1. Database Structure › 1.3 Data Content › 1.3.4 CA MICS Data Element Naming Conventions

1.3.4 CA MICS Data Element Naming Conventions

The several rules governing the definition of data
element names used in the Database are discussed below.

Names must conform to all of the standard SAS naming
conventions.

The first three characters of the name identify the SAS
File in which the element is defined.  These three character
name prefixes are defined in the File Directory and
Definitions section.

Common data elements do not have a three character name
prefix (e.g., SYSID, YEAR, MONTH, etc.).

Data elements that have time stamp, date, or time formats
are also qualified by their last two characters in the name,
which should be 'TS' for a time-stamp format, 'TM' for a time
format, and 'DT' for a date format.  Note that there are a
few data elements ending with TS, DT, or TM which are not
time-stamps, dates, or times.  In these cases, the data
element's label identifies it correctly.

A data element typing is accomplished, where possible,
with the middle (4th and 5th) character of the name.  These
two character codes specify the type of data element,
including:

    o  PC - Percentage
    o  MP - Max Percentage
    o  PS - Per Second Rate
    o  MS - Max Per Second Rate
    o  AV - Average
    o  MX - Maximum
    o  MN - Minimum