On Monday, March 10, 2003 an enhanced Dissemination Standards Bulletin Board (DSBB) website was launched. The enhanced DSBB represents the first installment of a multi-phased project aimed at upgrading the functionality of the DSBB for users through improved access to metadata, including the ability to search and query the metadata, as well as more ready access to the associated data on national summary data pages (NSDPs). The following enhancements have been introduced:

Updated look to the DSBB site. The homepage has been simplified with clearly categorized topics. New tools have been added for searching, querying, and analyzing information on countries' data dissemination practices (metadata).

• Users can search over both SDDS and General Data Dissemination System (GDDS) metadata for information on any combination of countries, data categories (real sector, fiscal sector, etc.), and metadata elements (data coverage, periodicity, timeliness, etc.).
  
  
• Users can search SDDS metadata at a greater level of detail by key statistical concepts (index reference period, institutional coverage, etc.) embedded within many of the metadata elements. The output of these searches is presented in tabular form to permit comparative analysis across countries or key concepts.
  
  
• Users can see advance release calendar (ARC) information for any combination of SDDS countries and data categories on a quarter-ahead basis. The ARC-related notes (coverage, periodicity, timeliness, etc.) are also accessible along with the data category.
  
  
• Users can obtain in the "Summary of Observance" page comparative information for any combination of countries and data categories regarding how the SDDS specifications on data coverage, periodicity, and timeliness are being met.

Increased access to country data

Bookmarks: Although the DSBB's web address remains the same http://dsbb.imf.org, any favorites or bookmarks created with the former DSBB web site will no longer be valid. Please navigate the new http://dsbb.imf.org to locate the metadata that you are interested in and update your bookmarks.

We hope that you will find the enhancements introduced on the new DSBB to be useful.