced by "[[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]]" ([[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]]) both in XML Schemas and the Information Model. The [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] has been modified in version 3.0 to better support microdata by providing the option to define multiple [[measures>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Measure.WebHome]] and for [[attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Attribute.WebHome]] and [[measures>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Measure.WebHome]] to take arrays of values. An optional reference to a [[Metadata Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] has also been added for describing the [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] associated with the data. When reported, these [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] are included as part of the [[dataset>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]].
233 233  * //**[[Code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] list:**// [[Code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists enumerate a set of [[codes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] to be used in the [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] of [[dimensions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]], [[attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Attribute.WebHome]], and other structural parts of [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]]. [[Codes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] can be organised into simple [[hierarchies>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] within a [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] list, and more complex [[hierarchies>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] potentially involving multiple [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists using [[hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] and [[hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] association structures.
234 -* //**Value list:**// Value lists introduced in (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) 3.0 are similar to [[codelists>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]] with the exception that the items do not need to conform to the usual [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] rules for identifiable objects. That allows the values to include characters such as [[currency>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Currency.WebHome]] symbols (e.g. ¥) which would otherwise make illegal [[codes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]]. However, unlike [[codes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]], values are not individually identifiable. Value lists find application in (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)concepts(%%) and [[data structures definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] for less structured data and microdata enumerations and can be (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)mapped(%%) to other value or [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists using [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)maps(%%).
234 +* //**Value list:**// Value lists introduced in version 3.0 are similar to [[codelists>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]] with the exception that the items do not need to conform to the usual [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] rules for identifiable objects. That allows the values to include characters such as [[currency>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Currency.WebHome]] symbols (e.g. ¥) which would otherwise make illegal [[codes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]]. However, unlike [[codes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]], values are not individually identifiable. Value lists find application in concepts and [[data structures definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] for less structured data and microdata enumerations and can be mapped to other value or [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists using [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] maps.
235 235  * //**Organisation Scheme:**// Organisations and organisation structure can be defined in an Organisation Scheme. Specific Organisation Schemes exist for [[Maintenance Agency>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Maintenance agency.WebHome]], [[Data Provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]], Metadata Provider, [[Data Consumer>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data consumer.WebHome]], and Organisation [[Unit>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical unit.WebHome]].
236 236  * //**[[Category Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Category scheme.WebHome]] and [[Categorisation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Categorisation.WebHome]]:**// [[Category schemes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Category scheme.WebHome]] are made up of a [[hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] of [[categories>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Category.WebHome]], which in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] may include any type of useful [[classification>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical Classification.WebHome]] for the organization of data and metadata. A [[Categorisation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Categorisation.WebHome]] links a [[category>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Category.WebHome]] to an identifiable object. In this way sets of objects can be categorised. A statistical subjectmatter domain scheme is implemented in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] as a [[Category Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Category scheme.WebHome]].
237 237  * //**[[Concept Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept scheme.WebHome]]:**// A [[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept scheme.WebHome]] is a maintained list of [[concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept.WebHome]] that are used in [[data structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] and [[metadata structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]]. There can be many such [[concept schemes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept scheme.WebHome]]. A “core” [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] of the [[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept.WebHome]] can be specified (e.g. a core [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] list, or other [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] such as “date”). Note that this core [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] can be overridden in the [[data structure definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] or [[metadata structure definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] that uses the [[concept>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept.WebHome]]. Indeed, organisations wishing to remain with version 1.0 key family schema specifications will continue to declare the [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] in the key family definition.
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241 241  * //**[[Metadataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]] Definition:**// A [[metadata flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]] definition is very similar to a [[data flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] definition, but describes, categorises, and constrains [[metadata sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata set.WebHome]].
242 242  * //**[[Data Provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]]: **//An organization which produces data is termed a [[data provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]].
243 243  * //**Metadata Provider: **//An organization which produces [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] is termed a metadata provider.
244 -* //**[[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] (Metadata [[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]]):**// The set of information which describes the way in which [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] and [[metadata sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata set.WebHome]] are provided by a data/metadata provider. A [[provision agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] can be constrained in much the same way as a data or [[metadata flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]] definition. Thus, a [[data provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] can express the fact that it provides a particular [[data flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] covering a specific set of countries and topics, Importantly, the actual source of registered data or metadata is attached to the [[provision agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] (in terms of a URL). The term “agreement” is used because this information can be understood as the basis of a “service-(% style="color:#e74c3c" %)level(%%) agreement”. In [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]], however, this is informational metadata to support the technical systems, as opposed to any sort of contractual information (which is outside the scope of a technical specification). In (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) 3.0, metadata [[provision agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] and data [[provision agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] are two separate [[artefacts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Artefact.WebHome]].
245 -* //**Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Constraint(%%):**// Used to restrict content (such as enumerations) and are used by [[provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]], [[data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]], [[data structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] in order to provide a set of reporting restrictions in the context of a collection
246 -* //**Metadata (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Constraint(%%):**// Used to restrict content (such as enumerations) and are used by metadata [[provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]], [[metadata flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]], [[metadata structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] in order to provide a set of reporting restrictions in the context of a collection
247 -* //**Available Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Constraint(%%):**// Used to report the set of [[Component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Component.WebHome]] values that have data reported against them in the context of a Data Query. This structure allows a user to know what valid filters can be applied to a cube of data, such that the resulting cube will contain data.
248 -* //**Structure (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Map(%%): **//Structure (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)maps(%%) describes a mapping between [[data structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] or [[dataflows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] for the purpose of transforming a [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] into a different structure. The mapping rules are defined using one or more [[component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Component.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)maps(%%) which each (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)map(%%) in turn describes how one or more [[components>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Component.WebHome]] from the source [[data structure definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)map(%%) to one or more [[components>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Component.WebHome]] in that of the target. Represent (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)maps(%%) act as lookup tables and specific provision is made for mapping dates and times.
249 -* //**[[Representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Map(%%):**// [[Representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)maps(%%) describe mappings between source value(s) and target value(s) where the values are restricted to those in a [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] list, value list or be of a certain type such as integer or string.
250 -* //**[[Item Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Map(%%):**// An [[item scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)map(%%) describes mapping rules between any [[item scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] with the exception of [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists and value lists which use [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)maps(%%). The (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) 3.0 information model provides four [[item scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)maps(%%): organisation scheme (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)map(%%), [[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept scheme.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)map(%%), [[category scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Category scheme.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)map(%%) and [[reporting taxonomy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reporting taxonomy.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)map(%%). Organisation scheme (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)map(%%) and reporting scheme (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)map(%%) have been omitted from the information model schematic in Figure 1.
244 +* //**[[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] (Metadata [[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]]):**// The set of information which describes the way in which [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] and [[metadata sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata set.WebHome]] are provided by a data/metadata provider. A [[provision agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] can be constrained in much the same way as a data or [[metadata flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]] definition. Thus, a [[data provider>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]] can express the fact that it provides a particular [[data flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] covering a specific set of countries and topics, Importantly, the actual source of registered data or metadata is attached to the [[provision agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] (in terms of a URL). The term “agreement” is used because this information can be understood as the basis of a “service-level agreement”. In [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]], however, this is informational metadata to support the technical systems, as opposed to any sort of contractual information (which is outside the scope of a technical specification). In version 3.0, metadata [[provision agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] and data [[provision agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]] are two separate [[artefacts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Artefact.WebHome]].
245 +* //**Data [[Constraint>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]]:**// Used to restrict content (such as enumerations) and are used by [[provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]], [[data flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]], [[data structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] in order to provide a set of reporting restrictions in the context of a collection
246 +* //**Metadata [[Constraint>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]]:**// Used to restrict content (such as enumerations) and are used by metadata [[provision agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]], [[metadata flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]], [[metadata structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] in order to provide a set of reporting restrictions in the context of a collection
247 +* //**Available Data [[Constraint>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]]:**// Used to report the set of [[Component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Component.WebHome]] values that have data reported against them in the context of a Data Query. This structure allows a user to know what valid filters can be applied to a cube of data, such that the resulting cube will contain data.
248 +* //**Structure Map: **//Structure maps describes a mapping between [[data structure definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] or [[dataflows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] for the purpose of transforming a [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] into a different structure. The mapping rules are defined using one or more [[component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Component.WebHome]] maps which each map in turn describes how one or more [[components>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Component.WebHome]] from the source [[data structure definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] map to one or more [[components>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Component.WebHome]] in that of the target. Represent maps act as lookup tables and specific provision is made for mapping dates and times.
249 +* //**[[Representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] Map:**// [[Representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] maps describe mappings between source value(s) and target value(s) where the values are restricted to those in a [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] list, value list or be of a certain type such as integer or string.
250 +* //**[[Item Scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] Map:**// An [[item scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] map describes mapping rules between any [[item scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] with the exception of [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists and value lists which use [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] maps. The version 3.0 information model provides four [[item scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] maps: organisation scheme map, [[concept scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Concept scheme.WebHome]] map, [[category scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Category scheme.WebHome]] map and [[reporting taxonomy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reporting taxonomy.WebHome]] map. Organisation scheme map and reporting scheme map have been omitted from the information model schematic in Figure 1.
251 251  * //**[[Reporting Taxonomy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reporting taxonomy.WebHome]]: **//A [[reporting taxonomy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reporting taxonomy.WebHome]] allows an organisation to link (possibly in a hierarchical way) a number of cube or [[data flow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] definitions which together form a complete “report” of data or metadata. This supports primary reporting which often comprises multiple cubes of heterogeneous data, but may also support other collection and reporting functions. It also supports the specification of publications such as a yearbook, in terms of the data or metadata contained in the publication.
252 -* //**Process:**// The process class provides a way to model statistical processes as a set of interconnected //process steps.// Although not central to the exchange and dissemination of statistical data and metadata, having a shared description of processing allows for the interoperable exchange and dissemination of [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] sets which describe processes-related (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)concepts(%%).
252 +* //**Process:**// The process class provides a way to model statistical processes as a set of interconnected //process steps.// Although not central to the exchange and dissemination of statistical data and metadata, having a shared description of processing allows for the interoperable exchange and dissemination of [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] sets which describe processes-related concepts.
253 253  * //**[[Hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]]**//: Describes complex [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] [[hierarchies>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] principally for data discovery purposes. The [[codes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] themselves are referenced from the [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists in which they are maintained.
254 254  * //**[[Hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] Association**//: A [[hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] association links a [[hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] to something that needs it like a [[dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]]. Furthermore, the linking can be specified in the context of another object such as a [[dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]] in the context of a [[dataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]. Thus, a [[dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]] in a [[data structure definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] could have different [[hierarchies>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] depending on the [[dataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]].
255 255  * //**Transformation Scheme:**// A transformation scheme is a set of [[Validation and Transformation Language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] ([[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]]) transformations aimed at obtaining some meaningful results for the user (e.g., the validation of one or more [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]]). The set of transformations is meant to be executed together (in the same run) and may contain 597 any number of transformations in order to produce any number of results. Thus, a transformation scheme can be considered as a [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] ‘program’.
... ... @@ -273,7 +273,7 @@
273 273  
274 274  Web services allow computer applications to exchange data directly over the Internet, essentially allowing modular or distributed computing in a more flexible fashion than ever before. In order to allow web services to function, however, many standards are required: for requesting and supplying data; for expressing the enveloping data which is used to package exchanged data; for describing web services to one another, to allow for easy integration into applications that use other web services as data resources.
275 275  
276 -(% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Version(%%) 3.1 has standardized on RESTful web services with a OpenAPI specification published on the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] Technical Working Group’s GitHub repository  [[__https:~~/~~/github.com/sdmx-twg__>>https://https:github.comsdmx-twg]].
276 +Version 3.1 has standardized on RESTful web services with a OpenAPI specification published on the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] Technical Working Group’s GitHub repository  [[__https:~~/~~/github.com/sdmx-twg__>>https://https:github.comsdmx-twg]].
277 277  
278 278  There are five ‘resources’:
279 279  
... ... @@ -288,18 +288,17 @@
288 288  
289 289  = 4 The SDMX Information Model =
290 290  
291 -
292 292  [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] provides a way of modelling statistical data, and defines the set of metadata constructs used for this purpose. Because [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] specifies a number of transmission formats for expressing data and [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]], the model is used as a mechanism for guaranteeing that transformation between the different formats is lossless. In this sense, all of the formats are syntax-bound expressions of the common information model.
293 293  
294 -[[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] recognizes that statistical data is structured; in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] this structure is termed a [[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]]. “[[Data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]]” are made up of one or more lower-(% style="color:#e74c3c" %)level(%%) “groups”, based on their degrees of similarity. Each group is in turn comprised of one or more “[[series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]]” of data. Each [[series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] or section has a “key” - values for each of a cluster of (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)concepts(%%), also called "[[dimensions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]]" - which identifies it, and one or more “observations”, which typically combine the time of the observation, and the value of the observation (e.g., measurement). Additionally, metadata may be attached at any (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)level(%%) of this structure as descriptive “[[attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Attribute.WebHome]]”. [[Code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists (enumerations) and other patterns for [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] of data and metadata are also modelled.
293 +[[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] recognizes that statistical data is structured; in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] this structure is termed a [[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]]. “[[Data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]]” are made up of one or more lower-level “groups”, based on their degrees of similarity. Each group is in turn comprised of one or more “[[series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]]” of data. Each [[series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] or section has a “key” - values for each of a cluster of concepts, also called "[[dimensions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]]" - which identifies it, and one or more “observations”, which typically combine the time of the observation, and the value of the observation (e.g., measurement). Additionally, metadata may be attached at any level of this structure as descriptive “[[attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Attribute.WebHome]]”. [[Code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists (enumerations) and other patterns for [[representation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Representation.WebHome]] of data and metadata are also modelled.
295 295  
296 -There is some similarity between “cube” structures commonly used to process statistical data, and the [[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] idea in the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]]. It is important to note that the data as structured according to the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]] is optimized for exchange, potentially with partners who may have no ability to process a “cube” of data coming from complex statistical systems. [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] [[time series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] can be understood as “slices” of the cube. Such a slice is identified by its key. A "[[series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]]" key consists of the values for all [[dimensions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]] specified by the key family except time. Thus, it is possible to reconstruct and describe data cubes from [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]]-structured data, and to exchange such databases using the interfaces and formats provided for that purpose in the standard. Additional objects such as [[hierarchical code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchical code.WebHome]] lists, [[constraints>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]] and structure (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)maps(%%) make it possible to more fully model the structure of cubes.
295 +There is some similarity between “cube” structures commonly used to process statistical data, and the [[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] idea in the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]]. It is important to note that the data as structured according to the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]] is optimized for exchange, potentially with partners who may have no ability to process a “cube” of data coming from complex statistical systems. [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] [[time series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] can be understood as “slices” of the cube. Such a slice is identified by its key. A "[[series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]]" key consists of the values for all [[dimensions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]] specified by the key family except time. Thus, it is possible to reconstruct and describe data cubes from [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]]-structured data, and to exchange such databases using the interfaces and formats provided for that purpose in the standard. Additional objects such as [[hierarchical code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchical code.WebHome]] lists, [[constraints>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]] and structure maps make it possible to more fully model the structure of cubes.
297 297  
298 -The information model also provides a view of [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]]: a mechanism for referencing the meaningful “objects” within the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] view of statistical exchange processes ([[data providers>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]], structures, [[provisioning agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]], [[dataflows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]], [[metadata flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]], etc.) to which metadata is attached; a mechanism for describing a set of meaningful (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)concepts(%%), of organizing them into a presentational structure, and of indicating how their values are represented. This is based on a simple, hierarchical view of [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] which is common to many metadata systems and [[classification>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical Classification.WebHome]]/categorization schemes. [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] provides a model (and XML and JSON formats) for both describing [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] structures, and of reporting [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] according to those structures.
297 +The information model also provides a view of [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]]: a mechanism for referencing the meaningful “objects” within the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] view of statistical exchange processes ([[data providers>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data provider.WebHome]], structures, [[provisioning agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]], [[dataflows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]], [[metadata flows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadataflow.WebHome]], etc.) to which metadata is attached; a mechanism for describing a set of meaningful concepts, of organizing them into a presentational structure, and of indicating how their values are represented. This is based on a simple, hierarchical view of [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] which is common to many metadata systems and [[classification>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical Classification.WebHome]]/categorization schemes. [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] provides a model (and XML and JSON formats) for both describing [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] structures, and of reporting [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] according to those structures.
299 299  
300 -(% style="color:#e74c3c" %)Version(%%) 2.0/2.1 introduced support for metadata related to the process aspects of statistical exchange. A step-by-step process can be modelled; information about who is providing data and [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] and how they are providing it can be expressed; and the technical aspects of service-(% style="color:#e74c3c" %)level(%%) agreements (and similar types of [[provisioning agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]]) can be represented.
299 +Version 2.0/2.1 introduced support for metadata related to the process aspects of statistical exchange. A step-by-step process can be modelled; information about who is providing data and [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] and how they are providing it can be expressed; and the technical aspects of service-level agreements (and similar types of [[provisioning agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Provision agreement.WebHome]]) can be represented.
301 301  
302 -Support for the [[Validation and Transformation Language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] ([[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]]) in the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]] was introduced in the July 2020 revision of 2.1 and is retained in (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) 3.0 with minimal changes. This allows reusable [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] ‘programs’ (a cohesive set of transformation statements designed to be executed together) and their associated constructs such as validation rulesets and user-defined operators to be managed and exchanged as [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]]. Mappings between objects such as [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] referenced in [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] programs and the actual [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] [[artefacts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Artefact.WebHome]] to which they relate is essential when it comes to actually executing programs, and this information can also be defined. Chapter 7 has more information on [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] and its integration with [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]].
301 +Support for the [[Validation and Transformation Language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] ([[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]]) in the [[SDMX Information Model>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Information Model.WebHome]] was introduced in the July 2020 revision of 2.1 and is retained in version 3.0 with minimal changes. This allows reusable [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] ‘programs’ (a cohesive set of transformation statements designed to be executed together) and their associated constructs such as validation rulesets and user-defined operators to be managed and exchanged as [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]]. Mappings between objects such as [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] referenced in [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] programs and the actual [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] [[artefacts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Artefact.WebHome]] to which they relate is essential when it comes to actually executing programs, and this information can also be defined. Chapter 7 has more information on [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] and its integration with [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]].
303 303  
304 304  A full UML conceptual design of the information model is set out in Section 2 of the Technical Specifications.
305 305  
... ... @@ -307,7 +307,6 @@
307 307  
308 308  == 5.1 SDMX-ML ==
309 309  
310 -
311 311  [[SDMX-ML>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-ML.WebHome]] is the XML transmission format specification for exchanging [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]], data and [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]], and interacting with [[SDMX registry>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Registry.WebHome]] services. It is designed as a general-purpose format for all automation and data / metadata exchange tasks, and provides the most complete [[coverage>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Coverage.WebHome]].
312 312  
313 313  There are four distinct types of message:
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