disseminating statistics: internet and publications ine – madrid, 3-5 march 2008

Disseminating Statistics: Internet and PublicationsINE – Madrid, 3-5 March 2008

Ulrich Wieland, Eurostat

How to link publications and Internet in order to create

complementary dissemination

Disseminating Statistics - INE – Madrid, 3-5 March 2008 2

Agenda

A. The Eurostat dissemination strategy

B. Website vs. paper publications

C. Integration from the user perspective

D. Integration from the producer perspective


A. The Eurostat communication strategy

Adopted in February 2006 Follows the free dissemination From dissemination to communication


Objectives of the Eurostat communication strategy

To be the first-choice source for European statistical data

To increase the level of service to users To present the Eurostat figures attractively and, as

far as possible, to accompany them with clear and objective comments


Some elements of the communications strategy

The dissemination of statistics must be an integral part of the work of the units which produce statistics

The website must be the main dissemination/communication tool

Publications should concentrate on analytical publications and on short publications (pocketbooks) aiming to increase Eurostat‘s visibility


B. Website vs. Paper publications

What is the role of paper publications in the age of the Internet?


Advantages of the Website

Easy update Easy distribution Easy access Sophisticated search functions Re-usability Cheap production (?)


The need for publications

Analytical publications are easier to read on paper Books can be an important image factor Publicity handed out on paper reaches a different

audience than electronic publicity Publications are usually better archived


Complementarity

Both the Internet and the paper publications have their role to play in dissemination

Consider Web site and paper as two different media of the same dissemination process. Make sure that you use the right media for the objective of your dissemination; don´t hesitate to disseminate the same information on different media


Recommendations

Make all public information available on the Web site

Use publications forFlagship publications (e.g.yearbook)Analytical publications (more than 50% of text) Small publications for publicity purposes (press releases, pocketbooks, leaflets)Publications with a large readership


C. Integration from the user’s perspective

Accessing publications from the Website: Pdf files and the Web search

Linking from publications to the Web site Look and feel


Books on the Internet

Offer all your paper publications as pdf files on your Website

Use user-friendly features such as table of content, hyperlinks etc.

Pay attention to the use of colour (user might print in b&w)

Pay attention to file sizes for downloading


Books on the Internet - Example


The Internet Search

Make sure that all books can easily be found through the search on your website

Allow for search by title, abstract, collection, release date, keyword

Offer on-line ordering of paper copies (and of pdf files if they are not available free of charge)


Pricing policy

Agree on a clear pricing policy (e.g. for paper publications, pdf files, data base access and other services)

Often, the pricing policy reflects the printing and distribution cost; other conflicting criteria include maximising income or supporting a large distribution


Harmonise the Look and Feel

Use your logo extensively Use the same symbols and abbreviations Use the same terminology Use similar layout and fonts -> develop a style guide for both publications and

web site


The DOI (Digital Object Identifier)

A system for identifying content objects in the digital environment.

Provides a framework for persistent identification of intellectual content.

Managed by the International DOI Foundation Recently been accepted for standardisation within

ISO.


The Eurostat code I

A Eurostat-specific code to identify tables and data sets on the web site

In contrary to the DOI, it refers to dynamic (regularly updated) data sets rather that to static data sets

The codes remain stable over a long time period


The Eurostat code II

All tables and graphs in a publication will receive a code (e.g. TPS00021) which refers to the corresponding data set or table on the web site

Data sets and tables can be accessed either by typing the code into the Eurostat search field or (for pdf versions) by clicking on the hyperlink


The Eurostat code III

Structure of the code:Example: TPS00021T = TablePS = <theme> (Population and social

statistics)00021 = <sequential number>

The code system can be extended to cover other objects such as meta data, definitions, nodes in data trees, etc.


The Eurostat code IV

Implemented in the Eurostat yearbook and the Eurostat pocketbook

In the future, all publications will use the Eurostat code

Currently, no attempts are made in Eurostat to implement the DOI


D. Integration from the producer’s perspective

How to avoid separate production processes and redundant work when creating publications and web content?


XML publishing: Where are we now?


XML publishing

XML publishing is a method of creating from the same content various types of output, in particular pdf and html

It uses a standardised format for representing content (text, tables, graphs etc.)


XML publishing: Where do we want to get?

XSL processorPDF

HTML

Any otherstructured

format

XSL style sheetdocument

XML documentMS Office

Otherdocuments

Database


What is XML?

A standardised language to represent content (not layout)

Supported by many suppliers including Microsoft Standard software to convert from and to XML is

available

See www.xml.net


Predefined tables


Example of an XML document (very simplified)

<AxisY name="geo">

<Position value="eu15">

<AxisX name="time"> <Position value="1996">

<Cell value="109.6" />

</Position>

<Position value="1997">

<Cell value="109.5" />

</Position>


XML in Eurostat – predefined tables

+

Dictionaries

Data

XMLXSLT process

XSL

HTML


The problem: Where do we want to get?

XSL processorPDF

HTML

Any otherstructured

format

XSL style sheetdocument

XML documentMS Office

Otherdocuments

Database


Strategic questions:

When is the XML publishing a good choice? Costs and benefits of an XML based approach? How and when should be the dissemination

programme modified to better fit the technology?


Technical question 1: Standards

What XML language to use:– DocBook (common format for publications)– SDMX-ML (Standard format for statistical data

and meta data) – CoSSI (developed by Statistics Finland)– ODF (Open Document Format)

Eurostat has chosen the Open Document Format


Technical question 2: XML content creation

Native XML editor or standard Office software Database output in XML Conversion software


Practical experiences

Statistics Finland Statec Luxembourg (Yearbook)


Eurostat activities

Development of SDMX-ML together with other international statistical bodies

Workshop on XML publishing in October 2007 Study to determine the best way to implement XML

publishing in Eurostat Attempts will be made to work closely with some

NSOs in the development of XML publishing Pilot implementation using the Eurostat pocketbook


Contact

Ulrich WielandHead of Sector Publications EUROSTAT - Unit B6BECH A3-100European CommissionL-2920 LuxembourgTel. +352 4301 33644E-mail: [email protected]

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