Transcript: Using APRA Connect Holes Restrictions Files

This instructional video explains how to use holes restrictions files to ensure valid combinations are submitted in APRA Connect tables.

Transcript

The following video explains the new format of the hole restrictions file and demonstrates how to use that file to filter enumerations to ensure a valid combination is submitted.

This video can be paused if necessary, and a transcript is also available.

The hole restrictions file lists the allowed keys for the enumerations in each table in the selected collection.

The holes file will be used to validate open tables.

Some collections have thousands of valid combinations.

The holes file is embedded in the schema worksheet of each reporting taxonomy artefact.

We recommend before you upload your data into APRA Connect that you use the holes file to check you have the correct enumeration combination. As usual, before each reporting period we encourage entities to check whether there are new versions of the taxonomy artefacts available on APRA’s website.

APRA has been working with the APRA Connect vendor to implement a new format for the holes file. The new format is intended to improve processing performance of the large open tables. This will not impact all collections, instead APRA will identify collections that will benefit from the new format.

The new format uses commas to separate the allowed combinations rather than list them all in separate rows. In some cases this significantly reduces the number of rows that need to be compared by APRA Connect when validating enumerations.

The new format does not require you to change how you prepare your data.

However, the new format will change how you filter the holes file to check if you have a valid combination of enumerations. 

Using the taxonomy artefact for ARS 112 Capital Adequacy Standardised Approach to Credit Risk, I will filter the holes file on exposure classification of Sovereign, Off-balance sheet and Credit Rating Grade 5.

This will determine the valid combination of all the enumerations, and the correct risk weight that should be used to determine the risk weighted assets value.

Both formats result in 13 unique combinations, but the new format is much more concise because each option is separated with a comma rather than appear on its own row. 

On the screen is the taxonomy artefact for ARS 112 version 13, this version uses the original format of the holes file, from the Schema tab you can open the embedded holes file.

We’ll filter the list by selecting Sovereign for the exposure classification and Off-balance sheet.

Note for the Grade, each grade is listed separately. This will look different when we look at the new format.

Select grade 5 and as a result of this filtering I can see there are 13 rows of valid combinations, and they all have a risk weight of 1.

Using the taxonomy artefact for version 14, I will apply the same filter and point out the differences in this new format.

Once again, I'll select Sovereign and Off-balance sheet.

Each of the allowed enumeration keys are separated by commas rather than appearing on separate rows.

Notice the values for credit rating grade are condensed and separated by commas. To find the correct row that contains grade 5, I simply type grade5.

All the 13 combinations are combined into one row, with the risk weight of 1.

Comparing the two hole files side by side, I can see the comma separated version contains the same information but much more concisely in one row.

To recap, before each reporting period, entities should check whether there are new versions of the taxonomy artefacts.

The process you followed to prepare your data has not changed. Commas separate each allowed enumeration and finally don't forget to use the holes file to check your data before uploading into APRA Connect.

Thank you