SAS Reference Data Manager 3.3: Attributes in Multiple Languages

SAS Reference Data Manager 3.3 features a HTML5 interface, where you can manage flexible hierarchies, domains and columns lists. It provides tools to download, import, access and export the data through a REST API. Read further about attributes multi-language support and how to import reference data from a flat file.

Let’s use a simple example to understand the multi-language support for attributes. For example, manage a list with country codes and labels in several languages.

Create a hierarchy domain

Create the domain.

100 SAS Reference Data Manager - create hierarchy domain.png

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Choose the lookup domain attributes.

Choose several languages. The language refers to the chosen attribute.

You may want to display the attribute, Country name in several languages. Say you choose: English, French, Chinese, Dutch.

Create the reference data items

Create New items one by one:

130 SAS Reference Data Manager - new item.png

Until you have the desired list. Versions are incremented when you save.

140 SAS Reference Data Manager - hierarchy with items and attributes.png

In a hierarchy, each Item has a Parent. For Item Country, you chose the Parent Continent.

Then, fill in the attribute Country, in each of the chosen language.

150-SAS-Reference-Data-Manager-languages-for-attributes.png

Save when done.

Import the data items

It is useful to see the data structure, in a file format. Download the reference data:

A csv file is generated:

"DOMAIN_NAME","DOMAIN_ID","VERSION_ID","VERSION","ITEM_ID","PARENT_ID","ITEM_KEY","ITEM_LABEL","COUNTRY_ZH","COUNTRY_NL","COUNTRY_EN","COUNTRY_FR"
"Countries","c6f9ba0e-3695-4c9a-ba89-d26f6c02170c","ab46e71d-6feb-4312-8238-57569255d719","16.0","24323f0c-a1de-4464-b51e-6766b0116240","eaa6232b-487b-48d7-86e2-6f9e73b87494","BE","Belgium","比利时","België","Belgium","Belgique"
"Countries","c6f9ba0e-3695-4c9a-ba89-d26f6c02170c","ab46e71d-6feb-4312-8238-57569255d719","16.0","4f739a02-292b-4db0-ba15-e332564cf89a","622f04cb-3953-4113-84ff-7d95635c09fa","US","United States","美国","Verenigde Staten van Amerika","United States of America (the)","États-Unis"
"Countries","c6f9ba0e-3695-4c9a-ba89-d26f6c02170c","ab46e71d-6feb-4312-8238-57569255d719","16.0","f7b32784-f6eb-47e9-abe2-feebff59a987",,"OC","Oceania",,,,
"Countries","c6f9ba0e-3695-4c9a-ba89-d26f6c02170c","ab46e71d-6feb-4312-8238-57569255d719","16.0","fab9a2a2-0acb-4109-bdb3-2e27f4d79cb4","f7b32784-f6eb-47e9-abe2-feebff59a987","AU","Australia","澳大利亚","Australië","Australia","Australie"
"Countries","c6f9ba0e-3695-4c9a-ba89-d26f6c02170c","ab46e71d-6feb-4312-8238-57569255d719","16.0","eaa6232b-487b-48d7-86e2-6f9e73b87494",,"EU","Europe",,,,
"Countries","c6f9ba0e-3695-4c9a-ba89-d26f6c02170c","ab46e71d-6feb-4312-8238-57569255d719","16.0","622f04cb-3953-4113-84ff-7d95635c09fa",,"NA","North America",,,,

Create an import file

You can import the items from a file. The import interface is described in the doc

You may want to add a new country in the list. Each item has a parent, if the parent does not exist, you must create it.

Firstly, define the parent, the Continent with the Parent_Key blank (no parent), the Item_Key “AS”, the item label “Asia”.
Secondly: define the child, the Country with the Parent_Key “AS”, the Item_Key “CN” , the item label “China”.

The file to be imported becomes:

"PARENT_KEY","ITEM_KEY","ITEM_LABEL","COUNTRY_ZH","COUNTRY_NL","COUNTRY_EN","COUNTRY_FR"
,"AS","Asia",,,,
"AS","CN","China","中国","China","China","Chine"

Import the file

You can use the very friendly import interface.

190 SAS Reference Data Manager - import interface.png

A new version of the Hierarchy is created at import time. You can navigate through the attributes in different languages.

200 SAS Reference Data Manager - multi language attribute example 1.png

210-SAS-Reference-Data-Manager-multi-language-attribute-example-2.png

Conclusions

SAS Reference Data Manager 3.3 offers: ultra-flexible hierarchies, multi-language support, easy to use import interface, clear data model.

References

Used in the post

Country codes: alpha 2
Language codes ISO639.2
Continent names: International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN)

Thank you for your time reading this post. Please comment and share your experience with the SAS Reference Data Manager 3.3.