Layout file structure

The layout file refers to the content of the microdata file, it describes the information on each survey variable.
Firstly, the survey name, the reference period of data and the layout length (number of bytes) are given, then for each variable the following information are provided:

Field Name

Description


Ordinal

Variable sequence

Length

Variable length

Field name

Short name of the variable in the layout (es: unique number identifying the questionnaire's question)

Variable type

In case of a categorical variable, the code list associated is displayed selecting categorical

Aggregation

The name of the variable that aggregates the described variable (e.g. 'Province' variable aggregates 'Municipality' variable)

Notes

Any further information regarding variable

Record type

If there are different record type value in the layout structure, it means that there are more than one varable describing the same position in the record layout.

Variable name

Extended description of the variable (e.g. questionnaire's question)

Field format

A as 'alphabetical' or N as 'numeric'

Decimal number

In case of numerical variable, the number of decimal digits is shown

Decimal separator

The character adopted as separator between integer and decimal digits

Arithmetical sign

If present, arithmetical sign is shown as '+' or '-'

Measurement unit

Measurement unit of each variable



An example of layout

SURVEY: Survey name Year 2005
Layout length: 227 bytes

Ordinal Num

Length

FieldName

Variable type

Aggregation

Notes

Record type

Variable name

Field Format

Decimal Number

Decimal separator

Arithmetical sign

Measurement unit

1

6

Id

 

 

 

0

Sequence

A

 

 

 

 

...

...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3

3

nuts

categorical

 

 

0

Geografical location

A

 

 

 

 

...

...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15

11

turnmar

 

 

. : missing

0

Turnover share 2004

N

9

,

 

 

...

...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this example, 'turnmar' variable is numeric, it is composed by 11 digits (Length), 9 (Decimal Number) specifies the number of decimal digit and the decimal separator is ',' . Moreover, 'Notes' field indicates that '.' means 'missing'.