FAQ | 政府資料開放平臺

Data set in CSV file format yet showed garbled, why?

This platform provides data set in UTF-8 character code. Open CSV files in Microsoft EXCEL may fail to display Chinese characters correctly as the default file format of EXCEL is set to ANSI. You may try one the following two methods to deal with garbled EXCEL files:

Why is the downloaded JSON file garbled with numbers and the symbol "/"?

The JSON file features a coding format UTF-8 rather than the default Big-5 code employed by most text editors. Your file viewer program may fail to convert its contents for you to read. Please change to a text editor of UTF-8 coding and you can view the contents as required. Note: Before accessing the JSON file with an application software, you may have to change the coding format to UTF-8.

Does it cost to access and use platform data? What are the license methods and restrictions?

For easy data sharing by the public, integrate social creativity, enhance government data quality and value, license method and scope according to the article of GODP "Government open data platform use directive": data publicized on the government open data platform by government agencies according to the operating guidelines are free of charge and non-exclusive licensed (trademark and patent rights exclusive) to users to develop products or services (value added goods or VAG) for the public without any restriction as to time, place, reproduction, revision, edit, public transmission or other application mechanism. There is no need to be licensed by an individual data provision authority's written or other licenses.

What is the difference between government open data for application and freedom of government information from each other?

Aimed at an easier sharing and fair use of government information by the general public, the government promulgated "The Freedom of Government Information Law" in 2005 and at protecting people's right to know, enhance the people's understanding of public affairs, improving trust and participation in democracy, the law asks the government to disclose government information on administrative measures and acts and other relevant government information progressively and regularly based on an open administration and transparency. The information disclosure methods may be in the form of revealing in a government bulletin or other publications, providing online inquiries, holding press conferences or briefings, providing public reading, photocopying and transcribing among other valid mechanisms.

What is government open data? Why should we promote it? What's the benefit?

"Government open data" require individual agencies to release electronic data, including text, photo, image, sound and metadata, acquired or created in its own authority which can be opened by law to the Internet in an open format for users, including individuals, schools, communities, businesses or government agencies to download and use as required.