Enclosure (1) to COMDTINST 5230.42A
Definition: Desired delivery date of product requested.
Reconstructed DE: PRODUCT DELIVERY DESIRED DATE
(Mod
/Prime
/Mod
/Class)
Reconstructed DE: PRODUCT DESIRED DELIVERY DATE
(Prime
/Mod
/Mod
/Class)
Both of these data elements fit the definition and thus either one could be used. A Prime
Word can be an event about which an organization wishes to maintain information.
Therefore, "DELIVERY" can be designated as the Prime Word. Depending on the
organization, either "PRODUCT" or "DELIVERY" could be the appropriate Prime
Word. However, both words are necessary in the data element name to establish the
correct representation of the data element. "Delivery" designates: "Class Word of
what?"; "What is being described?" and yet "product" is the object that is being
affected by the delivery. This example highlights the difficulty of restructuring data
elements in the absence of an organization-wide data enterprise model.
Rule 6. The sequence of words in a data element name are: (1) Modifier if required +
Prime Word + (1 to 4) Modifier(s) if required + Class Word + (1 or 2) Qualifier(s) if required.
The Prime Word must preceed the Class Word within in a data element name. The
minimum number of words in a data element name is two (Prime Word + Class Word), and
the maximum number of words is nine.
Comment: Arranging the words in a data element name according to this structure
improves the repeatability of data element names (i.e., the probability that two people
will arrive at the same name to describe identical concepts).
Example 1: DATE OF BIRTH OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE
(Class
/Mod
/Mod
/Prime )
Definition: Date of birth of a civilian employee
Reconstructed DE: CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE BIRTH DATE
(Mod
/Prime
/Mod
/Class)
Example 2: WEATHER, STATE OF
(Prime
/Class)
Definition: Text description of the atmospheric conditions with respect to cloudiness,
precipitation, or other weather phenomena.
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