2011/12 ILR – Discussion Area

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• Change Request 33 – Move ILR to XML format (8 posts)

• Roland Kamsika said 1 year, 5 months ago:

  There are many benefits to moving the ILR format to XML instead of the current delimited file format. The key ones are, in my opinion, that:

  • XML is arguably more human readable than CSV
  • We can validate XML data against a defined XSD Schema
  • XML is highly compressible compared to delimited files, largely negating the size difference where huge files of repetitive data are concerned, as in the case of ILRs.

• John McCabe said 1 year, 5 months ago:

  To that we should add that MIAP already uses XML for ULN batch submission and for web services so we should already be familiar with the format.

  No to mention that anybody seriously working with Office either 2007 or 2010 will be using XML to develop ribbons and backstage views.

  Just as Microsoft have a simple xml editor, the data service should develop a schema aware editor to allow us to view and edit XML data. The idea of an emacs extension is one possibility.

  The idea that it will take developers years as was suggested earlier is simply stalling tactics.

• Paul said 1 year, 5 months ago:

  In addition to the benefits that Roland and John have already mentioned, some respondents to our online survey on this change suggest that xml files are easier to manage and are more portable / compatible with other software.

  Thus far we’ve had 20 responses to our survey on this change. Of those, 55% are supportive of moving to xml, 20% are not and the remaining 25% are unsure. There seems to be a split between respondents on this change – people seem to think either that a move to xml is long overdue or that flat files work fine so there is no point in changing. Some have suggested that there is a lack of knowledge across the sector when it comes to xml.

  We also asked what barriers people can see. The main issue there seems to be the costs associated with changing provider / collection systems.

  Just a reminder that you can add your thoughts by responding in this forum, emailing us at cst@theia.org.uk or completing our survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/201112-change-request-33

  Many thanks

  Paul Kelman
  The information authority

• John McCabe said 1 year, 5 months ago:

  Sure flat files work fine. So does DOS. How many people still use DOS? (OK SO I'm an old dinosaur and still love that C:> prompt)

  The trouble is that so many people are tied to big companies who charge the earth for very little. I think as a half way house we should look at a flat file converter as part of the LIS suite so that the LIS could either eat XML or flat file but would export (validated) xml. Then we could move swiftly to XML.

  If there is a lack of knowledge then we need to arrange training. Maybe we could see a training module on xml for beginners. This is going to benefit the collection process big time so the Data Service should put some muscle behind this.

• peterw said 1 year, 2 months ago:

  Does this mean an end to Provider-on-line for 2011/12 ?

• moeszyslak said 1 year, 2 months ago:

  Peterw raises a good question – is someone able to answer this?

  thanks

• bj said 1 year, 1 month ago:

  Is there a draft of the XSD yet?

  It would be good to test code against something.
  From my experience, the sooner you get feedback, the stronger the XSD.

  John's idea of a converter for the flat file format would also be useful in early testing of the XML structure.

• John McCabe said 1 year, 1 month ago:

  http://www.theia.org.uk/ilr/ilrdocuments/201112_ilrdetail.htm suggests that the specification will be sorted by 28th February (or did they mean 29th?) 2011.

  However the same page also suggests that the BIS will want loads of changes because of their skills strategy. We also know that there are going to be problems for Sixth Forms because of the way they're moving funding to the YPLA even though we may need to be on ACTOR (Guidance Note 6).

  Ho, hum what a way to run a coalition! I haven't seen so much fun since Ted Heath (not the bandleader) won in 1970 and put the Politics Department at Glasgow University into a tail spin because they had just written a new course based on the old Labour Government's plans and it had to be rapidly re-written as new measures emerged.

  It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.