Copyright 2004, SPSS Inc. 1 Using the SPSS MR Data Model Sam Winstanley Solution Architect - SPSS 21...

Copyright 2004, SPSS Inc.Copyright 2004, SPSS Inc. 1

Using the SPSS MR Data Model

Sam WinstanleySolution Architect - SPSS21st January 2004


Why Develop the MR Data Model Why Develop the MR Data Model

Amalgamation of companies leads to the following More file formats More expertise More arguments

As SPSS developers we needed a common way

for our tools to communicate

Many tools had capabilities to export data to similar

targets


Why Develop the MR Data ModelWhy Develop the MR Data Model

Generally those who define a data-format

understand it better than everybody else

Technology used in the MR industry was dated

when compared with mainstream technology

MR tools were poorly integrated with mainstream

tools


A Designed Approach to Data A Designed Approach to Data AccessAccess

SPSS MR Data Model

Survey Authoring

Data Collection

DataProcessing

DataAnalysis

MetadataDSCs

Case DataDSCs

FunctionLibraries

MetadataDSCs

MetadataDSCs

Case DataDSCs

Case DataDSCs

FunctionLibrariesFunctionLibraries

MetadataStorage

Case DataStorage

DataStorage A

DataStorage B

DataStorage C

DataStorage D


MR Data Model Version 1.0MR Data Model Version 1.0

Development started January 1999

Case data model was conceived to be a standard way of

representing MR data via an OLE-DB interface The concept of DSCs was invented Writing DSCs was a complicated process that required extensive

knowledge of C++ First implementation of mrRdb (SQL Server) DSC was written. We

got most things wrong

Metadata model was conceived to be a rich COM based

object model working over XML storage Common metadata throughout authoring, collection, processing and

analysis was the main priority


MR Data Model Version 2.0MR Data Model Version 2.0

Development started mid 2000

CDSC Interface completely re-designed A design guide of approximately 120 pages emerged CDSC Implementation greatly simplified Wide scale reuse of common code through shared

components Ability to write CDSCs in many languages

MDSC Interface conceived Many performance and stability enhancements Support for multiple versions of Metadata Multi-language support enhanced


Today – MR Data Model 2.8.1Today – MR Data Model 2.8.1

Support for hierarchical data Extended version of SQL for querying hierarchical data. HDATA table exists and is defined as a table of tables of data.

10 DSCs included (9 Data Formats). Many DSCs heavily optimised for performance.

> 80 Functions.

DDL contains >600 Data Model specific pages.

Script based metadata definition.

mrStudio development environment.


Future – Data Model 3.xFuture – Data Model 3.x

Support for unbound hierarchical data via HDATA.

More DSCs.

Many new functions.

New interviewing system running directly from

Metadata.


Using the Data ModelUsing the Data Model

Use existing tools e.g. Excel to access MR data

Purchase tools from SPSS and other suppliers

Write tools that use the Data Model to access data

Write DSCs to enable tools to access other types

of data


MR Data Model BenefitsMR Data Model Benefits

Tools that utilise the MR Data Model for data

access gain the following benefits No custom data access code Automatic access to data in many different

formats A rich set of functions for working with case data A rich environment for working with metadata



Writing a DSC for your data format provides

the following benefits Cleaner integration with tools developed

elsewhere The ability to transfer your data into many other

formats Easier access to your own data!



Organisations who adopt the MR Data

Model gain the following benefits Modern and flexible skill sets Develop product-specific tools and focus

development on your domain expertise, not on

reading and writing data files


Closing SummaryClosing Summary

The MR Data Model Has been in development for 5 years over 25 releases Not an emerging technology, it has arrived and is being

used for production work every day Is the basis for Dimensions SPSS is committed to continued development

Copyright 2004, SPSS Inc. 1 Using the SPSS MR Data Model Sam Winstanley Solution Architect - SPSS 21...

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