Data Series Management

The Data Series Management module provides a collection of navigation and editing features for the management of all data series and data points stored within the FEWS NET Data Warehouse.

The module ties into other modules, such as Data Entry and Metadata Management, to perform the following operations within a single module:

Data Series Operations
- Browse published and unpublished data series
- Chart data series
- Add new data series
- Edit existing data series
- Delete unpublished data series
- Download data series
- View data series audit history
Data Point Operations
- Browse data points
- Add new data points
- Edit existing data points
- Delete unpublished data points
- View data point audit history

Only users with the appropriate administrative rights can perform the operations outlined above. To review data viewing and editing permissions, visit Categorization and Permissions.

Data Series Operations

Browsing Data Series

Data series are organized into categories corresponding to specific data domains, which are reflected in the dropdown menu (e.g., Data Series Management > Price > Exchange Rates).

Once a data series category is selected, the corresponding data series are visible in table format.

The table's column headers, filters, and organization are dynamic based on the data series selected. For example, the first column header for the Acute Food Insecurity Classification data series is titled Geographic Unit versus Reporting Country for Trade data series.

The table view displays Trade flow quantities from the Trade data series. Columns tied to the Trade data series (e.g., Reporting Country, Flow Type and Trade Type) are shown.

Adding New Data Series

To add a new data series:

Click Add from the data series table view. The system will then display the data series information page.
Complete the fields within the data series information page.
Select one of the Save prompts. A confirmation message will appear when complete.

To add a new data series, the necessary metadata must exist within the FEWS NET Data Warehouse system. If the required metadata does not exist, it must be added using the Metadata Management module.

For each data series category, there are unique metadata requirements:

Data Series Requirements by Domain

Exchange Rates

To add a new Exchange rate data series, the following information is required:

From currency
To currency
Rate type:
- Interbank: the monthly averages from OANDA
- Government: For example, official fixed exchange rates
- Secondary: For example, unofficial exchange rates
Source document

Before adding an exchange rate, you will need to add any new currency types as metadata through the Metadata Management > Common > Currency page.

Market Products

To add a new market products data series, the following information is required:

Geographic unit
Scale
Scenario
Description
Source document

Before adding a Market Product, you will need to add any new products as metadata through the Metadata Management > Common > Classified Products page.

Price Index

To add a new price index data series, the following information is required:

Name
Base value
Source document

Trade Flow Quantities

To add a new trade flow quantity data series, the following information is required:

Reporting Country
Border Point
Source
Destination
Product
Unit
Flow Type:
- Export
- Import
- Re-export
Documentation Type
- Formal: Level of documentation is fully documented
- Informal: Level of documentation is not fully documented
Source Document

Acute Food Insecurity Phases

To add a new acute food insecurity phase data series, the following information is required:

Geographic unit
Scale
Scenario
Source document

Acutely Food Insecure Population Estimates

To add a new acutely food insecure population estimate data series, the following information is required:

Geographic unit
Scale
Scenario
Source document

Humanitarian Food Assistance

To add a new humanitarian food assistance data series, the following information is required:

Geographic unit
Scale
Scenario
Source document

Humanitarian Response

To add a new humanitarian response data series, the following information is required:

Geographic unit
Operator
Operation type
Indicator
Source document

Crop Production Estimate

Adding crop production indicator data series is done through automated import into the system via the import functionality page. To access the import functionality page, navigate to: Data Entry > Import Data Points > Import Crop Production Estimate Values.

Crop Yield Forecast

Crop yield forecast indicator data series are added through automated import into the system via the import functionality page. To access the import functionality page, navigate to: Dataseries Management > Data Points > Crop Yield Forecast Values > Import Crop Yield Forecast Values.

Nutrition Indicator

Nutrition indicator data series are added through automated import into the system via the import functionality page. To access the import functionality page, navigate to: Data Entry > Import Data Points > Import Nutrition Indicator Values.

Population Estimate and Census

Population indicator data series are added through automated import into the system via the import functionality page. To access the import functionality page, navigate to: Data Entry > Import Data Points > Import Population Estimate and Census Values.

Charting Data Series

Several data series categories include options to display the data points as a time series chart. To view a data series chart:

Click the hyperlinked text of the desired data series from the table view to navigate to the data series information page.
Select the Chart button.
The system will display a data series chart page. You can interact with the chart in the following ways:
1. Hover over a point in the chart to view data point values.
2. Adjust the start and end dates using the zoom options, the From and To date fields, or the time slider at the bottom.
3. Print or download the chart using the options from the button to the right of the From and To date fields.

A Data Series Chart for an Exchange Rate data series on the Zimbabwean dollar (RTGS) per USD. Hovering over a point on the graph displays date-specific data.

Editing Data Series

To edit a given data series:

Click the hyperlinked text of the desired data series from the table view to navigate to the data series information page.
Modify the information with the fields as needed.
Select one of the Save options at the bottom of the page. A success message will display if the edits have been applied.

The Data series information page for a USD per AFN (Afghani) - Interbank data series includes options to edit multiple fields, including From Currency, To Currency, Rate Type and Source Document.

Deleting Data Series

If necessary, unpublished data series can be deleted. This functionality is not available for published data series. To delete data series, follow the steps below:

Using the Checkboxes, select the desired data series from the data series table view. Multiple data series can be selected at once.
From the Action drop-down list, select the option to Delete selected data series. Confirm the selection by clicking, Go. This will open a summary page.
From the summary page, confirm the intent to delete the selected data series.

Deleted data series cannot be recovered.

Several exchange rate data series have been selected using a checkbox in the first column. The Action box drop-down list shows the option to delete selected exchange rates.

Downloading Data Series

Data series can be downloaded in CSV format. To download a data series, follow the steps below:

Click the hyperlinked text of the desired data series from the table view to navigate to the data series information page.
Select the Download button.

Data Series History

The FEWS NET Data Warehouse system tracks various events that are performed against data series data including the addition, update or deletion of data series data in the system. To view the data series history, follow the steps below:

Click the hyperlinked text of the desired data series from the table view to navigate to the data series information page.
Select the History button.
Review the change history table for details of the updates and other operations carried out against the selected data series record.

The change history page includes columns for Date and Time, User, Message, and Record. Hovering over the icons in the Record column displays additional detail.

Data Point Operations

Individual data points are organized by data domain within the Data Points submenu, accessible via Data Warehouse > Data Series Management > Data Points.

The data points pages list the currently available data series values in a table format with the following column headers:

Data Series: the data series the data point belongs to.
Period Date: the last day of the collection period.
Collection Status: the status of the data collection.
Value: the value of the data point.

The data series data points page for exchange rate values includes columns for Data Series, Period Date, Collection Status and Value.

Browsing Data Points

Unlike the data series table, the data point table uses standardized column headings that are not unique to the data domain category and cannot be sorted.

Use keyword searches and the filters options to quickly locate specific data point values.

Adding Data Points

Users can upload/import a bulk file of data point values into the system using the import functionality. To import data point values in a file into the system:

From the data point value table view, select the Import data series value button. This will open the Import page.
Select Choose File to choose the file to be imported.
Specify the file format from the Format drop-down list.
Click Submit to start the import process.
Once the file is uploaded, the system will display the summary including:
- New: the data in the file that will be imported.
- Updated: the data in the file that are updates to existing data in the system.
- Delete: the records in the file that will be deleted from the system.
- Skip: the records in the file that will be skipped.
- Error: the records in the file that have errors in the data and will not be added to the system.
- Total: total number of records in the file.
To continue with the import, select Confirm Import. The data series will be imported and a confirmation message will appear when complete.

Editing Data Points

An existing unpublished data point value can be modified. To edit a data point value:

Click the hyperlinked text of the desired data point value from the table view to navigate to the change value page.
Modify the record information as needed.
Select one of the Save options at the bottom of the page. A confirmation message will appear when complete.

Deleting Data Points

If necessary, unpublished data point values can be deleted. This functionality is not available for published data point values. To delete data point values, follow the steps below:

Using the checkboxes, select the desired data point values from the table view. Multiple data points can be selected at once.
From the Action drop-down list, select the option Delete selected unpublished values. Confirm the selection by clicking Go. This will open a summary page.
From the summary page, confirm the intent to delete the selected data series.

Deleted records cannot be recovered.

Viewing Data Points History

The FEWS NET Data Warehouse system tracks various events that are performed against data series data including the addition, update or deletion of data series data in the system. To view the data series history, follow the steps below:

Click the hyperlinked text of the desired data point value from the table view to navigate to the data point value information page.
Select the History button.
Review the change history table for details of the updates and other operations carried out against the selected data series record.