NA BUILDER
Facilitate:
1) National accounts compilation consistent with international recommendations, namely the SNA; and
2) Data storage for the national accounts in a time series format.
Functions
1) Organization and aggregation of data and Excel workbooks according to logic of 2008 SNA by using standard national accounts classifications; 2) Loading and storage of data according to same logic; 3) Ensuring perfect consistency between data storage and data compilation; 4) Facilitation of NA compilation by making available: a) templates for SUT, IEAT, SAM, and other IO tables; b) a very broad span of calculation modules (“rules”), e.g., for trade and transport margin adjustments, RAS for automated finalization of SUT balancing, and Denton application to overcome the step-problem in quarterly accounts; 5) Production of relevant output tables, e.g. of GDP by activity and the IEAT.
Users
Multiple user environment in a local area network and on stand-alone computers. Access can be regulated by administrator.
Includes features to facilitate data exchange
Yes, NAB tables can be converted to SDMX format with the Access tool NA SDMX Builder. Output tables can also be produced in Excel.
Compilation software
Excel The Excel system is controlled by a set of modules in Visual Basic for Applications. It consists of code files and Excel workbooks. Integration and full consistency with the database are ensured.
Organization of links between Excel workbooks
To ensure consistency between the Excel work-books, NAB uses a database to link them. The system creates the links between the database and the workbooks.
User interface in Excel included
Yes, all NAB actions, including database push / pull, are controlled through a user interface.
Storage software
A database: Access is default. Other databases can be used as well, e.g., Oracle, SQL Server, SAS.
Principles for data storage
Data are stored in two-dimensional “partitions”. Each dimension corresponds to a classification, for example, transactions, industries, and products. Each partition can have its own classification. A NAB table is constructed as a two-dimensional array of partitions.
Storage and compilation fully integrated
Data can be “pulled from” and “pushed to” an Access database directly. Transfer to and from other databases can be done using intermediary CSV files of standard design. NA Builder is organized such that there are no data inconsistencies between the different components of the system.
Includes feature to trace adjustments
Yes. 1. Both manual and rule-based edits (e.g., RAS) can be recorded in adjustment sheets, which can be included in the system; 2. Datasets, as stored in NAB, can be com-pared over time; 3. NAB keeps a history of manual edits.
Flexibility
1) User to specify their own classification systems, which should follow the logic of 2008 SNA; 2) User free to modify all available templates for tables: e.g., the SUT or apply their own; 3) Any existing Excel workbooks that the user might have can often be adapted to NAB; 4) User to determine whether to include a SUT or IOT at current or constant prices, and which accounts in the IEAT to include.
Classifications shown as Excel header and stub
Yes, instead of labelling headers and stubs as letters and numbers, they are labelled as the codes in the various classifications.
Automaticity
1) Aggregations automated through classification structures, with data in lower levels automatically aggregated into higher levels without room for errors, provided classifications correctly specified; 2) Many calculations automated through 'rules', e.g., trade margin adjustments, the RAS rule, which automatically finalizes SUT balancing, and the Denton rule to avoid the step-problem in QNA. Templates for rules available in NAB; and 3) Uploads and downloads between storage and compilation components automated.
Documentation
NA Builder User Manual - The full user manual NA Builder Introduction - An introduction of the application using a simple SUT example NA Builder Essentials - A presentation summarizing the various concepts, and how they all fit together NA Builder Walkthrough - A presentation showing in some detail all the features of the application NA Builder Rules - A document on all the currently available rules NA Builder Database Backend - A presentation on the database connectivity.
Support
Gosse Hommes
Training trainers
None
Countries using the toolkit
Albania, Aruba, Kosovo, Serbia, Turkey
Others
Languages
- English
Cost
Available for free
Resource link(s)
Contact details
- nabuilder@xs4all.nl