Known issues

Since data formats will change in future, the format converter is most likely to change, and probably it will change more often than other parts of the openLCA framework.

The clear structure, and the fact that it will be available as free software, provide, we hope, good dowry, and will make it a frequently used, "living" piece of software.

However, two major issues are already known to-date.

• Nomenclature: The converter carries, or casts, the information inherent in one attribute of the source format to the respective attribute of the target format. The information itself is not changed, a part from some flow properties like units. This is undesireable for material flows, which then might not always fit to the nomenclature in the target format. A solution might be rather simple, a mapping of nomenclature, but this is not foreseen at present.
• LCIA: At present, the converter covers only LCI since important formats, such as ELCD, have not yet an LCIA part. The LCIA part will need to be included in the converter, thus extending the present metaformat.

If you are interested in solving these, via funding or via own contributions, then please let us know (for details please see the contact page, thanks!).