A practical analysis problem relates with a documentation problem. When data acquire extra dimensions , more documentation is needed. New dimension points towards new relatio-nal variables, trends, change, or differences. The interplay works both ways and documentation possibilities have to be available in the process. We are not trained to see documentation as an integrated dynamic part of data that should be allowed to grow with use.
Standardisation gives co-ordination and efficiency.
Standardisation of routines for receiving, documenting, storing and disseminating give better user service. Routines for production, security and data dissemination would improve protection of privacy . The greatest immediate benefit however comes from the database as an information system that encourages use of data beyond the single study, since trends and parallel cross-sections may be discovered, created and used more dynamically. The basic idea is to better integrate the documentation of data, the administration of data and the information system we need for our data. The data archive is there to promote the freest possible use of empirical data.