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SDDS Metadata Editor

← Data & Metadata Submission
Countries subscribing to the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) are required to submit metadata according to the Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF). The current version of DQAF was adopted by the IMF Executive Board during the Fifth Review of the Data Standards Initiatives. More information on the DQAF is available on the IMF’s Data Quality Reference Site. DQAF metadata, as well as other SDDS information, is posted on the IMF’s Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB). The IMF’s Statistics Department is introducing an online editor to facilitate the processing and posting of metadata using the secure online site, the Integrated Collection System (ICS). This facility will allow SDDS subscribers to make changes directly to metadata without the use of DQAF templates. Country coordinators and other authorized users will update and submit metadata changes (including contact information) to the IMF for posting to the DSBB.
    How do I access the Metadata Editor?
    How do I use the Metadata Editor interface?
    How do I format the metadata?
    How do I Upload the Formula Images in the Metadata Editor?

How do I access the Metadata Editor?

Normally, metadata revisions are initiated by correspondents; however, the coordinator can update the metadata also. Please note that users (coordinators and correspondents) may only edit one category or agency at a time.
  • Log into ICS and select on “SDDS Webforms” from the left pane navigation. Click on “SDDS Metadata Editor” to view or edit SDDS metadata.
  • Select a category or agency from the menu page. Once the category is selected, click the Edit button. A new screen will display the selected category’s (or agency’s) metadata in an editable interface.
  • Under the column SDDS: Data Category, select node to update. (See additional information on nodes below.)
  • Edit the metadata for the assigned data category in the online editor. (For formatting tips and options see below.)
  • Click the Save button to save edits.
  • Once satisfied with the metadata saved, notify the coordinator (via phone or e-mail) that updates for a given category are complete.
  • The coordinator will then click the Submit button for posting to the DSBB by IMF staff.
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How do I use the Metadata Editor interface?

The SDDS Metadata Editor interface is divided into three parts: the Navigation Pane (at the top), the Metadata Tree (on the left), and the Editing Pane (on the right).
  • The Navigation Pane allows users to save, view metadata posted on the DSBB or in staging. Also, if the user is a coordinator, it allows submission of metadata to the IMF.
  • The Metadata Tree displays the metadata pulled from the IMF’s databases and presented according to the DQAF. The DQAF separates individual metadata concepts into indicators, which are grouped into elements, which are in turn grouped under the six major dimensions.[i] Within the Metadata Tree, each concept is preceded by its multi-digit DQAF identifier (for example, the metadata for periodicity are labeled 4.1.1, while metadata on timeliness are labeled 4.1.2). Each indicator is listed as a separate node in the Tree on the left-hand side of the interface; each of these nodes corresponds to a cell that can be edited.[ii]
  • The Editing Pane allows the user to edit and format the metadata. Within a given dimension or element, the relevant subsidiary metadata are displayed in editable boxes or cells and most cells display an options bar (detailed below) that allows formatting or other actions.
[i] Agencies include only information for dimensions 0 (Prerequisites of quality) and 1 (Assurances of integrity).
[ii] Please note that some nodes are not attached to editable cells. These include very high-level

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How do I format the metadata?

  • Formatting can be done directly in the cell box using the options bar (described in detail below) or metadata can be cut and pasted from an existing Microsoft Word document to the cell box.
  • Most cells are extensible, meaning that the six-dot arrow icon at the bottom-right hand side of the window can be used to expand or shrink the size of the text area. Please note that in some cases, this feature is not present, generally for cells in which the amount of text is limited to certain amount.
  • The options bar lists a series of operations listed below. Please note that some cells do not allow additional formatting, including the:
  1. “National descriptor” (node H.0.1), which are automatically formatted (in blue italicized text);
  2. “ARC Notes” (node 5.1.31), provides text that appears on the subscriber country’s Advanced Release Calendar page (toward the bottom of the page.

Helpful Tip:  Updates can be made in a Microsoft Word document and then cut and pasted into the relevant metadata editor cells.  This is particularly helpful when not all metadata contributors are registered ICS correspondents.  It also allows extensive revisions of metadata without the need to save data and thereby re-set the ICS’s time-out feature (mentioned above).

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How do I Upload the Formula Images in the Metadata Editor?


  • In the Metadata editor click on the Insert Image button shown below.
  • A popup window will appear for referring the image and also to upload the image shown below.
  • To refer an image click on the Image in the image list that you want to select and that image will appear in the Preview window shown in the above image. 
  • Click OK button in the popup and the selected image will be referred inside the Metadata Editor
  • To upload an image click on the Browse button and then select an image from your system and then click on Upload File button.
  • The Image will be uploaded and then you can view the uploaded image in the Files window to the left of the Preview window shown in the above image
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