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Last modified by Helena K. on 2026/06/08 15:16
From version 25.37
edited by Helena K.
on 2026/06/03 14:02
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To version 27.3
edited by Helena K.
on 2026/06/03 14:19
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64 64  
65 65  * **[[Reference Metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]]**: In addition to describing and specifying data structures and formats (along with related [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]]), the version 2.0 specification also provides for the exchange of metadata which is distinct from the [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]] in the 1.0 version. This [[category>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Category.WebHome]] includes “reference” metadata (regarding data quality, methodology, and similar types – it can be configured by the user to include whatever concepts require reporting); metadata related to data provisioning ([[release calendar>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Release policy - release calendar.WebHome]] information, description of the data and metadata provided, etc.); and metadata relevant to the exchange of categorization schemes.
66 66  * **[[SDMX Registry>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX Registry.WebHome]]**: Provision is made in the 2.0 standard for standard communication with registry services, to support a data-sharing model of statistical exchange. These services include registration of data and metadata, querying of registered data and metadata, and [[subscription>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Subscription.WebHome]]/[[notification>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Notification.WebHome]].
67 -* **[[Structural Metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]]**: The support for exchange of statistical data and related [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]] has been expanded. Some support is provided for qualitative data; data cube structures are described; [[hierarchical code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchical code.WebHome]] lists are supported; relationships between data structures can be expressed, providing support for extensibility of data structures; and the description of functional dependencies within cubes are supported.
67 +* **[[Structural Metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]]**: The support for exchange of statistical data and related [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]] has been expanded. Some support is provided for qualitative data; data cube structures are described; [[hierarchical code lists>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchical code list.WebHome]] are supported; relationships between data structures can be expressed, providing support for extensibility of data structures; and the description of functional dependencies within cubes are supported.
68 68  
69 69  == 2.2 Major Changes from 2.0 to 2.1 ==
70 70  
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78 78  * **Support for Non-Time-[[Series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] Data in the Generic Format: **One area which has been extended is the ability to express non-time-[[series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] data as part of the generic data message.
79 79  * **Simplification of the [[data structure definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] - specific message types: **Both [[time series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] (version 2.0 Compact) and non-[[time series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] [[data sets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] (version 2.0 Cross Sectional) use the same underlying structure for a structure-specific formatted message, which is specific to the [[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]] of the [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]].
80 80  * **Simplification and better support for the metadata structure: **New use cases have been reported and these are now supported by a re-modelled [[metadata structure definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]].
81 -* **Support for partial [[item schemes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] such as a [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] list: **The concept of a partial (subset) [[item scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] such as a partial [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] list for use in exchange scenarios has been introduced**.**
81 +* **Support for partial [[item schemes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] such as a [[code list>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]]: **The concept of a partial (subset) [[item scheme>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Item scheme.WebHome]] such as a partial [[code list>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]] for use in exchange scenarios has been introduced**.**
82 82  
83 83  == 2.3 Major Changes from 2.1 to 3.0 ==
84 84  
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90 90  * Simplification and improvement of the [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] model
91 91  * Support for microdata
92 92  * Support for geospatial data
93 -* Support for [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] list extension and discriminated union of [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] lists
93 +* Support for [[code list>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]] extension and discriminated union of [[code lists>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]]
94 94  * Improvements to structure mapping
95 95  * Improvements to [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] [[hierarchies>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] for data discovery
96 96  * Improvements to [[constraints>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]]
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137 137  (% class="wikigeneratedid" id="HInformationModel-1" %)
138 138  **Information Model**
139 139  
140 -* Addition of [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]] Constraint property to a [[Dataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]
140 +* Addition of [[Dimension>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]] [[Constraint>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]] property to a [[Dataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]]
141 141  * Addition of evolving structure property to a [[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]]
142 142  * Remove [[version>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Version.WebHome]] property on [[Categorisation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Categorisation.WebHome]]
143 143  * Simplification of [[Constraints>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]]
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230 230  
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.
232 232  * //**[[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 -* //**[[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.
233 +* //**[[Code list>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]]:**// [[Code lists>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]] 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 list>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]], and more complex [[hierarchies>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] potentially involving multiple [[code lists>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code list.WebHome]] using [[hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] and [[hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Hierarchy.WebHome]] association structures.
234 234  * //**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]].
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292 292  
293 293  [[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.
294 294  
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 (% 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.
296 296  
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 (% 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.
298 298  
299 -(% 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.
300 300  
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 (% 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]].
302 302  
303 303  A full UML conceptual design of the information model is set out in Section 2 of the Technical Specifications.
304 304  
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306 306  
307 307  == 5.1 SDMX-ML ==
308 308  
309 -
310 310  [[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]].
311 311  
312 312  There are four distinct types of message:
... ... @@ -321,7 +321,6 @@
321 321  
322 322  == 5.2 SDMX-JSON ==
323 323  
324 -
325 325  [[SDMX-JSON>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-JSON.WebHome]] is the JSON 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]]. It provides an alternative to [[SDMX-ML>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-ML.WebHome]] and is most suited to applications like web data dissemination.
326 326  
327 327  [[SDMX-JSON>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-JSON.WebHome]] messages serve the same function as those of the XML formats but have a different structure. For data, an important distinction is that they carry both [[component>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Component.WebHome]] [[codes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] and labels which provides all the information needed to display the content in a single JSON response. The XML Structure-specific Data format by contrast carries only [[code>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Code.WebHome]] IDs thus requiring applications obtain and hold [[structural metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Structural metadata.WebHome]] about the [[data set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data set.WebHome]] in order to display the content in human-readable form.
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336 336  
337 337  == 5.3 SDMX-CSV ==
338 338  
339 -
340 340  [[SDMX-CSV>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-CSV.WebHome]] is the CSV transmission format specification for exchanging data and [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] only.
341 341  
342 342  [[SDMX-CSV>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-CSV.WebHome]] provides a simple columnar format for data and metadata that can be readily created and interpreted by standard software tools such as Microsoft Excel. Nevertheless, data and metadata can still be converted between the CSV and the JSON / XML formats without loss.
... ... @@ -348,7 +348,7 @@
348 348  
349 349  == 5.4 Formats and Messages Deprecated in Version 3.0 ==
350 350  
351 -The following formats and messages have been deprecated in (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) 3.0 to simplify, modernise and rationalise the standard.
348 +The following formats and messages have been deprecated in version 3.0 to simplify, modernise and rationalise the standard.
352 352  
353 353  * [[SDMX-EDI>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-EDI.WebHome]]
354 354  * [[SDMX-ML>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-ML.WebHome]] 1.0/2.0 Generic (time-[[series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]]) data message
... ... @@ -358,7 +358,7 @@
358 358  * [[SDMX-ML>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-ML.WebHome]] 2.1 Generic ([[Time Series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]]) data messages (for observations, time-[[series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] and cross-sectional data)
359 359  * [[SDMX-ML>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-ML.WebHome]] 2.1 Structure Specific [[Time Series>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Series.WebHome]] data message
360 360  
361 -The following messages were deprecated in (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%) 3.0 as a consequence of the deprecation of the SOAP web services:
358 +The following messages were deprecated in version 3.0 as a consequence of the deprecation of the SOAP web services:
362 362  
363 363  * [[SDMX-ML>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-ML.WebHome]] Query messages
364 364  * [[SDMX-ML>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.SDMX-ML.WebHome]] Submit Structure Request messages
... ... @@ -393,7 +393,7 @@
393 393  
394 394  For many years the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] initiative has been fostering and supporting the development of a standard calculation [[language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Language.WebHome]], called [[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]]). A blueprint for defining calculations was already described in the original [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 2.1 specifications (package 13 of the Information Model - “Transformations and Expressions”). It was just a basic framework that required further developments to became operational in order to achieve a calculation [[language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Language.WebHome]] able to manipulate [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] [[artefacts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Artefact.WebHome]].
395 395  
396 -These developments started in late 2012 and were put in charge of the [[Validation and Transformation Language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] Task Force ([[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] TF), which included members of the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] Technical Working Group (TWG) and Statistical Working Group (SWG), besides experts coming from the DDI and GSIM communities. The intent was to define a standard [[language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Language.WebHome]] to be implemented in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] and applicable also to GSIM and DDI. This brought to the publication of the [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 1.0 in 2015. Then new requirements came from a number of proofs of (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)concepts(%%) and tests of [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 1.0 made by several organisations and triggered a large improvement of the [[language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Language.WebHome]]. A new provisional (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%), the [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 1.1, was released in public consultation in 2017. The high number of [[comments>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Comment.WebHome]] received triggered another phase of intensive work, with the main goal of achieving a more robust and forward compatible (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)version(%%). Finally, the [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 2.0 was published between April and July 2018 (see the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] website).
393 +These developments started in late 2012 and were put in charge of the [[Validation and Transformation Language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] Task Force ([[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] TF), which included members of the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] Technical Working Group (TWG) and Statistical Working Group (SWG), besides experts coming from the DDI and GSIM communities. The intent was to define a standard [[language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Language.WebHome]] to be implemented in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] and applicable also to GSIM and DDI. This brought to the publication of the [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 1.0 in 2015. Then new requirements came from a number of proofs of concepts and tests of [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 1.0 made by several organisations and triggered a large improvement of the [[language>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Language.WebHome]]. A new provisional version, the [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 1.1, was released in public consultation in 2017. The high number of [[comments>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Comment.WebHome]] received triggered another phase of intensive work, with the main goal of achieving a more robust and forward compatible version. Finally, the [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 2.0 was published between April and July 2018 (see the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] website).
397 397  
398 398  The implementation of the [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 2.0 in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] started in late 2018 and was published as an incremental revision to the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 2.1 standards in July 2020. It allows users to write [[VTL>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Validation and transformation language.WebHome]] 2.0 programs for validating and transforming [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] data, to store these programs in a [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] metadata registry and to exchange them through [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] messages, also together the definition of the data structures of the involved data.
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