Blaise Training Courses

Statistics Netherlands (CBS) provides training for users in Europa, Africa, Asia and Australia. If you are located in North or South America, check with Westat for course information. This page lists the courses that are currently available. They are offered on a regular basis. Check below or in the calendar to the right for the schedule of upcoming courses. 
For a description of each course, click on the course in the sidebar on the right-hand side.

 

TRAINING SCHEDULE 

All classes begin at 9:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. with a mid-day break from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Lunch is included. Enrollment is accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes may be cancelled or rescheduled based on the number of students enrolled.

If you want to sign up for a course, or you are interested in a training that is not currently on the schedule, please send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Blaise 5 basic Training

The Blaise 5 Basic training is currently not on the schedule.

Blaise 5 Basic Training is a 4-day course for Blaise programmers, but questionnaire designers will certainly benefit from doing this course as well, as layout sometimes refers to the language.
With a lecture, samples and hands-on exercises that students can work through at their own pace, this course has something for everyone.

BB01 – Blaise 5 Basic Course (4 days) - €1300

This course teaches the basics of Blaise 5. It contains an overview of the Control Centre and an explanation of the Blaise language. It is mostly recommended for Questionnaire programmers, but Questionnaire designers may find it useful to learn the language as well, as layout sometimes refers to the language.

This course covers the following topics:
      - Control Centre Overview
      - Fields
      - Types
      - Rules
      - Edit Checks
      - Blocks
      - Tables
      - Parallel Blocks
      - Keys
      - Externals
      - Include files
      - Lookups
      - Classification
      - Procedures
      - Arrays
      - Enhancing Text
      - Data interface

Prerequisites for this module are:
      - Some basic working knowledge of Windows computers
      - No prior Blaise experience required

 

Blaise 5 Layout Training

The Blaise 5 Layout training is not currently on the schedule.

Blaise 5 Layout Training is a 5-day training course for Blaise developers, specifically how to use the new tools in Blaise 5 to specify and apply layout.

The course combines lecture and demonstration with practical, hands-on exercises that students work through at their own pace. The course exists of 3 modules: BB02, LD01 and RE01. It is possible to follow just 1 or 2 of the modules. The cost for the total Layout Course is €1625.

BB02 – New in Blaise 5 for Blaise 4 Programmers (1 day) - €325

The first module describes what is new in Blaise 5 for Blaise 4 programmers. This is useful for anyone who has worked with Blaise 4 but hasn’t really seen Blaise 5 yet. It is mostly recommended for Questionnaire designers.

This module covers the following topics:

      - Control Centre Overview
      - Project vs. Solution
      - Converting Blaise 4 to Blaise 5
      - Source View Features
      - Groupable Items
      - Text Roles
      - Naming Conventions
      - Modes
      - Special Answers
      - Special Answer Sets

Prerequisites for this module are:

      - Blaise 4 programming experience, and knowledge about the basics of the Blaise 4 Mode Library and the Blaise 4 Layout-section

 

LD01 - Blaise 5 Layout Basic: Layout Designer (2 days) - €650

The second module describes the Layout Designer and how to create a layout using the defaults that are shipped with the system. It is highly recommended for Layout Designers.

This module covers the following topics:

      - Layout Designer Overview
      - Layout Instructions
      - Layout Sets
      - Promoting
      - Mapping
      - Modes and Layout
      - Parameters (LD)
      - Critical Questions

Prerequisites for this module are:

      - Blaise 4 programming experience, and knowledge about the basics of the Blaise 4 Mode Library and the Blaise 4 Layout-section
      - Knowledge of the topics described in module BB02

 

RE01 - Blaise 5 Layout Advanced: Resource Editor (2 days) - €650

The third module describes the more advanced layout options. How to change default templates and how to create your own templates. It is useful for specialised Layout Designers.

This module covers the following topics:

      - Resource Editor Overview
      - Templates
      - Areas
      - Template Design
      - Templates Overview
      - Creating your own templates
      - Resource Sets
      - Controls
      - Expressions
      - When to use a template
      - Parameters (RE)
      - Styles
      - Mappable Elements
      - Runtime Shortcuts

Prerequisites for this module are:

      - Blaise 4 programming experience, and knowledge about the basics of the Blaise 4 Mode Library and the Blaise 4 Layout-section
      - Knowledge of the topics described in module BB02
      - Knowledge of the topics described in module LD01

 

Blaise 5 Manipula Training

At the moment, there is no Blaise 5 Manipula training planned.

Blaise 5 Manipula Training is a 1.5-day training course for Blaise programmers who have to handle data.

MAN01 – Blaise 5 Manipula (1.5 day) - €475

This model covers the following topics:

      - Convert data (between Blaise, Text, XML, SQL Server, Oracle, ...)
      - Create subsets of data and split up data in multiple output files
      - Create a data set with a subset of fields
      - Extend data sets with new fields
      - Merge input files together into one big data set
      - Create static and dynamic links
      - Learn about common functions in the Manipulate-section
      - Learn about how to optimise performance when handling large data sets

Prerequisites for this module are:

      - Blaise 4 or 5 programming experience

 

Registration and Payment

To register for training, please send a mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Blaise Support will confirm class registration with an email.
After finishing the course, an invoice will be sent to your organisation. 

 

Training Cancellation

You can cancel at any time, but we would appreciate it if you could let us know as soon as you know that you will not be joining us for a course you have signed up for. Registrants may transfer their registration to a colleague in their organization at any time. Please notify This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. of any such substitutions as soon as possible. 

 

Training Location

Training sessions are held at Statistics Netherlands in Heerlen:
CBS-weg 11
6412EX Heerlen
The Netherlands

Attendees must make their own hotel and travel arrangements. Statistics Netherlands will provide a document with information at sign-up. 

 

On-Site Training

Blaise training or consultancy at the user’s location is available. For per-student fees and estimates of trainer travel and expenses, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Online training

In-person training has our preference, but, since the pandemic, courses are also offered online, in half-day segments. Online courses will take place via Zoom. 

The fee for the online course is €85 per person per half-day.

The fee for each module of the Online Layout Course are as follows:
BB02 – New in Blaise 5 for Blaise 4 Programmers (2 half-days) - €170
LD01 -   Layout Basic: Layout Designer (4 half-days) - €340
RE01 - Layout Advanced: Resource Editor (4 half-days) - €340

Other fees on this page are for on-site training. The content of the courses will resemble the on-site courses as much as possible.
 

Gaining deeper understanding