Output Databases

Katja Šnuderl, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia

Strengthening the Institutional Capacity for BiH Statistics;Training on best practices –

Dissemination web site, output database

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Why use an output database?

Web is recognized as the main dissemination channelOutput databases offer tailor-made outputs to versatile usersNo paper limits (size of tables)Time series

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Products on the market

PC-Axis files/SQL (Sweden)

Beyond 2020 (Canada)

SuperStar, SuperCross, SuperWeb (Australia)

Stat.OECD,

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

How to set up an output DB

Process of preparing the dataTechnical solution to store the dataUser interface to extract data

AND metadata!

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Metadata

Content structure: ID + standardized namesTables: Naming conventionStandardized table structureVariable namesVariable values (classifications, codelists)DefinitionsSpecial notes (changes in methodology)

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Process of preparing data

No table formating!Remove as many manual steps as possibleStandardize table structureSupport different input data sourcesProvide time series

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Technical solution

One of the available products:Evaluation with testingCollecting experiences (also by users!)Study featuresChoose from available options for a product

Developing a new productResource consumingShould be based on experiences

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

User interface

Require no software installations by usersShould be user-friendly without additional learning (cognitive perception)Support versatile ways of data extractionProvide several download formatsBe careful with technical limits (web server reliability)

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Demo

PC-Axis: Sallaries , IcelandOecd.STATBeyond 20/20, TableBuilder (NZ)SuperStar (website)StatLine (Netherlands)

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Problem generators

Avoiding standardizationLocal metadata manegement (especially classifications)No adjustments to the process of preparing data

But still, output databases develop constantly

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

Experiences with PC-Axis

PC-Axis refference group: growingBased on past needs and common developmentFile server: Easy start, different levels of integration possibleSQL macro database: Supports coherence of metadata

IMAODBC 2007, Katja Šnuderl

STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

End.

Thank you.