Parent DIF
Definition
This field allows an association between generalized aggregated DIFs
(parents) and DIFs with highly specific information (children).
Population of the Parent_DIF field should be reserved for instances where
a multitude of DIFs are basically subsets that can be better represented
by one parent DIF that describes the entire collection. Typically, the
parent DIF will have many children DIFs, all of whom point to the parent.
In some instances, a child may point to more than one parent.
Syntax
Parent_DIF: [Entry_ID]
Specifications
- Field is optional.
- Field may be repeated.
- The field must be populated with the existing or soon-to-be-existing
Entry_ID of the parent DIF.
- This field is only to be used in child DIFs.
Recommendations
- This field is not to be used if the DIF describes a distinct data
set, i.e. if the DIF is not a child.
- In a multi-level hierarchy of DIFs, the Parent_DIF value should point
to the DIF's immediate parent only.
- The field may be repeated in cases where a child DIF has two different
immediate parents, i.e. the child is a member of two distinct
aggregations.
Examples
Parent_DIF: NOAA_HISTORICAL_CLIMATE_DATA
Parent_DIF: USGS_COASTALDATA_PARENTDIF
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