CSV files on short-term indicators which we provide for further processing in the Open Data section are structured in the following way:
The title of the data set is given in the first line.
The header in the second line describes the following data lines.
The variables shown in the data lines are separated each by a semicolon. In the header, the descriptions of the individual variables are also separated by semicolons. Decimal places in the values are separated by a comma. Values may additionally include special characters:
- 0 = less than half of 1 in the last character, but more than nothing
- – = no figures or magnitude zero
- ... = data will be available later
- . = numerical value unknown or not to be disclosed
- x = cell blocked for logical reasons
Empty value variables do not occur.
The title and the header include plain text to describe the data sets. Special characters such as blanks, German Umlaute, brackets, dots or percent signs may be included here. Semicolons are not part of plain text; they are exclusively used to separate variables and their descriptions.
Data sets from the third line onwards always begin with a date in the form of DD/MM/YYYY, followed by the statistical values.
While the tables on the website usually refer to the current year and to a maximum of five previous years, the associated CSV files can cover more reference periods.
Unlike the Flat File CSV files that can be retrieved via GENESIS-Online, the CSV files on short-term indicators deliberately include no comprehensive metadata in order to facilitate the use of the compact summary tables in various programs based on a clear structure. Descriptions are only given to enable a prompt assignment of the values.
Our GENSIS-Online database that can be accessed in different ways (web interface or API/web services) offers more detailed and structured metadata, which can also be combined.