STATISTICAL COMMISSION and
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE
CONFERENCE OF EUROPEAN STATISTICIANS
Working Paper No. 3
English only
Work Session on Statistical Output for Dissemination to Information Media
(Oslo, Norway, 15-17 March 1994)
Item 3 of the provisional agenda
INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS; ONLINE AND OFFLINE DISSEMINATION
OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION FROM STATISTICS NORWAY
by
Marta Prerovska
Statistics Norway

1. Introduction
New technology may offer possibilities for better handling and dissemination of statistical information. Statistical information is not only numbers. In order to disseminate statistical information in a proper way we have to link statistical macrodata and metadata. The macrodata are the result of an aggregation process based upon statistical microdata. Metainformation is usually defined as "information about information". Metainformation is a central part of the statistical information system. It is textual information about where and what information is available and about what is the content and "the message" of the statistical information.
There is a growing demand to get statistics from general statistical information systems and to exchange statistical information electronically. This is behind an integrated european statistical system
(DSIS= Distributed Statistical Information System)initiated by Eurostat. This Reference Environment will form the basis of integration of the European statistical system.
2.
Differences between online and CD-ROM as tools for information retrieval.
CD-ROM - Compact Disk - Read Only Memory
3.5" compact disk for data and sound.
The advantages of the compact disk are the fact that it can be used off line (easy accessibility on PC), its low running costs and large data storage capacity (680Mb = 300 high-density diskette). Dissemination of data on CD-ROM guarantees data-quality - information on CD-ROM can not be amended. Information can be Only Read. Graphical user interfaces on CD-ROM's software make it easier to use the stored information.
The disadvantage of compact disk compared to online retrieval of information is: compact disk has not the possibility to give the most updated information.
Online
An online system providing new/update information. Online systems are accessible from local PC through communication procedures and communication lines. The last fact makes online system less accessible compared to CD-ROM. The cost level of using online systems depends partially on mastering the retrieval language and database structure (how fast you can find relevant information).
3. Nordic Statistics on CD-rom
The first experiences with Nordic statistics on CD-ROM were made in 1992. In Norway about 50
CD-ROMs were sold in 1992. The CD-ROM was produced in cooperation with the Nordic statistical offices and Nordic statistical secretariat. CD-ROM will be issued every year. Statistics Greenland will participate in
1994.
Nordic Statistics on CD-ROM 1993 is expected to be sold in a number of around 200 in Norway.
The compact disk contains statistical tables and PC-AXIS - management system for statistics developed by
Statistics Sweden.
PC-AXIS is an easy tool to download statistical tables from the mainframe to the local PC, to manage statistics, import statistical tables from other off line media and to extract tables for further analysis and presentation through other PC-packages, e.g. spreadsheets. With the help of PC-AXIS, the user is able to create her/his own tables and databases. PC-AXIS is very easy to use and does not require special edp-knowledge.

3
PC-AXIS has been chosen as the main tool for offline dissemination of standard products from
Statistics Norway. Statistical information on CD-ROM is organised in databases, each Nordic country has its own database. Tables are grouped in subjects (domains), for example: Population, Law and legal institutions, Private consumption etc. Some of the tables are translated into English. The Norwegian database contains 112 statistical tables from 22 subjects.
The PC-AXIS program offers good possibilities. You can retrieve information and manage it in different ways e.g. you can calculate sums, make comparisons over time, you can edit results of retrieval and present tables as diagrams.
4. Statistics from databases - online
SSB-DATA is the online system from Statistics Norway with various statistical databases.
SSB-DATA is accessible online for external and internal users and used for the production of diskettes,
CD-ROM and the publication "Monthly bulletin of statistics". SSBDATA has about 25 external users, but most of them use this system only occasionally.
It is obvious that we must develop the online system to increase the use. We have to develop the online system in several ways:
- graphical user interface;
- more information in databases (macrodata and metadata);
- user support and documentation.
The online information system contains the following menu (here in English translation):
1.
2.
3.
General information
Source of statistics (bibliographic database)
Press releases
4.
5.
National key figures
Archives of tables
The use is mainly based on cursor sensitive positions and function keys.
Below we give further information on the main databases:
1. General information contains information about Statistics Norway, its organization, the electronic service, publication with ordering possibilities and other help to find the right persons and products from
Statistics Norway.
2. Sources of statistics. The bibliographical database 'Sources for statistics' contains the titles of the publications issued by Statistics Norway since 1977, and from 1986 also the table headings or the contents of the publications. The base can be searched in free text and by topic, year and series of publication.
3. Press releases. All press releases from Statistics Norway (about 250 yearly) are stored in a text database. Access may be chronological or by subject.
4. National key figures. National key figures include 18 tables with economic key indicators like consumer price indices. It is possible to scroll back in time and access documentation and text. There is also information about next table update.

4
5. Archives of tables has about 110 tables - mainly economic time series, classified by subject matter.
Before table storage the user can see the price for printing the table on screen or paper. The price depends on the size of the table. The same concept can also be used with regional statistics (this project has just started).
Regional statistics are also available from a database mainly used for preparing diskettes etc on request, and for the production of publications. It contains statistical tables related to a wide variety of topics, compiled at regional level, usually by municipality.
5. NISE
On-line system will in 1994 get a new interface : graphical user interface (windows based), called
NISE (National Infrastructure for edp - Standard dissemination of Electronic information). This system will be easier to manage by inexperienced external users. Windows functions will satisfy more vigorous internal and external users as well. In connection with the release of NISE interface will the on line system be equipped with both new information and new functions, for example: better data transfer from the mainframe to local PC.