Skip to Content

Wiki source code of 5 Reference Metadata

Last modified by Artur on 2025/09/10 11:19
Show last authors
1 {{box title="**Contents**"}}
2 {{toc/}}
3 {{/box}}
4
5 == 5.1 Scope of the Metadata Structure Definition (MSD) ==
6
7 The scope of the [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] is reduced in [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.0, by means of simplifying its structure, but also in the way referenced [[Artefacts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Artefact.WebHome]] are targeted. In fact, the [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] is restricted to play the role of a single container, without targeting any specific [[Artefact>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Artefact.WebHome]]. The possible targets of [[Metadata Set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata set.WebHome]] are specified in the [[Metadataflows>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadataflow.WebHome]] or Metadata [[Provision Agreements>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Provision agreement.WebHome]] relating to that [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]]. To achieve that, the structure of the [[Metadataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadataflow.WebHome]] has changed in this version of the standard. Moreover, the Metadata [[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Provision agreement.WebHome]] [[Artefact>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Artefact.WebHome]] is introduced to include this feature.
8
9 Two more changes, introduced in this version, are the following:
10
11 * The [[Metadata Set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata set.WebHome]] becomes a [[Maintainable Artefact>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Maintainable artefact.WebHome]] but maintained by a Metadata Provider (another new [[Artefact>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Artefact.WebHome]] in this version).
12 * Metadata [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] may also be used in [[Data Structure Definitions>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]], as long as the latter reference the [[Metadata Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] that specify those Metadata [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]].
13
14 == 5.2 Identification of the Object(s) to which the Metadata is to be attached ==
15
16 The following example shows the structure and naming of the [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] and related [[components>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Component.WebHome]] for creating reference metadata.
17
18 The schematic structure of an [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] is shown below.
19
20 [[image:1749590937079-797.jpeg]]
21
22 **Figure 1: Schematic of the Metadata Structure Definition**
23
24 The [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] contains one Metadata [[Attribute>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] Descriptor comprising the Metadata [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] that identify the (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Concepts>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Concept.WebHome]](%%) for which metadata may be reported in the [[Metadata Set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata set.WebHome]]. The [[Metadataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadataflow.WebHome]] and Metadata [[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Provision agreement.WebHome]] comprise the specification of the objects to which metadata can be reported in a [[Metadata Set>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata set.WebHome]] (Metadata Target(s)).
25
26 The high-level view of the [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]], as well as the way the [[Metadataflow>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadataflow.WebHome]] and Metadata [[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Provision agreement.WebHome]] specify the Targets:
27
28 [[image:1750062059071-852.png]]
29
30 **Figure 2: The high-level view of the MSD containing one Metadata Attribute Descriptor**
31
32 [[image:1750062042204-714.png]]
33
34 **Figure 3: Wildcarded Target Objects as specified in a Metadataflow**
35
36 [[image:1750062017456-979.png]]
37
38 **Figure 4: Specific Target Objects as specified in a Metadata Provision Agreement**
39
40 Note that the [[SDMX-ML>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.SDMX-ML.WebHome]] schemas have specific XML elements for each identifiable object type because identifying, for instance, a Maintainable Object has different properties from an Identifiable Object which must also include the agency, Id, (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[version>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Version.WebHome]](%%), and id of the Maintainable Object in which it resides.
41
42 == 5.3 Metadata Structure Definition ==
43
44 An example is shown below.
45
46 [[image:1750061909163-858.png]]
47
48 **Figure 5: Example MSD showing specification of some Metadata Attributes**
49
50 This example shows the following [[hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Hierarchy.WebHome]] of Metadata [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]]:
51
52 * (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Contact>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Contact.WebHome]](%%) – this is presentational; no metadata is expected to be reported at this level
53 * Contact Name
54 * Address – this is also presentational; up to 3 addresses are allowed
55 ** House Number
56
57 == 5.4 Metadata Set ==
58
59 An example of reporting metadata according to the [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] described above, is shown below.
60
61 [[image:1750062180056-182.png]]
62
63 **Figure 6: Example Metadata Set**
64
65 This example shows:
66
67 1. The reference to the Metadata [[Provision Agreement>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Provision agreement.WebHome]] and Metadata Target
68 1. The reported metadata [[attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] (AttributeSet)
69 1. Reference Metadata in [[Data Structure Definition>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]] and [[Dataset>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data set.WebHome]]
70
71 An important change of [[SDMX>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Statistical data and metadata exchange.WebHome]] 3.0 is the ability to reference an [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] within a [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]], in order to report any Metadata [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] defined in the former to [[Datasets>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data set.WebHome]] of the latter.
72
73 This is achieved by the following:
74
75 * In a [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]], the user may add a reference to one [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]].
76 * In the [[Attribute>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] Descriptor of the [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]], the user may include any Metadata [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] defined in the linked [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]].
77 ** For each link to a Metadata [[Attribute>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]], an [[Attribute Relationship>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute relationship.WebHome]] may be specified (similarly to that for Data [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]]).
78 * In any [[Dataset>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data set.WebHome]] complying with this [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]], Metadata [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] may be reported according to the specified [[Attribute Relationship>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute relationship.WebHome]].
79 ** The [[hierarchy>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Hierarchy.WebHome]] of the Metadata [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] defined in the [[MSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Metadata structure definition.WebHome]] must be respected and they are reported in the same way as in a Metadataset, under the level they are related within the [[DSD>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Data structure definition.WebHome]], via their [[Attribute Relationship>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute relationship.WebHome]].
80 * In Data (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraints>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%), the user is allowed to restrict values for Metadata [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]], in the same way as Data [[Attributes>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Attribute.WebHome]] (more on this in section “10 (% style="color:#e74c3c" %)[[Constraints>>doc:sdmx:Glossary.Constraint.WebHome]](%%)”).