Further information about the Data Reference Guide
The Data Reference Guide (DRG) contains XML specifications for all data items submitted electronically to the FSA as part of Mandatory Electronic Reporting (MER).
Who is the Data Reference Guide aimed at?
The Guide is aimed at firms and Independent Software Vendors that wish to develop a connection to the FSA's Mandatory Electronic Reporting system, either via direct communication or by utilising web upload functionality.
How is the Data Reference Guide structured?
If the Guide is new to you, then please read the Data Reference Guide introduction [PDF] before looking at anything else, as this explains in detail how all the material fits together.
The specification for each Data Item consists of a number of files (one Excel spreadsheet, one XML schema, one or more XML samples, one schema structure diagram and one schema documentation file in PDF format).
In addition, there are some general schemas - CommonTypes, Shared Definition Schemas (SDS0nn) and MetaData - and two general documents (the introduction to the Data Reference Guide; and a cross-validation rules document).
How do I use the Data Reference Guide?
You can view all elements of the Guide on-line from these web pages, or you can download the Guide to your own computer.
If you are viewing the Guide on-line, then click on the links in the left hand column of the tables on the DRG index page to either view the general documents or open a web page for a specific Data Item or general schema. From the web page for a specific Data Item or general schema you can view the individual files that make up the specification of that component.
If you choose to download the Guide, then there are a number of options depending on how many Data Items you are interested in, how large a file you can download, and whether or not you need the schema documentation that has been automatically generated from a schema editor.
If you want to download the Data Items individually, then bear in mind that you will also need to refer to the general documentation and general schemas. To download Data Items individually, click on the version links in the right hand column of the table of Data Items on the DRG index page.
