Field names and their meta data

Hi,

when using the DIB, i get a bunch of field names available for a particular instrument and its value. i get a similar info when using get_data() whn not defining any field names, which is good and a great step forward.

however, in DIB there is also a neat little description area for the particular field name with a proper Data Item Name and a Definition and so on:

now, when using get_data() i only get the raw names which are sometimes very hard to interpret. Like who would have thought that DEF_FC_TP is meant to mean "Consensus Type" or GN_TXT24_1 is supposed to mean "Revised".

so, i wonder if there is either a list or an API method (preferred) to retrieve all field names and their metadata?

this would really help a lot, as i can't even export the DIB info into an xls or similar in order to at least have the Data Item Name.

thanks
Andreas

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Accepted answers

andreas01

@jonathan.legrand yes, i want to download some data via api into my own database and need to know the field info.

i wasnt mentioning that you would provide an xls file, i want to have it an excel file to be able to at least copy and paste fieldnames, descriptions and definitions and dont have to scroll through the DIB and writen them by hand (i cant even copy from DIB).

so, i thought there is an api call i can make, that would make things dynamic as well.

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jonathan.legrand

Hi @andreas01,

If one wishes to view the fields available for any one instrument, we advise using hte DIB, just as you have.
We cannot generate a static list, in excel or otherwise, of all these items, as the list would be drastically too long. A dynamic, searchable, list was made available as a result, through DIB.

Would you mind expanding on the reason for your request? I'm asking because exporting DIB data onto a list would only limit the dataset to few static items that may go out of date, as opposed to on the DIB...

andreas01

@jonathan.legrand yes, i want to download some data via api into my own database and need to know the field info.

so, i thought there is an api call i can make, that would make things dynamic as well.

jonathan.legrand

Hi @andreas01 ,

I see. In this case, I believe my colleague's answer might fit.
As you can see, you will have to use the delivery layer of the RD Lib for Python to ping this specific metadata API.
May I suggest also looking into the description output of the get_data function, as shown here?
When it comes to other fields and descriptions, I'm afraid that they're not programatically available, and can only be seen on the DIB.

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