Environmental Data Coding Specification (EDCS)

Annex F
(normative)

Change and deprecation plan

F.1 Introduction

F.1.1 Table of contents

Table F.1 — Table of contents
F.1 Introduction F.3.2 Deprecation of standardized EDCS dictionary entries
F.1.1 Table of contents F.3.3 Deprecation of registered EDCS dictionary entries
F.1.2 Overview F.4 Reinstatement
F.2 Change F.4.1 Introduction
F.3 Deprecation F.4.2 Reinstatement of standardized EDCS dictionary entries
F.3.1 Introduction  

F.1.2 Overview

This International Standard will evolve through the publication of corrigenda and amendments, as well as revision. In a similar manner, EDCS dictionary entries registered for use with this International Standard will need to evolve. Of particular concern is when an EDCS dictionary entry needs to be either changed or declared obsolete. Declaring an EDCS dictionary entry obsolete is called deprecation. This annex defines a process for change and deprecation of both standardized and registered EDCS dictionary entries to ensure the long term coherence and orderly evolution of the concepts in this International Standard. It also defines how a deprecated EDCS dictionary entry may be reinstated.

F.2 Change

Redefinition of an EDCS dictionary entry means changing that entry to such an extent that it would require either amendment or revision. That is, the entry would no longer represent the same concept and/or the EDCS code and/or EDCS label would no longer denote the same concept.

Clarification of an EDCS dictionary entry is a change that does not alter the semantic or technical meaning of the entry. Clarification does not result in a change in the status of an entry.

Reuse of an EDCS code and/or EDCS label means assignment of that EDCS code and/or EDCS label to denote a different concept than originally assigned.

To ensure stable evolution while protecting the investment of users, care shall be taken when changes are made to EDCS dictionary entries, whether they were originally defined either in this International Standard or later by registration. The following rules apply both to changes to this International Standard by either amendment or revision and to changes to registered EDCS dictionary entries:

  1. Changes to the extent allowed in corrigenda may be made to an EDCS dictionary entry in this International Standard.

  2. Changes to an EDCS dictionary entry in this International Standard not permitted by corrigenda shall be accomplished by deprecation following the procedure defined in F.3.2.

  3. Changes to registered EDCS dictionary entries shall be made in accordance with ISO/IEC 9973.

  4. No EDCS code and/or EDCS label shall be redefined and/or reused except by the process of reinstatement defined in F.4.

  5. Proposals for clarification of standardized dictionary entries shall be made using the appropriate registration template in Annex I with Justification for inclusion given as CLARIFICATION followed by why the clarification is required. Such proposals shall be processed and, if approved, shall be incorporated at the next opportunity.

F.3 Deprecation

F.3.1 Introduction

Deprecation provides an orderly process whereby either this International Standard or the International Register of Items may retain deprecated EDCS dictionary entries and indicate to users that these deprecated EDCS dictionary entries should not be used in new applications. Distinctly different procedures are used to change International Standards from those used to change registered EDCS dictionary entries. Therefore, two different deprecation procedures are specified.

F.3.2 Deprecation of standardized EDCS dictionary entries

The following rules apply to deprecation of standardized EDCS dictionary entries:

  1. An EDCS dictionary entry may be proposed for deprecation through the registration process either when a new concept is submitted as a replacement or through the use of the appropriate deprecation form in Annex I.

  2. A deprecated EDCS dictionary entry shall be moved by amendment and/or revision to an annex containing a table of deprecated entries for the applicable EDCS dictionary within this International Standard. This International Standard contains Annex A for this purpose.

  3. The row(s) in the tables that previously defined the standardized EDCS dictionary entry shall be removed by amendment and/or revision. There shall be no indication in the table itself that the entry that once occupied that row is now deprecated. Note that by F.2(d), removed EDCS labels and/or EDCS codes shall not be re-used except by reinstatement.

  4. Once an EDCS dictionary entry has been published in Annex A of this International Standard for a period of at least five years, it may be deleted from that annex (and therefore this International Standard) by amendment and/or revision.

F.3.3 Deprecation of registered EDCS dictionary entries

The following rules apply to deprecation of registered EDCS dictionary entries:

  1. Registered items cannot be modified, except for clarification (see ISO/IEC 9973).

  2. A registered EDCS dictionary entry to be deprecated shall follow the procedures defined in ISO/IEC 9973.

F.4 Reinstatement

F.4.1 Introduction

Reinstatement provides an orderly process whereby this International Standard may promote previously deprecated EDCS dictionary entries back to standardized status.

F.4.2 Reinstatement of standardized EDCS dictionary entries

A deprecated EDCS dictionary entry may be reinstated by moving it from Annex A back into the appropriate main table defining such an entry in Clause 5 through Clause 8 and Annex B through Annex E of this International Standard. The process of amendment and/or revision of this International Standard shall be used to accomplish this move.