TCSI data types

The format for each data type in TCSI aligns with international standards for information and communication systems. There are five data types in TCSI.

Boolean

Elements with a "Boolean" data type represent a true or a false statement.

Enter Boolean type elements as either "true" or "false". There are no leading or trailing spaces and no capitalisation.

Date

Elements with a "Date" data type represent a date.

All date data are in the format "YYYY-MM-DD"

Dates can only include numbers for year, month and day values with a hyphen between each.

YYYY-MM-DD format:

  • 1st 4 digits - Year sub field (e.g. 1957)
  • 5th digit - hyphen
  • 6th and 7th digits - Month sub field (e.g. 08)
  • 8th digit - hyphen
  • 9th and 10th digit - Day sub field (e.g. 06)

Decimal

Elements with a "Decimal" data type represent a decimal value, with a specific criteria on the maximum number of digits after the decimal point.

The width is shown with two numbers in the form "N(n)" which indicates the maximum number of digits (N), and the number of digits permitted after the decimal place (n). The decimal place is not counted in the field width.

Examples for width 7(2):

  • 12867.20
  • 0.15
  • 0.00

Only numbers and a decimal place can be reported for this data type.

There are no leading zeros. Trailing zeros are not required.

Integer

Elements with an "Integer" data type represent an integer, i.e. a whole number without decimals.

Only numbers can be reported for this data type. There must be no leading zeros.

Examples:

  • 207
  • 102392382
  • 0

String

Elements with a "String" data type represent text formed from a sequence of characters.

Characters can include letters (a-z, A-Z), numbers (0-9), and special characters: (space) & ' ( ) , - . / [ ] _ : (i.e. space, ampersand, apostrophe, open parenthesis, closed parenthesis, comma, hyphen, full stop, forward slash, open square bracket, close square bracket, underscore, colon).

Example:

  • Unit 35/A, 77 Oxenbridge Avenue

 

Application of glossary term:
  • General (HE and VET)