Products

The ECLASS association publishes the following products related to the ECLASS Standard: The official ECLASS releases, Release Update Files (RUF), Transaction Update Files (TUF). Which one of these products is suitable for a company depends on the area of application and the company’s objectives. Since Release 7.0, the ECLASS standard is available in two different export formats. In the frame of internationalization adjustments according to ISO standards were needed. Significant adjustments involved both a distinction between ISO-standard conformant “closed” value lists and “open” proposal lists and the introduction of standard compliant measurement units.

The ECLASS Standard is being published in regular updates, the ECLASS Releases. The first ECLASS Release 3.0 was published in 2000 and contained about 15.000 classes, but no properties yet. With ECLASS 4.0 properties, values and keywords were published additionally to classification classes for the first time in 2003. With ECLASS 6.0 a data model according to ISO 13584 was created. ECLASS 7.0 was the first release that is available in a BASIC and an ADVANCED version. Some ECLASS Releases are published in various language versions. The current Release 12.0 is available as ECLASS 12.0 BASIC (CSV), ECLASS 12.0 BASIC (XML), ECLASS 12.0 ADVANCED (XML). New updates of the ECLASS Standard are published along the release process.

The BASIC version contains all elements that were already available before Release 7.0: classification classes, keywords, properties, values, units, synonyms. 7.0 BASIC is available in a .csv-format and a .xml-format. The usual CSV export format of the ECLASS-standard includes eight CSV files, which Office programs such as MS-Excel® and MS-Access® can process and implement. The ReadMe pages describe the amendments, structure, contents, and relations of the CSV files. With effect from ECLASS 7.0, it will also be available as an additional export format in ECLASS XML format for automatic ECLASS standard processing. This export format bases on an ISO-standardised XML format for product data exchange. Related specifications are published in ISO 13584-32:2010 (ontoML). These specifications offer a uniform and comparable data structure for communications between machines. Consequently, two export formats are available for processing and implementing BASIC representation. Export of ADVANCED representation is only available in ECLASS XML format.

Update 2018-05-07: Due to a request of an ECLASS member, the ECLASS association decided to publish the Releases 5.1.4 and 6.0 subsequently also in XML format, for the languages German and English.

The BASIC version is mapped to the ADVANCED version. This Mapping table enables users of the ADVANCED to exchange technical data with users of the BASIC. Hereby, the necessary know-how has to be delivered by the user of the ADVANCED.

The 4-level class structure is associated with the new application class (AC). This, in turn, contains all relevant structural elements such as blocks and aspects. Integration of both the PROLIST standard and CAx elements results in additional important data model extensions. Using “Cardinality" multiplication elements as well as variant access of special blocks by means of “Polymorphism” results in significant simplification.

Implementation of additional data type extensions (Level-Type and Axis-Type) results in further simplifications. Consequently, a single data type combines physical-technical relations of different properties.

The complex data model has to be transfered in a data structure configured for that purpose. That is why ECLASS 7.0 uses ontoML rules defined in ISO 13584 – part 32. These rules describe the form and arrangement of the structural elements and predefine how to interpret the ontoML in order to be able to process ECLASS 7.0 ADVANCED Representation from a data-technical point of view.

Starting with Release 7.0 the ECLASS standard is available in two different formats: .csv and .xml. The BASIC version is available in both .csv and .xml, the ADVANCED version is only available in .xml. Before Release 7.0 any ECLASS version was only available in .csv format.

Update 2018-05-07: Due to a request of an ECLASS member, the ECLASS association decided to publish the Releases 5.1.4 and 6.0 subsequently also in XML format, for the languages German and English.

In the frame of internationalisation adjustments according to ISO standards were needed. Significant adjustments involved both a distinction between ISO-standard conformant “closed” value lists and “open” proposal lists and the introduction of standard compliant measurement units.

Below you find a matrix which release is available in which export format:

The ECLASS CSV format contains all elements that were already available before Release 7.0: classification classes, keywords, properties, values, units, synonyms and all of their relations. The usual CSV export format of the ECLASS-standard includes eight CSV files, which Office programs such as MS-Excel and MS-Access can process and implement. The ReadMe pages describes the amendments, structure, contents, and relations of the CSV files. For BASIC CSV the character code UTF-8 is set as standard.

With effect from ECLASS 7.0, it has also been available as an additional export format in ECLASSXML format for automatic ECLASS standard processing. This export format is based on an ISO-standardised XML format for product data exchange. Related specifications are published in ISO 13584-32 ontoML . These specifications offer a uniform and comparable data structure for communications between machines. Consequently, two export formats are available for processing and implementing Basic Representation. Export of Advanced Representation is only available in ECLASSXML-format. One major difference to the CSV format is that in ECLASSXML, deprecated elements are still included.

The following matrix provides a functionality overview of both the BASIC and ADVANCED Representations.

The demo versions are available here:

• DEMO VERSION ECLASS 7.1 BASIC CSV EN

• DEMO VERSION ECLASS 7.1 BASIC CSV DE)

• DEMO VERSION ECLASS 8.0 XML EN (BASIC and ADVANCED)

• DEMO VERSION ECLASS 8.0 XML DE (BASIC and ADVANCED)

ECLASS is available in different language versions. The following types of languages are being distinguished:

The pivot language is the original language that is the basis for all other translations. For the ECLASS association this is American English (Language Code: en; Country Code: US). ECLASS e.V. will always maintain all structural elements of its standard in this mandatory language updated and in best quality achievable. Translations of the standard to any other language should be done for congruence with and on basis of the pivot language of ECLASS e.V. only.

Main languages of the ECLASS standard are language versions that are permanently supported and financed by ECLASS e.V. to publish and document authorized structural information. For a main language ECLASS e.V. prepares an updated and complete translation of the pivot language with high quality. Current main language of ECLASS e.V. is German (Language Code: de; Country Code: DE).

Renowned business languages may obtain a status as other languages of ECLASS. For such languages ECLASS e.V. is limited to collect third party translations - also fragments - of its standard. ECLASS e.V. therefore will not warrant for translation quality, relevance or completeness. Currently ECLASS e.V. provides support for up to 14 other languages, as listed below: (figure language versions)

The deliverables for each release are listed here.

ECLASS is starting to document all known bugs in any available release. This way, users can have an up-to-date overview on technical errors, as well as mistakes in the content of the ECLASS classification system.

Please have a look at the known bugs page.

The Release Update File (RUF), available in CSV format, contain information with regard to release changes made in respect of classes and properties. MOVE/SPLIT/JOIN as well as previous and successive associations are retraceable by means of these files. The RUF are available for ordinary members free-of-charge, any other user can purchase them in the ECLASS Shop.

The Transaction Update File, abbreviated TUF, made available in XML-format, provide information as to whether previous properties are still valid when using successive properties. This allows a (partly) automatic update of evaluated data files. The first TUF have been made available for the upgrade from 6.2 to 7.0.

The main purpose of the Classification Update File (CUF) is to update classification relations for already classified products, if the classification structure has changed. This can be done by semi-automated update process that uses TUF from a previous ECLASS release to a later ECLASS release (BASIC and ADVANCED versions, XML). TUF contains the results of the changes to the classification by MOVE, SPLIT and JOIN operations, but it does not contain information about new and deleted classes.

The main purpose of the Structure Difference File (SDF) is to update from one ECLASS release to its subsequent release, if these cannot be kept parallel for technical or business reasons. It is recommended to keep different dictionary releases parallel. If dictionary releases are kept in parallel, the SDF become more obsolete. SDF is an XML genericode list for BASIC and ADVANCED of all those identifiers that were changed in a certain dictionary release. SDF shows all elements that have changed or have been added on element level (like class, property, value etc.) information on the relations is not included.

• Guidelines for the Development of ECLASS Language Versions.pdf
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pivot_language

• Advanced XML
• Basic CSV
• Basic XML
• Classification Update File
• CSV file description
• Deliverables
• ECLASS-Update
• Known Bugs
• List advanced xml files
• List basic xml files
• List of basic sets of properties
• read me
• Release Update File (RUF)
• Structure Difference File
• Transaction Update File
• Update File CSV
• Update File XML