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Version 9.3 by Helena K. on 2026/06/03 14:30
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1 {{box title="**Contents**"}}
2 {{toc/}}
3 {{/box}}
4
5 **Revision History**
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7 (% style="width:991.835px" %)
8 |(% style="width:154px" %)**Revision ** |(% style="width:249px" %)**Date ** |(% style="width:586px" %)**Contents **
9 |(% style="width:154px" %)DRAFT 1.0|(% style="width:249px" %)December 2024|(% style="width:586px" %)Draft release updated for SDMX 3.1 for public consultation
10 |(% style="width:154px" %)1.0|(% style="width:249px" %)May 2025|(% style="width:586px" %)Public release for SDMX 3.1
11
12 = 1. Overview =
13
14
15 [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.1 is a minor revision to the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.0 Standard which introduces a limited set of changes, which cover the following:
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17 **Information Model**
18
19 * Support for [[Dataflows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dataflow.WebHome]] to reference a subset of [[Dimensions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Dimension.WebHome]] from a [[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Data structure definition.WebHome]]
20 * Simplification to Data [[Constraints>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]]
21 * Addition of Availability [[Constraints>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Constraint.WebHome]]
22
23 **Documentation**
24
25 Registering [[Reference Metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] removed from documentation, to align with XML Registration object which is unable to reference a Metadata Provision, and REST API which is unable to query for registered [[reference metadata>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Reference metadata.WebHome]] sources.
26
27 **Breaking Changes**
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29 * Remove [[version>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Version.WebHome]] property on [[Categorisation>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Categorisation.WebHome]]
30 * Removal of Advanced [[Release Calendar>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Release policy - release calendar.WebHome]]
31
32 **Content of the Document**
33
34 The remainder of this document contains a summary of the changes. More detailed information can be found in the [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.1 Technical Specifications, in particular:
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36 Section 2 – Information Model
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38 Section 5 – Registry Specification
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40 Section 6 – Technical Notes
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42 [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary 2\.1.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] TWG GitHub for the REST API and the XML and JSON formats
43
44 = 2. Summary of Breaking Changes in 3.1 =
45
46 Version 3.1 introduces breaking changes, in the model in the following areas:
47
48 == 2.1 Removal of Advanced Release Calendar ==
49
50 The Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) was simplified to become a cohesive structural [[artefact>>doc:Glossary.Artefact.WebHome]] focussed solely on the restriction of values that can be reported. As part of this remodelling the Advanced [[Release Calendar>>doc:Glossary.Release policy - release calendar.WebHome]] was removed as it does not play a restrictive role.
51
52 //Guidance for Implementors//
53 [[Reference Metadata>>doc:Glossary.Reference metadata.WebHome]] reported against a [[Dataflow>>doc:Glossary.Dataflow.WebHome]] and / or [[Provision Agreement>>doc:Glossary.Provision agreement.WebHome]] can be used as an alternative to the Advanced [[Release Calendar>>doc:Glossary.Release policy - release calendar.WebHome]].
54
55 == 2.2 Removal of Version on Categorisation ==
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57 The Categorisation structural [[artefact>>doc:Glossary.Artefact.WebHome]] has no use case for undergoing (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[version>>doc:Glossary.Version.WebHome]](%%) changes, the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[version>>doc:Glossary.Version.WebHome]](%%) was therefore removed.
58
59 //Guidance for Implementors//
60 If multiple (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[versions>>doc:Glossary.Version.WebHome]](%%) of a Categorisation exist where the source or target differs, these Categorisations should be given a unique ID.
61
62 = 3. Information Model =
63
64 The changes to the information model support two distinct use cases:
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66 1. Horizontally complex [[Data Structure Definitions>>doc:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] (DSDs)
67 1. Additional cohesion to the Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraints>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) model
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69 These changes are described in below.
70
71 == 3.1 Horizontally Complex Data Structure Definitions ==
72
73 An explanation of this use case, with additional details can be found under Section 6 - Technical Notes, under heading ‘10.3 [[Dimension>>doc:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%)’.
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75 The following changes to the model have been made to satisfy this use case.
76
77 **Data Structure Definition**
78
79 The [[Data Structure Definition>>doc:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] has a new ‘evolving structure’ property, this is a Boolean property, when set to ‘true’ it indicates to the users of the [[DSD>>doc:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] that new [[Dimensions>>doc:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] may be added without the [[DSD>>doc:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] undergoing a change to its major (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[version>>doc:Glossary.Version.WebHome]](%%) number.
80
81 **Dataflow**
82
83 The [[Dataflow>>doc:Glossary.Dataflow.WebHome]] has a new [[Dimension>>doc:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) property, which is used to reference a subset of [[Dimensions>>doc:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] which it uses from the referenced [[DSD>>doc:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]].
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85 The [[Dimension>>doc:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) fixes the [[Dimensions>>doc:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] of the [[Dataflow>>doc:Glossary.Dataflow.WebHome]] enabling the referenced [[DSD>>doc:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] to have new [[Dimensions>>doc:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] added without the need to change the major (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[version>>doc:Glossary.Version.WebHome]](%%) number.
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87 The [[Dimension>>doc:Glossary.Dimension.WebHome]] (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) property is only required if the [[DSD>>doc:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] sets the evolving structure property to true.
88
89 == 3.2 Constraint Cohesion ==
90
91 The (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) model in [[SDMX>>doc:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.1 has been made more cohesive by separating the Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) into two distinct structures; the Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) which describes reporting restrictions, and the Availability (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%), which describes data content from a [[data source>>doc:Glossary.Data source.WebHome]]. In [[SDMX>>doc:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.0 these distinctions were made using the ‘type’ property on a Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%).
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93 **Data [[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]]**
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95 The Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) has had the ‘type’ property removed; the Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) in [[SDMX>>doc:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.1 is always used to describe restrictions on content for data reporting purposes.
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97 The attachment of the Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) in [[SDMX>>doc:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.0 included [[Data Sources>>doc:Glossary.Data source.WebHome]], in [[SDMX>>doc:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.1 these attachments have been removed as these are not relevant for restricting reported data.
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99 **Availability [[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]]**
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101 The Availability (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraint>>doc:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%) is a new Structure introduced to describe data that exists, it is generated in the response to the Availability REST API. It is not a maintained structure, and as such has no [[maintenance agency>>doc:Glossary.Maintenance agency.WebHome]], identity or (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[version>>doc:Glossary.Version.WebHome]]
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