New Triple-S Open Standard

Market research is currently beset with barriers to movement of data across systems, largely due to the incompatibility of software as used by the different survey providers. In response, a new open standard for survey data interchange is being increasingly adopted. This is in the form of the 'triple-s' standard.

The name originated from the fact that all of the relevant topics started with s: standardisation, surveys, software, systems, simplicity. It was originally conceived as a way to move data between systems, although it is now being used for far more, such as transferring question text and response lists. In consequence, an increasing number of software suppliers globally are now using and supporting the standard.

As part of the continuous process making the standard ever more valuable for users, a new version is being released on July 1st 2002. The version, XML V1.2, is believed to be fully compatible with V1.1. The standard is freely available and the document type definition and implementation notes will be available for download from www.triple-s.org

In addition, a Classic to XML conversion program is now also available from the website. This freely downloadable program enables earlier implementations of the triple-s standard to be used with any XML version.

Given the enormity and importance of this development, a forthcoming ASC, the Association for Survey Computing (ASC) conference will discuss the subject. 'Open Standards: Breaking Down the Barriers' will be held at Imperial College, London on Sept. 19, 2002.

All articles 2006-22 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.