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Data Object Abbreviation Standards List
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Request Form for a new Data Object Abbreviation
The University of Maryland Data Object Abbreviation Standards list is the official list of abbreviations to be used for data object (data model, database, file, table, data element, etc.) naming by application developers and information deliverers at the University of Maryland, College Park. These standards were formally adopted on July 30, 1997 by the Data Technical Advisory Committee, chaired by the Director of Data Administration. From this date forward, these standards will be adhered to for all future application development; systems/applications which were developed prior to this date will not be changed to reflect the new standards.
Data object names comprise one or more prime words, optional qualifier words and one class word and fully describe the object. These words are used when constructing a data model name, database name, filename, table name or data element name and are described below:
Prime word - A prime word describes the topic or subject area of the data. Some examples of prime words are:
| Student |
Employee |
Degree |
| Funding |
Program |
Course |
| Organization |
Registration |
Account |
Class word - A class word describes the type of data, i.e. the major classification of data associated with a data element. Some examples of class words are:
| Date |
Number |
Amount |
| Code |
Rate |
Name |
| Quantity |
Size |
Average |
Qualifiers - A qualifier further defines a prime or class word. It is optional. Some examples of qualifiers are:
| Last |
Starting |
Birth |
| Type |
Beginning |
Status |
| Previous |
Active |
Current |
All objects should follow this construction. For example, in the current transactional Student Information System there is an object called "SIS-SMS.BIRTHDATE". SIS-SMS represents the prime word or data topic, BIRTH is a qualifier describing DATE which is the class word. This helps both the technical staff and users understand the data object.
The following guidelines apply when using the UMCP Data Object Abbreviation Standards list to name a data object:
- Abbreviations should be meaningful to both programmers and end users, therefore data object abbreviations should represent common business practice and language.
- Similar words which have different meanings will have their own abbreviation. For example, Percent (PCT) and Percentile (PCTL). Similar words which have the same meaning will use the same abbreviation. For example, Enrollment (ENRL) and Enrolled (ENRL).
- Reserve words vary across different databases and platforms. If a standard abbreviation is a reserve word, then the reserve word must not stand alone and must be used with a qualifier which further describes the data element or object. For example, if DATE is a reserve word, then it must contain a qualifier as part of the element/object name such as "Appt Start Date."
- Certain words are short in length (date, time, code, year). Standards abbreviations have been established for these words. As appropriate, either the actual word or the abbreviation can be used. If however, the element or object is used across data systems/applications, the same naming convention must be used across all applications.
- New abbreviations will be added to the list as needed by the institution. New additions should be submitted to the Office of Data Administration, they will be reviewed on a timely basis by the Data Technical Advisory Committee (DATAC), will be added to the list, and appropriately distributed.
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