Tables are found at many levels in AXIS and have a great many different uses, structures and shapes. The following is a brief overview of the different ways Tables are organized in AXIS:
Sections are used primarily to identify the intended use of the contents of a table, such as for premium rates per unit, interest rates, or expense factors, but also in some cases to differentiate between different structures of tables used for the same purpose. Table names must be unique within a Table section, but the same name can be used for tables in different sections. The Table section is shown in the Table object list, and also appears on the Assumption screen when that Table is selected if more than one Table section is valid for that Assumption table field.
A Table is assigned to a Section when it is created and may only be used for a purpose authorized for that section. Thus, when selecting a table for defining premiums in the Regular Life module, for example, normally only the available Premium rate tables are displayed, although those tables come from several sections and may have various shapes. In some cases, to provide flexibility and reduce the number of redundant tables, AXIS will allow the selection of a table from a section associated more directly with another field (e.g. Mortality rate section tables may be used for premiums as well).
Special sections are assigned to the more complex structures of tables like Row-specific, Column-specific, Composite and Formula tables. When the choice of available sections for a given Table includes a Composite Table or a Formula Table, the name of that Section will always include "Composite" or "Formula" in brackets, as these tables are much more complex to understand and use.
Cell Tables and Projection Tables have different sets of Table Sections.
In some cases, tables of a given Section are made available to other modules of AXIS (subject only to the purpose of the Table Section being relevant to that module). Thus, a lapse rate table or a Corporate Tax rate table created in the Regular Life module can be selected in another module without having to recreate it.
A Table's Shape defines the size and structure of the table contents. While there are many different shapes of tables used in AXIS, they generally fall into one of three categories: Age and Duration Based, Column-specific, and Other. The Shape of a Table is one of the attributes displayed in the Table Object list, and may be used to sort the list.
Age and Duration Tables
Many different shapes are available for Cell Tables that work with age and duration based data, most of which are suitable for use in modeling, pricing or seriatim calculations, as AXIS automatically extracts the appropriate vector of values for each entry age being processed, regardless of the shape of the table. Some example are:
"All Entry Ages by 100 Years" tables have 100 columns, each containing a full vector of 100 values for all policy durations for entry ages from 0 to 99.
"Select n Years Then Ultimate" tables also have 100 columns for all possible entry ages, but contain only n+1 rows using the last row as an ultimate row accessed by attained age (commonly used for mortality tables)
"By Annual Duration only", "By Attained Age only", "By Entry Age only" and "By Disability Year only" tables all have has just one column allowing for efficient entry of rates that are accessed by the indicated approach.
"10 Entry Age by 100 Years" and other 10 column Entry age tables, however, allow for a full vector of values to be defined for all policy durations for only ten entry ages at a time. Specific entry ages may be associated with each column of the entry age table using the column header, but they are normally hidden. This shape of table is only valid for use with 10 column Age Distribution tables, in which up to 10 product ages may be specified for modeling and pricing calculations. When using these 10 column tables, processing for pricing or modeling proceeds column by column – the third column in the distribution table will run using the third column of any 10 column entry age tables you have selected in the cell, regardless of the Entry Age in the column header of the 10 column table. Mismatched ages will produce a warning message when the checkbox “Show Header Ages in 10 Column Entry Age Tables” in the “Table Edit” tab of the system parameters is selected. 10 column Entry Age tables have limited value for use with seriatim processing.
Note that entry age is a generic term - it may be product age, rated age, or issue age for each of two lives, or risk charge age, etc. When you view an entry age table in a cell, it will indicate which definition of age is in effect. Refer to "Ages in AXIS" for more details.
Column-specific Tables
Cell Tables can also be column-specific in shape where the number of columns and the purpose of each column is defined specifically for each Table. The Table Shape will usually be displayed as "100 Rows X n columns" although other variations are found. The rows of these Cell Tables are generally accessed on a policy duration basis either from durations 1 to 100 or with reference to the calendar year in which the policy year commences. 1200 row tables are also used when policy duration by month is needed. Sometimes, however, they may be defined by attained age, product age, issue year or outstanding term instead. The method of access for each column of a column-specific table is always shown by the column header. The "Adjust Header" button in the Action bar allows you to view and select from the various access options for each column.
The column headers of some column specific tables contain more information than just the access method for the column. For these tables, the "Adjust Header" dialogue will enables the entry of values or selection of other objects in AXIS as appropriate to the table. The options selected through the Adjust Header dialogue will be displayed either as part of the column header in the table view, or as messages beneath the column title, which change according to the column selected and highlighted by the user.
Some column-specific tables allow more flexibility through the use of embedded switches and scalars. The presence of these switches and scalars is indicated by specific messages usually displayed below the table data when viewing or editing the table, and by the presence of a "Define" button in the Action bar. Clicking the Define button opens a dialogue displaying all of the choices available and allowing them to be reset. These options may change the way specific columns are used and the titles of those columns will change to reflect the option selected.
Some advanced column-specific tables have special links to the Global scenario. The scenario columns linked can either be defined by the data entered in the column (a "1" implies column 1 of the scenario) or can be an embedded link to a single scenario column defined through the column header.
In some cases, specific "expandable" columns of a column-specific table can be supplemented by additional age and duration based data which is used in addition to the vector of values in the column. This additional linked data can be viewed and edited by clicking on the special icon in the column header, and is stored, exported and imported along with the rest of the table contents.
Projection Tables are always column-specific in shape, with each column's purpose specifically defined according to the Table's use. Rows of Projection Tables are always Financial Years starting from a base year as defined within the table, or in some cases, linked to the Valuation year.
Other Table Shapes
Some special table shapes are used for special purposes; these shapes usually have their own Section specific to the purpose and structure of the table..
A "Row-specific" shape table divides the rows of the table into subsections and each row has a specific title to indicate its purpose.
A "Composite Table" is a combination of other tables. Each row of the Composite Table will have title indicating its purpose and a number of columns of entry fields, including possibly Flat and Multiple modifiers, scalar values, and usually a Table link field, in which another table can be selected. It is also possible to create new tables on the fly for selection inside the rows of a Composite Table. A special type of Composite Table is a Compound table which allows the explicit selection of a base table of rates (premiums, risk charges, mortality rates, etc.) along with up to 10 different Adjustment tables which are applied to modify or limit the initial base values.
A "Formula Table" is actually a user designed subroutine (formula), written using AXIS Script language, that determines the required table values by age, duration, calendar year date, etc. dynamically based on the algorithms in the formula.
A Dataset Table is a user-owned table that is always stored within a specific dataset and is only available to that dataset. A copy may be transferred to another dataset in order to be used there. Vendor-defined tables (or "common" tables) are provided with each version of AXIS and are available to all datasets, and are stored as part of system data. These tables are locked and may not be deleted or altered by the user. They may however form the basis of newly created Dataset Tables. Projection Tables are always Dataset Tables, but Cell Tables can be either Dataset or Common Tables. Both Dataset and Common tables can be viewed in Table lists or in selection lists for a specific Table assumption field, according to specific checkboxes for each type at the bottom of the window.
When a table is created, it is assigned a permanent internal ID number that appears in selection lists along with the Table name. The ID number is unique within all tables in the Dataset and is never reassigned. You may also choose to have the table ID displayed in Table Selection fields using the Options selection in the Format Menu on the Menu Bar.