In common with other archive services, NDAD produces catalogues which explain why, how and when each dataset was produced. The
catalogues are arranged in hierarchical order, each one recording information at a different level of detail. The catalogues provide
more detailed information as users proceed through each level of the hierarchy. The catalogue levels descend from the general to the
specific and are intended to help users to locate individual data items and place them within the context of the wider system. The
elements of description in NDAD's catalogues conform to an international standard for archive cataloguing, the International Standard
for Archival Description (General) or ISAD(G), published by the International Council on
Archives .
Administrative Histories include information on the administrative background of each department that has transferred datasets
to NDAD. They provide a general description of the department and any predecessor bodies that have performed its functions over the
years, the divisions within departments responsible for creating the records transferred to NDAD and a brief description of the
records themselves. Each administrative history also contains links to sources for further information about the department and a
bibliography.
Series catalogues deal with a series of datasets such as annual accruals of a census or survey, or snapshots from a dataset that
is regularly updated. Series catalogues typically describe the administrative background of a dataset and any access, copyright and
data protection restrictions applying to the data. It will also contain details about the original system (software, operating system
and hardware), the structure of the dataset and validation methods used to process the data.
Subseries catalogues are used infrequently, and will only be used in situations where a series can be subdivided at a higher
level of description than individual datasets.
Dataset catalogues contain information about a specific dataset, for example, the results of a survey for a particular year. It
will include details about the structure of the dataset including the files and fields within it and will explain any access
restrictions or other requirements that are specific to the dataset rather than the series as a whole.
Table catalogues describe the individual files (or tables) within a dataset and the fields which it contains. These include
detailed descriptions of the data formats and attributes of each field.
Dataset Documentation catalogues are structured in a similar way to series catalogues. They contain details of the documentation
that accompanies a dataset rather than the data itself. This can include user manuals, publications based on the data in a dataset and
instructions for carrying out survey work which may typically include information about sample design and examples of questionnaire
forms. Paper documentation received by NDAD is digitised and made available online as an image and a text file. Documents received in
digital form are dealt with in a similar way and are therefore not made available in a format that is dependent on any specific
software format.
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