[DDI-users] Structured Data Transformation Language (SDTL) approved

[Jared Lyle]

Dear DDI community,

Earlier this month, DDI members voted on the Structured Data Transformation
Language (SDTL).  Nineteen of the 28 eligible voting designated member
representatives voted, with all responding “YES, the validity and
usefulness of Version 1.0 of SDTL has been demonstrated and it should now
be accepted as a part of the DDI standard.”  The vote passed with a
two-thirds majority.

SDTL is an independent language for representing data transformation
commands in statistical analysis packages, such as SPSS, Stata, SAS, R, and
Python.  Commands like RECODE, MERGE FILES, and VARIABLE LABELS are
rendered in a structured format (JSON, XML, RDF) that is easy for machines
to read and process.  Command scripts translated into SDTL produce
variable-level data transformation histories, which can be translated into
natural language.  SDTL can be added to Data Documentation Initiative (DDI)
and other metadata standards for use in data catalogs, codebooks, and other
documentation.  SDTL was developed by the Continuous Capture of Metadata
for Statistical Data (C2Metadata) Project <https://c2metadata.org/>, which
was funded by National Science Foundation grant ACI-1640575.

As a next step, the DDI Technical Committee will incorporate corrections
noted in the Public Review and prepare the specification for publication.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the development of SDTL, especially
George Alter (Principal Investigator of the C2Metadata Project), the
C2Metadata Project members, the DDI SDTL working group
<https://ddi-alliance.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DDI4/pages/899547182/SDTL+-+Structured+Data+Transformation+Language>,
and the DDI Technical Committee.


Jared Lyle

Executive Director, DDI Alliance <https://ddialliance.org/>
ICPSR <https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/>, University of Michigan
lyle at umich.edu

*Follow the DDI Alliance on Twitter <https://www.twitter.com/ddialliance>*
[image: DDI-tagline2.png]


On Fri, Oct 30, 2020 at 12:43 AM Jared Lyle <lyle at umich.edu> wrote:

> Dear DDI Alliance community,
>
> We are ready to vote on Version 1.0 of SDTL (Structured Data
> Transformation Language) for publication. Next week, Designated
> Member Representatives will receive a link to cast their votes. It is
> important to vote; a two-thirds majority is required for approval.
>
> SDTL is a new product for DDI and we are asking you to approve its
> inclusion in the product line of the DDI Alliance. Over the past year this
> product has provided the Technical Committee with:
>
>    - Statement of content and functionality
>    - Information on the business case for the product
>    - Objectives for the product
>    - Position within the suite of products supported by the DDI Alliance
>    - A maintenance plan for the product
>
> The public review was completed between July 1 through August 31, 2020.
> All issues have been addressed and the product prepared for the final vote
> on publication.
>
> To assist you in evaluating this product for inclusion in the suite of DDI
> products a webinar will be presented on
>
> Monday, November 2, 2020 at 10:00 Eastern Time (16:00 European Time)
> To join the Webinar:
> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82041378650
>
> Meeting ID: 820 4137 8650
> Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kEZvDttN
>
> The following content should also be informative:
>
>    - SDTL User Guide: http://c2metadata.gitlab.io/sdtl-docs/master/
>    - Introduction to SDTL:
>    https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/156015
>    - Overview of the C2Metadata Project:
>    https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/156014
>    - SDTL Working Group:
>    https://ddi-alliance.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/DDI4/pages/899547182/SDTL+-+Structured+Data+Transformation+Language
>
> SDTL is an independent language for representing data transformation
> commands in statistical analysis packages, such as SPSS, Stata, SAS, R, and
> Python.  Commands like RECODE, MERGE FILES, and VARIABLE LABELS are
> rendered in a structured format (JSON, XML, RDF) that is easy for machines
> to read and process.  Command scripts translated into SDTL produce
> variable-level data transformation histories, which can be translated into
> natural language.  SDTL can be added to Data Documentation Initiative (DDI)
> and other metadata standards for use in data catalogs, codebooks, and other
> documentation.
>
> We wish to thank George Alter and the SDTL Working Group, as well as the
> Technical Committee, for the preparation of the SDTL product for
> publication.
>
>
> Jared Lyle
> Executive Director, DDI Alliance <https://ddialliance.org/>
> ICPSR <https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/>, University of Michigan
> lyle at umich.edu
>
> *Follow the DDI Alliance on Twitter <https://www.twitter.com/ddialliance>*
> [image: DDI-tagline2.png]
>
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