[DDI-users] DDI Version 2.0 Revision -- Request for Public Review and Comment

[Mary Vardigan]

Dear DDI Users,

This is to inform you that a proposal for a change to Version 2.0 of the 
DDI specification has been submitted, and the two-week Public Review period 
for this change proposal has begun.

The proposal relates to how the specification handles the grouping of 
categories. Prior to Version 2.0, one could group categories in two 
different ways -- (1) recursively through a nested structure, and (2) 
through the use of category groups. When Version 2.0 was published, it was 
thought that only one method for grouping should be provided, so the nested 
feature was removed.

Subsequently, in applying the DDI specification to various types of data, 
some people found that having only the category groups method was limiting. 
Thus, a proposal to reinstate the nested categories structure was 
submitted. You can read this original proposal here:

http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/DDI/users/dtd/original-proposal.pdf

The DDI's Structural Reform Group reviewed the proposal and suggested some 
changes to it that would make it more consistent with the grouping strategy 
planned for Version 3.0, which uses the IDREFs mechanism for grouping. The 
result is a more flexible structure. This modification of the proposal, not 
the original proposal itself, is what is under consideration. You can read 
the modified proposal here:

http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/DDI/users/dtd/modified-proposal.pdf

The Public Review period lasts for two weeks. During this time, anyone (not 
just Alliance members) may comment by sending mail either to this list. A 
comment log will be maintained on the change proposals page: 
http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/DDI/users/dtd/proposal.html. After the two-week 
Review, the DDI Alliance Expert Committee will vote on the change proposal.

Here is the timetable:

Public Review: March 23 - April 5
Vote by DDI Expert Committee: April 6 - 19
Change Implementation and Publication: April 20

Thank you for your interest and involvement in the DDI.

Regards,
Mary Vardigan

Mary Vardigan
Director, Collection Delivery
Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
University of Michigan
P.O. Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1248
Phone: 734-615-7908
Fax: 734-647-8200
www.icpsr.umich.edu  
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