by Jon Griffin -
This document describes the requirements for the ACS Reference +
by Jon Griffin +
+This document describes the requirements for the ACS Reference service package. This package has the following primary -functions:
What is reference data? Simply put, it is data that doesn't +
What is reference data? Simply put, it is data that doesn't change very often and also in many cases comes from an external source and not from within the system itself. Many times it is -created from a standards body, i.e. ISO or ANSI, and may be required for a client's -particular industrial needs.
Some examples of reference data are:
Some examples of reference data are:
+Historically, reference data has been looked upon by developers +
Historically, reference data has been looked upon by developers as something less important than more immediate coding needs, and so most data models simply defer the issue by treating reference data as something simple to implement. Elsewhere. The reality is that for most organizations reference data is extremely important -and also extremely difficult to manage.
This module will not only package all of a site's +and also extremely difficult to manage.
+This module will not only package all of a site's reference data in one place, it will also help manage that -data.
The ACS Reference package consists of:
The ACS Reference package consists of:
+Papi Programmer is developing a module that will use country +
Papi Programmer is developing a module that will use country codes as part of his table structure. Instead of creating his own table he can use the ACS Reference package and the country codes therein. If the country codes change - which does in fact happen from time to time - the ACS Reference package will maintain that -information for him.
10.10 The package should use a table that is the master +information for him.
+10.10 The package should use a table that is the master
table for all reference tables.
10.20 The package should employ a field to show whether this data
is internally derived or not.
@@ -54,63 +72,39 @@
10.80 The package should offer a representation of discontinued
datetime
10.90 The package should keep an indication of who the data
-maintainer is, by user_id.
20.10 The package should offer a function to determine if a -particular table has expired.
The requirements below are not met by the current -implementation:
30.10 There needs to be a way to query the data source and -update automatically. If that isn't possible, as it won't be in -many cases, the application should be able to query a master server -and see if there is new data for a particular table or tables. For -example: refdata.arsdigita.com could hold the reference tables and -when newer table versions become available, simply upload only -these versions or perhaps even only the differences between the -tables. In any case, there should be an admin page that shows -current status and revisions of various data, where to find info -about additional sources (if applicable), and provide a UI to -upload or import new data.
The package needs to handle changes to reference data in a +maintainer is, by user_id.
+20.10 The package should offer a function to determine if a +particular table has expired.
+The requirements below are not met by the current +implementation:
+30.10 There needs to be a way to query the data source and +update automatically. If that isn't possible, as it won't +be in many cases, the application should be able to query a master +server and see if there is new data for a particular table or +tables. For example: refdata.arsdigita.com could hold the reference +tables and when newer table versions become available, simply +upload only these versions or perhaps even only the differences +between the tables. In any case, there should be an admin page that +shows current status and revisions of various data, where to find +info about additional sources (if applicable), and provide a UI to +upload or import new data.
+The package needs to handle changes to reference data in a graceful fashion. For example, if a country splits into two or more -countries, what should happen?
Note also that it is possible to have overlapping effective +
Note also that it is possible to have overlapping effective dates. This will not be implemented in the first version, but -should be recognized and accomodated throughout the development -process for the service package.
-$Log$ -Revision 1.1.2.1 2014/09/17 18:35:54 gustafn -- prettify documentation (use master templates) - -Revision 1.3 2006/08/06 20:40:20 torbenb -upgrading html, closing li p tags, adding quotes to tag attributes - -Revision 1.2 2006/08/06 18:41:43 torbenb -removed c-Ms, added p tags, added a comment to unimplemented requirements / feature request - -Revision 1.1 2001/04/22 00:53:12 jong -initial openacs import - -Revision 1.7 2000/12/15 04:09:25 jfinkler -fixed numbering scheme - -Revision 1.6 2000/12/13 04:33:47 jong -Updated doc for alpha release - -Revision 1.5 2000/12/12 06:29:21 jfinkler -spelling error, my fault - -Revision 1.4 2000/12/12 06:28:05 jfinkler -fixed a few formatting errors - -Revision 1.3 2000/12/12 06:26:20 jfinkler -reorganized content, edited for clarity - -Revision 1.2 2000/12/08 02:41:31 ron -initial version -- +should be recognized and accommodated throughout the development +process for the service package.