Description
Return observationYear-sourceYear, flag a future source year, and serialize source, indicator, and sourceYear as provenanceKey.
Cross-source records often use different labels, time spans, and support conventions. Exact equality and overlap checks describe the supplied metadata; they do not prove that sources measure the same social or geographic concept.
Return observationYear-sourceYear, flag a future source year, and serialize source, indicator, and sourceYear as provenanceKey.
When to use this tool
Use Global Indicator Vintage Age when you need a literal source comparison or coverage diagnostic.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter observationYear, sourceYear, indicator, source. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read ageYears, futureSource, provenanceKey. Inspect futureSource before interpreting the associated values.
Return observationYear-sourceYear, flag a future source year, and serialize source, indicator, and sourceYear as provenanceKey.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| observationYear | Observation Year | Required. Safe integer. |
| sourceYear | Source Year | Required. Safe integer. |
| indicator | Indicator | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
| source | Source | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| ageYears | Age Years | Required. Safe integer. |
| futureSource | Future Source | Required. Boolean. |
| provenanceKey | Provenance Key | Required. Text; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
{
"input": {
"observationYear": 2026,
"sourceYear": 2020,
"indicator": "indicator-A",
"source": "dataset-X"
},
"output": {
"ageYears": 6,
"futureSource": false,
"provenanceKey": "[\"dataset-X\",\"indicator-A\",2020]"
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- A signed vintage difference does not establish publication date, observation coverage, source quality, or suitability for international comparison.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Inspect the original source definitions and collection methods. Harmonize conceptual scope and timing before treating matching labels or overlapping records as comparable evidence.
References
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