Changes for page 12 Validation and Transformation Language (VTL)

Last modified by Artur on 2025/09/10 11:19

From 1.14 to 1.15 From 1.22 to 1.23

From version 1.15

edited by Helena
on 2025/06/16 13:18

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To version 1.22

edited by Helena
on 2025/06/16 13:27

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@@ -80,9 +80,9 @@
  For example, by using the URN, the VTL Transformation that sums two SDMX Dataflows DF1 and DF2 and assigns the result to a third persistent Dataflow DFR, assuming that DF1, DF2 and DFR are the maintainedobject-id of the three Dataflows, that their version is 1.0.0 and their Agency is AG, would be written as{{footnote}}Since these references to SDMX objects include non-permitted characters as per the VTL ID notation, they need to be included between single quotes, according to the VTL rules for irregular names.{{/footnote}}:
-->(% style="font-size:16px" %) 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DFR(1.0.0)' <-
-->(% style="font-size:16px" %) 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DF1(1.0.0)' +
-->(% style="font-size:16px" %) 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DF2(1.0.0)'
++> 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DFR(1.0.0)' <-
++> 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DF1(1.0.0)' +
++> 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DF2(1.0.0)'
  === 12.2.3 Abbreviation of the URN ===
@@ -92,10 +92,13 @@
  * The SDMXprefix can be omitted for all the SDMX objects, because it is a prefixed string (urn:sdmx:org), always the same for SDMX objects.
  * The SDMX-IM-package-name** **can be omitted as well because it can be deduced from the class-name that follows it (the table of the SDMX-IM packages and classes that allows this deduction is in the SDMX 2.1 Standards - Section 5 - Registry Specifications, paragraph 6.2.3). In particular, considering the object classes of the artefacts that VTL can reference, the package is:
--** "datastructure" for the classes Dataflow, Dimension, TimeDimension, Measure, DataAttribute, o "conceptscheme" for the class Concept, o "codelist" for the class Codelist.
++** "datastructure" for the classes Dataflow, Dimension, TimeDimension, Measure, DataAttribute,
++** "conceptscheme" for the class Concept,
++** "codelist" for the class Codelist.
  * The class-name can be omitted as it can be deduced from the VTL invocation. In particular, starting from the VTL class of the invoked artefact (e.g. dataset, component, identifier, measure, attribute, variable, valuedomain), which is known given the syntax of the invoking VTL operator{{footnote}}For the syntax of the VTL operators see the VTL Reference Manual{{/footnote}}, the SDMX class can be deduced from the mapping rules between VTL and SDMX (see the section "Mapping between VTL and SDMX" hereinafter){{footnote}}In case the invoked artefact is a VTL component, which can be invoked only within the invocation of a VTL data set (SDMX Dataflow), the specific SDMX class-name (e.g. Dimension, TimeDimension, Measure or DataAttribute) can be deduced from the data structure of the SDMX Dataflow, which the component belongs to.{{/footnote}}.
  * If the agency-id is not specified, it is assumed by default equal to the agency-id of the TransformationScheme, UserDefinedOperatorScheme or RulesetScheme from which the artefact is invoked. For example, the agencyid can be omitted if it is the same as the invoking TransformationScheme and cannot be omitted if the artefact comes from another agency{{footnote}}If the Agency is composite (for example AgencyA.Dept1.Unit2), the agency is considered different even if only part of the composite name is different (for example AgencyA.Dept1.Unit3 is a different Agency than the previous one). Moreover the agency-id cannot be omitted in part (i.e., if a TransformationScheme owned by AgencyA.Dept1.Unit2 references an artefact coming from AgencyA.Dept1.Unit3, the specification of the agency-id becomes mandatory and must be complete, without omitting the possibly equal parts like AgencyA.Dept1){{/footnote}}. Take also into account that, according to the VTL consistency rules, the agency of the result of a Transformation must be the same as its TransformationScheme, therefore the agency-id can be omitted for all the results (left part of Transformation statements).
--* As for the maintainedobject-id, this is essential in some cases while in other cases it can be omitted: o if the referenced artefact is a Dataflow, which is a maintainable class, the maintainedobject-id is the dataflow-id and obviously cannot be omitted;
++* As for the maintainedobject-id, this is essential in some cases while in other cases it can be omitted:
++** if the referenced artefact is a Dataflow, which is a maintainable class, the maintainedobject-id is the dataflow-id and obviously cannot be omitted;
  ** if the referenced artefact is a Dimension, TimeDimension, Measure, DataAttribute, which are not maintainable and belong to the DataStructure maintainable class, the maintainedobject-id is the dataStructure-id and can be omitted, given that these components are always invoked within the invocation of a Dataflow, whose dataStructure-id can be deduced from the SDMX structural definitions;
  ** if the referenced artefact is a Concept, which is not maintainable and belong to the ConceptScheme maintainable class, the maintained object is the conceptScheme-id and cannot be omitted;
  ** if the referenced artefact is a Codelist, which is a maintainable class, the maintainedobject-id is the codelist-id and obviously cannot be omitted.
@@ -107,51 +107,47 @@
  For example, the full formulation that uses the complete URN shown at the end of the previous paragraph:
--'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DFR(1.0.0)' :=
++> 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DFR(1.0.0)' :=
++> 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DF1(1.0.0)' +
++> 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DF2(1.0.0)'
--'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DF1(1.0.0)' +
--
--'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.Dataflow=AG:DF2(1.0.0)'
--
  by omitting all the non-essential parts would become simply:
--DFR := DF1 + DF2
++> DFR   : =  DF1 + DF2
  The references to the Codelists can be simplified similarly. For example, given the non-abbreviated reference to the Codelist AG:CL_FREQ(1.0.0), which is{{footnote}}Single quotes are needed because this reference is not a VTL regular name. 19 Single quotes are not needed in this case because CL_FREQ is a VTL regular name.{{/footnote}}:
--'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.codelist.Codelist=AG:CL_FREQ(1.0.0)'
++> 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.codelist.Codelist=AG:CL_FREQ(1.0.0)'
  if the Codelist is referenced from a RulesetScheme belonging to the agency AG, omitting all the optional parts, the abbreviated reference would become simply^^19^^:
--CL_FREQ
++> CL_FREQ
  As for the references to the components, it can be enough to specify the componentId, given that the dataStructure-Id can be omitted. An example of non-abbreviated reference, if the data structure is DST1 and the component is SECTOR, is the following:
--'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.DataStructure=AG:DST1(1.0.0).S
++> 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.datastructure.DataStructure=AG:DST1(1.0.0).S ECTOR'
--ECTOR'
--
  The corresponding fully abbreviated reference, if made from a TransformationScheme belonging to AG, would become simply:
--SECTOR
++> SECTOR
  For example, the Transformation for renaming the component SECTOR of the Dataflow DF1 into SEC can be written as{{footnote}}The result DFR(1.0.0) is be equal to DF1(1.0.0) save that the component SECTOR is called SEC{{/footnote}}:
--'DFR(1.0.0)' := 'DF1(1.0.0)' [rename SECTOR to SEC]
++> 'DFR(1.0.0)' := 'DF1(1.0.0)' [rename SECTOR to SEC]
  In the references to the Concepts, which can exist for example in the definition of the VTL Rulesets, at least the conceptScheme-id and the concept-id must be specified.
  An example of non-abbreviated reference, if the conceptScheme-id is CS1 and the concept-id is SECTOR, is the following:
--'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.conceptscheme.Concept=AG:CS1(1.0.0).SECTOR'
++> 'urn:sdmx:org.sdmx.infomodel.conceptscheme.Concept=AG:CS1(1.0.0).SECTOR'
  The corresponding fully abbreviated reference, if made from a RulesetScheme belonging to AG, would become simply:
--CS1(1.0.0).SECTOR
++> CS1(1.0.0).SECTOR
  The Codes and in general all the Values can be written without any other specification, for example, the transformation to check if the values of the measures of the Dataflow DF1 are between 0 and 25000 can be written like follows:
--'DFR(1.0.0)' := between ( 'DF1(1.0.0)', 0, 25000 )
++> 'DFR(1.0.0)' := between ( 'DF1(1.0.0)', 0, 25000 )
  The artefact (Component, Concept, Codelist …) which the Values are referred to can be deduced from the context in which the reference is made, taking also into account the VTL syntax. In the Transformation above, for example, the values 0 and 2500 are compared to the values of the measures of DF1(1.0.0).
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@
  The possible mapping options are described in more detail in the following sections.
--=== 12.3.2 Mapping from SDMX to VTL data structures ===
++=== 12.3.3 Mapping from SDMX to VTL data structures ===
  ==== 12.3.3.1 Basic Mapping ====
@@ -207,11 +207,12 @@
  When transforming **from SDMX to VTL**, this method consists in leaving the components unchanged and maintaining their names and roles, according to the following table:
--|**SDMX**|**VTL**
--|Dimension|(Simple) Identifier
--|TimeDimension|(Time) Identifier
--|Measure|Measure
--|DataAttribute|Attribute
++(% style="width:468.294px" %)
++|(% style="width:196px" %)**SDMX**|(% style="width:269px" %)**VTL**
++|(% style="width:196px" %)Dimension|(% style="width:269px" %)(Simple) Identifier
++|(% style="width:196px" %)TimeDimension|(% style="width:269px" %)(Time) Identifier
++|(% style="width:196px" %)Measure|(% style="width:269px" %)Measure
++|(% style="width:196px" %)DataAttribute|(% style="width:269px" %)Attribute
  The SDMX DataAttributes, in VTL they are all considered "at data point / observation level" (i.e. dependent on all the VTL Identifiers), because VTL does not have the SDMX AttributeRelationships, which defines the construct to which the DataAttribute is related (e.g. observation, dimension or set or group of dimensions, whole data set).
@@ -221,10 +221,8 @@
  An alternative mapping method from SDMX to VTL is the **Pivot **mapping, which makes sense and is different from the Basic method only for the SDMX data structures that contain a Dimension that plays the role of measure dimension (like in SDMX 2.1) and just one Measure. Through this method, these structures can be mapped to multimeasure VTL data structures. Besides that, a user may choose to use any Dimension acting as a list of Measures (e.g., a Dimension with indicators), either by considering the “Measure” role of a Dimension, or at will using any coded Dimension. Of course, in SDMX 3.0, this can only work when only one Measure is defined in the DSD.
--In SDMX 2.1 the MeasureDimension was a subclass of DimensionComponent like Dimension and TimeDimension. In the current SDMX version, this subclass does not exist anymore, however a Dimension can have the role of measure dimension (i.e. a Dimension that contributes to the identification of the measures). In SDMX 2.1 a DataStructure could have zero or one MeasureDimensions, in the current version of the standard, from zero to many Dimension may have the role of measure dimension. Hereinafter a Dimension that plays the role of measure dimension is referenced for simplicity as “MeasureDimension“, i.e. maintaining the capital letters and the courier font even if the MeasureDimension is not anymore a class in the SDMX Information Model of the current SDMX version. For the sake of simplicity, the description below considers just one Dimension having the role of MeasureDimension (i.e., the more simple and common case). Nevertheless, it maintains its validity also if in the DataStructure there are more dimension with the role of MeasureDimensions: in this case what is said about the MeasureDimension must be applied to the combination of all the
++In SDMX 2.1 the MeasureDimension was a subclass of DimensionComponent like Dimension and TimeDimension. In the current SDMX version, this subclass does not exist anymore, however a Dimension can have the role of measure dimension (i.e. a Dimension that contributes to the identification of the measures). In SDMX 2.1 a DataStructure could have zero or one MeasureDimensions, in the current version of the standard, from zero to many Dimension may have the role of measure dimension. Hereinafter a Dimension that plays the role of measure dimension is referenced for simplicity as “MeasureDimension“, i.e. maintaining the capital letters and the courier font even if the MeasureDimension is not anymore a class in the SDMX Information Model of the current SDMX version. For the sake of simplicity, the description below considers just one Dimension having the role of MeasureDimension (i.e., the more simple and common case). Nevertheless, it maintains its validity also if in the DataStructure there are more dimension with the role of MeasureDimensions: in this case what is said about the MeasureDimension must be applied to the combination of all the MeasureDimensions considered as a joint variable{{footnote}}E.g., if in the data structure there exist 3 Dimensions C,D,E having the role of MeasureDimension, they should be considered as a joint MeasureDimension Z=(C,D,E); therefore when the description says “each possible value Cj of the MeasureDimension …” it means “each possible combination of values (Cj, Dk, Ew) of the joint MeasureDimension Z=(C,D,E)”.{{/footnote}}.
--MeasureDimensions considered as a joint variable{{footnote}}E.g., if in the data structure there exist 3 Dimensions C,D,E having the role of MeasureDimension, they should be considered as a joint MeasureDimension Z=(C,D,E); therefore when the description says “each possible value Cj of the MeasureDimension …” it means “each possible combination of values (Cj, Dk, Ew) of the joint MeasureDimension Z=(C,D,E)”.{{/footnote}}.
--
  Among other things, the Pivot method provides also backward compatibility with the SDMX 2.1 data structures that contained a MeasureDimension.
  If applied to SDMX structures that do not contain any MeasureDimension, this method behaves like the Basic mapping (see the previous paragraph).
@@ -237,16 +237,18 @@
  * The SDMX Measure is not mapped to VTL as well (it disappears in the VTL Data Structure);
  * An SDMX DataAttribute is mapped in different ways according to its AttributeRelationship:
  ** If, according to the SDMX AttributeRelationship, the values of the DataAttribute do not depend on the values of the MeasureDimension, the SDMX DataAttribute becomes a VTL Attribute having the same name. This happens if the AttributeRelationship is not specified (i.e. the DataAttribute does not depend on any DimensionComponent and therefore is at data set level), or if it refers to a set (or a group) of dimensions which does not include the MeasureDimension;
--** Otherwise, if, according to the SDMX AttributeRelationship, the values of the DataAttribute depend on the MeasureDimension, the SDMX DataAttribute is mapped to one VTL Attribute for each possible Code of the SDMX MeasureDimension. By default, the names of the VTL Attributes are obtained by concatenating the name of the SDMX DataAttribute and the names of the correspondent Code of the MeasureDimension separated by underscore. For example, if the SDMX DataAttribute is named DA and the possible Codes of the SDMX MeasureDimension are named C1, C2, …, Cn, then the corresponding VTL Attributes will be named DA_C1, DA_C2, …, DA_Cn (if different names are desired, they can be achieved afterwards by renaming the Attributes through VTL operators). o Like in the Basic mapping, the resulting VTL Attributes are considered as dependent on all the VTL identifiers (i.e. "at data point / observation level"), because VTL does not have the SDMX notion of Attribute Relationship.
++** Otherwise, if, according to the SDMX AttributeRelationship, the values of the DataAttribute depend on the MeasureDimension, the SDMX DataAttribute is mapped to one VTL Attribute for each possible Code of the SDMX MeasureDimension. By default, the names of the VTL Attributes are obtained by concatenating the name of the SDMX DataAttribute and the names of the correspondent Code of the MeasureDimension separated by underscore. For example, if the SDMX DataAttribute is named DA and the possible Codes of the SDMX MeasureDimension are named C1, C2, …, Cn, then the corresponding VTL Attributes will be named DA_C1, DA_C2, …, DA_Cn (if different names are desired, they can be achieved afterwards by renaming the Attributes through VTL operators).
++** Like in the Basic mapping, the resulting VTL Attributes are considered as dependent on all the VTL identifiers (i.e. "at data point / observation level"), because VTL does not have the SDMX notion of Attribute Relationship.
  The summary mapping table of the "pivot" mapping from SDMX to VTL for the SDMX data structures that contain a MeasureDimension is the following:
--|**SDMX**|**VTL**
--|Dimension|(Simple) Identifier
--|TimeDimension|(Time) Identifier
--|MeasureDimension & one Measure|One Measure for each Code of the SDMX MeasureDimension
--|DataAttribute not depending on the MeasureDimension|Attribute
--|DataAttribute depending on the MeasureDimension|(((
++(% style="width:739.294px" %)
++|(% style="width:335px" %)**SDMX**|(% style="width:400px" %)**VTL**
++|(% style="width:335px" %)Dimension|(% style="width:400px" %)(Simple) Identifier
++|(% style="width:335px" %)TimeDimension|(% style="width:400px" %)(Time) Identifier
++|(% style="width:335px" %)MeasureDimension & one Measure|(% style="width:400px" %)One Measure for each Code of the SDMX MeasureDimension
++|(% style="width:335px" %)DataAttribute not depending on the MeasureDimension|(% style="width:400px" %)Attribute
++|(% style="width:335px" %)DataAttribute depending on the MeasureDimension|(% style="width:400px" %)(((
  One Attribute for each Code of the
  SDMX MeasureDimension
  )))
@@ -256,19 +256,14 @@
  At observation / data point level, calling Cj (j=1, … n) the j^^th^^ Code of the MeasureDimension:
  * The set of SDMX observations having the same values for all the Dimensions except than the MeasureDimension become one multi-measure VTL Data Point, having one Measure for each Code Cj of the SDMX MeasureDimension;
--* The values of the SDMX simple Dimensions, TimeDimension and DataAttributes not depending on the MeasureDimension (these components by definition have always the same values for all the observations of the set above) become the values of the corresponding VTL (simple)
--
--Identifiers, (time) Identifier and Attributes.
--
++* The values of the SDMX simple Dimensions, TimeDimension and DataAttributes not depending on the MeasureDimension (these components by definition have always the same values for all the observations of the set above) become the values of the corresponding VTL (simple) Identifiers, (time) Identifier and Attributes.
  * The value of the Measure of the SDMX observation belonging to the set above and having MeasureDimension=Cj becomes the value of the VTL Measure Cj
  * For the SDMX DataAttributes depending on the MeasureDimension, the value of the DataAttribute DA of the SDMX observation belonging to the set above and having MeasureDimension=Cj becomes the value of the VTL Attribute DA_Cj
  ==== 12.3.3.3 From SDMX DataAttributes to VTL Measures ====
--* In some cases, it may happen that the DataAttributes of the SDMX DataStructure need to be managed as Measures in VTL. Therefore, a variant of both the methods above consists in transforming all the SDMX DataAttributes in VTL Measures. When DataAttributes are converted to Measures, the two methods above are called Basic_A2M and Pivot_A2M (the suffix "A2M" stands for Attributes to Measures). Obviously, the resulting VTL data structure is, in general, multi-measure and does not contain
++* In some cases, it may happen that the DataAttributes of the SDMX DataStructure need to be managed as Measures in VTL. Therefore, a variant of both the methods above consists in transforming all the SDMX DataAttributes in VTL Measures. When DataAttributes are converted to Measures, the two methods above are called Basic_A2M and Pivot_A2M (the suffix "A2M" stands for Attributes to Measures). Obviously, the resulting VTL data structure is, in general, multi-measure and does not contain Attributes.
--Attributes.
--
  The Basic_A2M and Pivot_A2M behaves respectively like the Basic and Pivot methods, except that the final VTL components, which according to the Basic and Pivot methods would have had the role of Attribute, assume instead the role of Measure.
  Proper VTL features allow changing the role of specific attributes even after the SDMX to VTL mapping: they can be useful when only some of the DataAttributes need to be managed as VTL Measures.