The current design of DOE's Performance Indicator Data System (PIDS) provides the capability of downloading data in a formatted ASCII data file (CDF format). This data file is compatible with most spreadsheet and database programs.
The delimited ASCII file download option from the PIDS report option automatically creates a file in the same format as the upload file that is used for submitting data to PIDS. Each line is a separate record. Fields are separated by commas, and all data are delimited with double quotes. All data in PIDS are treated as character data. The format for a performance indicator (PI) data record in PIDS is as follows:
"year-quarter", "facility or contractor", "PI", "PI value", "change flag", "PI narrative"
The characteristics of the fields are as follows:
PI numbers or identifiers are stored without decimal points, e.g., PI 1.2 is stored as 12.
All PI values are stored in PIDS as character data. In some cases, data may not be available. In the records where values are not available, the value is replaced by a code as follows:
-1 Currently unavailable (CU)
-2 Not avaiable - security concerns (NAS)
-3 Not applicable (NA)
The format for a PIDS root cause (RC) data record is as follows:
"year-quarter", "facility or contractor", "RPI", "root cause", "RC value", "change flat", "PI narrative".
The characteristics of the fields are as follows:
The RPI number is the PI number or identifier, preceded by the letter "R", e.g. R12.
When an error is detected after the data submission deadline, an errata form must be approved and submitted in order for data to be changed in PIDS. The format for an errata record is as follows:
"year-quarter", "facility or contractor", "PI", "old PI value", "new PI value", "change flag", "PI narrative", "errata basis".
The characteristics of the fields are as follows:
Use of the Internet
The use of the Internet has also become a valuable tool to collect, capture, and share information from different sources. Internet provides many capabilities, including the capability to transfer data files electronically. Large amounts of data can be transferred from one location to another in a matter of seconds. This capability can improve the timeliness of obtaining information necessary to support organizational performance measurement analyses. Many books and manuals are available that provide information on use of Internet.