0. INTRODUCTION
1. SCOPE
   1. Functional definition
   2. Field of application
   3. Principles
2. REFERENCES
3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
   1. Standard terms and definitions
4. MESSAGE DEFINITION
   1. Segment clarification
   2. Segment index (alphabetical sequence by tag)
   3. Message structure
      1. Segment table

This specification provides the definition of the Generic statistical message (GESMES) to be used in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) between trading partners involved in administration, commerce and transport.

The compilation of statistics is a continuous chain starting with raw data collection, followed by a number of harmonization and aggregation processes leading to aggregated statistical data. Raw data collection is realized by means of surveys, sampling, direct reporting from individuals, economic operators. Harmonization and aggregation processes are very often handled by statistical bodies or authorized economic operators in case of direct reporting. A Generic Statistical Message (GESMES) is used by an organisation involved in this elaboration process to transmit a statistical data set. It permits the transmission of the following, either in the same and/or different messages: -the statistical concepts comprising the data set and their structure -if required, all related information ( code sets, labels, methodological notes, footnotes, etc.), -the statistical figures of the data set. This message could be used by producers and users of statistical information such as: National Statistical Offices, ministries, private and public administrations, private companies etc.

The Generic statistical message may be used for both national and international applications. It is based on universal practice related to administration, commerce and transport, and is not dependent on the type of business or industry.

The structure of statistical information to be exchanged is quite simple and could be defined as multidimensional array or chronological series. The difficulty of using or exchanging statistical data comes the varieties of interpretations of those structures. The interpretation varies from one statistical domain to another depending on the content. Another key factor is the volume: statistical indicators have many dimensions (e.g. time, classifications depending on statistical nomenclatures), dense and sparse series of matrices could be present simultaneously for the same indicator. The GESMES message may be used to exchange statistical data for all statistical domains in a variety of formats together with their descriptions.

The data in the data set (i.e. the array) is contained in a generic segment (ARR - Array). The interpretation of the ARR segment is provided in segment group 8. GESMES is designed to support all types of statistical exchange, including time- series, which can be described by means of statistical concepts (i.e. statistical terms or objects). Associated with statistical data are textual information defining comprehensively the series and matrices, the underlying statistical concept or methodology. This is often referred to as meta-data and corresponds to associated information which is required to interpret basic data, such as headlines, stubs, comments and footnotes.

The acronym, GESMES, stands for Generic Statistical Message and comprises a number of parts:

1. Identification of administrative information concerning the interchange partners (Gr. 2)

ii) Footnotes associated with value lists, statistical concepts and data set structures (Gr. 1)

iii) Value lists of coded or non coded items to be used in this message or in a future message (Gr. 4)

iv) Definition of statistical concepts to be used in this message or in a future message (Gr. 7).

1. Definition of the structure of array data to be used in this message or in a future message, and the allocation of a unique identity to this definition (Gr. 8).

vi) Identification of one or more data sets (Gr. 11). For each data set: the identity of the structure definition to be used to interpret the array data (Gr. 12); the scope, value lists or fixed values which are local to the data set (Gr. 13 and 14); the array data (ARR); footnotes associated with the data set (Gr. 18, 19 and 20).

See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.3 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction, Section 1.

See UNTDID, Part 4, Chapter 2.3 UN/ECE UNSM - General Introduction, Section 2.

This section should be read in conjunction with the segment table which indicates mandatory, conditional and repeating requirements.

0010 UNH, Message header

A service segment starting and uniquely identifying a message. The message type code for the Generic statistical message is GESMES.

Note: Generic statistical messages conforming to this document must contain the following data in segment UNH, composite S009:

0020 BGM, Beginning of message

A segment specifying the functional use (e.g. sub-set) of the Generic Statistical Message and identifying the message sent.

0030 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment identifying dates which are relevant to the whole of the message.

0040 Segment Group 1: FNT-FTX

A group of segments containing textual footnotes related to value lists or definitions of the content and structure of an array.

0050 FNT, Footnote

A segment containing the unique identifier of the footnote.

0060 FTX, Free text

A segment containing the text relevant to the footnote.

0070 Segment Group 2: NAD-IDE-SG3

A group of segments identifying the sender and other relevant parties, their reference and the communication contact inside the corresponding organisations.

0080 NAD, Name and address

A segment identifying the name and address of a party.

0090 IDE, Identity

A segment giving the identity number of the data transmitted as it is known by the organisation described in the NAD segment.

0100 Segment Group 3: CTA-COM

A group of segments giving contact information.

0110 CTA, Contact information

A segment identifying a person or a department for the party specified in the NAD segment and to whom communication should be directed.

0120 COM, Communication contact

A segment providing a communication number for the contact identified in the CTA segment.

0130 Segment Group 4: VLI-DTM-FTX-SG5-SG6-SG7

A group of segments containing either a coded or non coded list of items and related information.

0140 VLI, Value list identification

A segment identifying the value list.

0150 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment identifying the period of validity of the value list and, if the value list is a date list, then a date value in that list.

0160 FTX, Free text

A segment containing text associated with the value list.

0170 Segment Group 5: IDE-DTM

A group of segments containing the identification of an object related to the value list and the period of validity.

0180 IDE, Identity

A segment containing an identifier of an object related to the value list (e.g. a statistical nomenclature from which the codes in the list are derived, or a footnote).

0190 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment containing date information related to the identified object of the value list such as validity date or date range.

0200 Segment Group 6: GIR-DTM

A group of segments containing the related identification number and the period of validity.

0210 GIR, Related identification numbers

A segment containing additional identifiers associated with the value list (e.g. for a statistical nomenclature this could be a revision number or level number).

0220 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment identifying the period of validity relating to the object identified in the GIR of this group.

0230 Segment Group 7: CDV-FTX-SG8

A group of segments containing the codes or names in a value list.

0240 CDV, Code value definition

A segment identifying a particular value of a code.

0250 FTX, Free text

A segment containing the textual description of the code. Multi-lingual definitions may be present in different occurrences of this segment.

0260 Segment Group 8: IDE-DTM

A group of segments containing the identification of an object related to the code value and the period of validity.

0270 IDE, Identity

A segment containing an identifier of an object related to the code value (e.g. a related code list containing a list of code values for the code, or a footnote).

0280 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment identifying the period of validity relating to the object identification.

0290 Segment Group 9: STC-FTX-IDE

A group of segments specifying a statistical concept.

0300 STC, Statistical concept

A segment identifying a statistical concept.

0310 FTX, Free text

A segment containing the name, definition or description of the statistical concept.

0320 IDE, Identity

A segment containing the identity of a footnote relevant to the statistical concept.

0330 Segment Group 10: ASI-GIS-FTX-IDE-SG11

A group of segments which identifies and defines the structure of an array.

0340 ASI, Array structure identification

A segment containing the unique identifier of the array structure.

0350 X GIS, General indicator

A segment containing a processing indicator associated with the array structure.

0360 FTX, Free text

A segment containing a name/title or description of the structure of an array.

0370 IDE, Identity

A segment containing the identity of a footnote relevant to the structure.

0380 Segment Group 11: SCD-ATT-SG12

A group of segments which defines the structure of an array.

0390 SCD, Structure component definition

A segment that defines a statistical concept or other object (such as a value list) used by an array and its position in the array.

0400 ATT, Attribute

A segment containing an attribute that further defines the structure component (e.g. type of value, type of measurement, etc.).

0410 Segment Group 12: IDE-ATT-DTM

A group of segments identifying a value list or a value in a value list which is used by the statistical concept.

0420 IDE, Identity

A segment identifying the value list or value.

0430 ATT, Attribute

A segment containing an attribute that further defines the value (e.g. type of value, type of measurement etc.).

0440 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment identifying period of validity of the value list or other dates relevant to the value list.

0450 Segment Group 13: DSI-STS-DTM-FTX-GIR-SG14-ARR-SG18-SG20-SG25

A group of segments identifying the data set, its status, the source of the data, the array data itself, the structure definition of the data set and definition of the scope of the data and local values, details on the originator of a data, and footnotes associated with the array data.

0460 DSI, Data set identification

A segment containing the unique identifier of the data set.

0470 STS, Status

A segment containing information on the status of the information in the data set, e.g. its elaboration or privacy status.

0480 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment identifying a date relevant to the data set, e.g. date of original elaboration.

0490 FTX, Free text

A segment containing a textual description of the data set.

0500 GIR, Related identification numbers

A segment containing additional identifiers associated with the data set (e.g. identification of the source or destination of the data in the data set).

0510 Segment Group 14: IDE-GIS-DTM-SG15-SG16

A group of segments containing an identifier relevant to the data set, a processing indicator and a date.

0520 IDE, Identity

A segment containing an identifier relevant to the data set, such as the scope or structure definition used by the data set.

0530 X GIS, General indicator

A segment containing a processing indicator associated with the array data.

0540 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment identifying a date relevant to the identity e.g. date relating to the scope of the data.

0550 Segment Group 15: CDV-FTX

A group of segments containing the codes or names in a value list that are relevant to the object identified in the IDE segment of the group e.g. one or more codes that specify the scope of the data set.

0560 CDV, Code value definition

A segment identifying a particular value of a code.

0570 FTX, Free text

A segment containing the textual description of the code. Multi-lingual definitions may be present in different occurrences of this segment.

0580 Segment Group 16: SCD-ATT-DTM-SG17

A group of segments which identifies a structure component of the array and defines attributes or codes which are local to the data set identified in the DSI segment.

0590 SCD, Structure component definition

A segment that identifies the structure component.

0600 ATT, Attribute

A segment containing an attribute that further defines the structure component (e.g. type of value, type of measurement etc.).

0610 DTM, Date/time/period

A segment specifying a date relevant to the structure component e.g. a date for time series data.

0620 Segment Group 17: CDV-FTX

A group of segments containing the codes or names in a value list that are relevant to the structure component identified in the SCD segment.

0630 CDV, Code value definition

A segment identifying a particular value of a code.

0640 FTX, Free text

A segment containing the textual description of the code. Multi-lingual definitions may be present in different occurrences of this segment.

0650 ARR, Array information

A segment containing the data in the data set.

0660 Segment Group 18: NAD-IDE-SG19

A group of segments identifying the department and contact person within the sending organisation responsible for a particular aspect of the data set (e.g. compilation).

0670 NAD, Name and address

A segment identifying a particular department in an organisation responsible for the data set.

0680 IDE, Identity

A segment containing an identifier used by the sender or receiver to identify the data set.

0690 Segment Group 19: CTA-COM

A group of segments giving contact information.

0700 CTA, Contact information

A segment identifying a person or a department for the party specified in the NAD segment and to whom communication should be directed.

0710 COM, Communication contact

A segment providing a communication number for the contact identified in the CTA segment.

0720 Segment Group 20: FNS-SG21

A group of segments identifying the location in the data set to which a footnote is relevant.

0730 FNS, Footnote set

A segment identifying a set of footnotes, which are either defined in this group or have been defined previously.

0740 Segment Group 21: REL-SG22

A group of segments identifying the scope of the footnote, the location in the data set to which a footnote is relevant, and the identity number of that footnote.

0750 REL, Relationship

A segment defining the scope of a footnote in terms of the relationship between the data in the ARR segment in segment group 22 and the data in the ARR segment in segment group 13.

0760 Segment Group 22: ARR-FTX-SG23

A group of segments which identifies the set of values in the array to which the footnotes or attributes apply, and which give the data value of the footnotes or attributes.

0770 ARR, Array information

A segment containing data values that identify the location in the data set to which a footnote is relevant.

0780 FTX, Free text

A segment containing a footnote value.

0790 Segment Group 23: IDE-FTX-SG24

A group of segments which identify an attribute and give its value.

0800 IDE, Identity

A segment containing the identity of a footnote relevant to the data in the data set.

0810 FTX, Free text

A segment containing an uncoded attribute value.

0820 Segment Group 24: CDV-FTX

A group of segments which specifies a coded attribute value and its name, description, or definition.

0830 CDV, Code value definition

A segment which specifies a coded attribute value.

0840 FTX, Free text

A segment which specifies the name, description or definition of a coded attribute value.

0850 Segment Group 25: FNT-FTX

A group of segments containing textual footnotes related to data in the data set.

0860 FNT, Footnote

A segment containing the unique identifier of the footnote.

0870 FTX, Free text

A segment containing the text of the footnote.

0880 UNT, Message trailer

A service segment ending a message, giving the total number of segments in the message (including the UNH & UNT) and the control reference number of the message.

	ARR	Array information
	ASI	Array structure identification
	ATT	Attribute
	BGM	Beginning of message
	CDV	Code value definition
	COM	Communication contact
	CTA	Contact information
	DSI	Data set identification
	DTM	Date/time/period
	FNS	Footnote set
	FNT	Footnote
	FTX	Free text
	GIR	Related identification numbers
	GIS	General indicator
	IDE	Identity
	NAD	Name and address
	REL	Relationship
	SCD	Structure component definition
	STC	Statistical concept
	STS	Status
	UNH	Message header
	UNT	Message trailer
	VLI	Value list identification

Change indicators
plus sign		An addition.
asterisk		Addition/substraction/change to a code entry for a particular data element.
hash or pound sign		Changes to names.
vertical bar		Changes to text for descriptions, notes and functions.
minus sign		A deletion.
letter X		Marked for deletion.