Statistical Disclosure Control

τ-ARGUS home page

Introduction

τ-ARGUS is a software program designed to protect statistical tables. The CASC-project took a previous version of τ-ARGUS, as developed during the SDC-project, as a starting point.

After a test-phase (coordinated by IStat) version 3 was the final release of the CASC-project. However we have continued our efforts, also thanks to the ESSNet-project and at the end of the ESSNet project version 3.4.1 was available.

Major new extensions are the reading of SPSS-system files, inclusion of the audit-routine, negative values in Modular and the generation of a-priory files.

Since version 3.5 linked tables can be protected simultaneously, both with the modular approach as well as the hypercube method.

Partly funded by Eurostat, a project was started on 20 December 2012 to port the at that time most recent version of τ-ARGUS to an Open Source version. The resulting version should contain the possibility to be run on a Windows platform as well as on a Linux/Unix platform. Moreover, the cell suppression, CTA and rounding methods should be able to make use of Open Solvers.

τ-ARGUS software releases

Version 4.2.0

See the User Manual of version 4.1 for more information on the use of τ-ARGUS.

Since version 4.1.4 we provide two sets of binaries: one with and one without a bundled JRE7 distribution. To run the 32 bits Windows binary, Java 7 or higher in 32 bit version is needed (also on 64 bit machines). With the bundled JRE7 version you don't need to bother with installing a 32 bit version of Java on your (possibly 64 bit) machine: the ARGUS binary will automatically use the bundled runtime engine. As of version 4.2.0 we will only provide binaries with JRE bundled (Zulu Open JRE).

You can download the latest Windows 32 bit binaries, build on Windows 10:

Version 4.2.0 build 5

Release notes

05-06-2020

Older versions (Windows 32 bit):

	Version 4.1.7	Version 4.1.7 with bundled JRE7	Release notes	08-03-2018
	Version 4.1.6	Version 4.1.6 with bundled JRE7	Release notes	13-07-2017
	Version 4.1.5	Version 4.1.5 with bundled JRE7	Release notes	14-04-2017
	Version 4.1.4 updated	Version 4.1.4 updated with bundled JRE7	Release notes	09-02-2017

	Version 4.1.3	Release notes	23-11-2015
	Version 4.1.2	Release notes	13-08-2015
	Version 4.1.1	Release notes	28-04-2015
	Version 4.1.0 build 2	Release notes	23-02-2015
	Version 4.1.0 build 1	Release notes	19-12-2014

You can download Linux binaries, Build on 32 bit Ubuntu 14.4.0:

Version 4.1.0 build 1

Release notes

19-12-2014

You can download the sources of version 4.1.0 here, or go to sdcTools on GitHub for most recent sources.

Version 3.5.0 build 27

You can also still download the (Windows only) version previous to the Open Source version here. (UnZip the file in a temp-directory and run the install.bat procedure).

Please note that this version includes the 2012 release of XPress.

See the Manual of version 3.5 for more information.

The following programs were created for the 3.5 version. They are not tested on later versions (4.1 and later).

For users of the SBS-format a conversion program to convert SBS-files to τ-ARGUS files can be downloaded here
This version includes a routine to import the ARGUS output in the original SBS file.

For users of SAS an interface has been written by the Swedisch colleagues as a deliverable of the ESSNet on SDC harmonisation.
It can be downloaded here.

Optimisation solvers

For the calculation of an optimal pattern of secondary suppressions τ-ARGUS uses a LP-solver. Due to the complexity of the mathematical problems involved we use high quality commercial LP-solvers. Traditionally we use the Xpress-MP solver made by FICO.
We are very grateful for the friendly cooperation and support by FICO. FICO has taken over the responsability for XPress from Dash Optimisation. The 3.4 version of τ-ARGUS requires a licence for XPress2009.

Contact xpresssales@fico.com and reference your need for a τ-ARGUS specific license. Since we had to change the licencing mechanism of Xpress when going to Open Source, existing users should contact support@fico.com to get their licences renewed in compliance with the new situation.

Alternatively CPlex can be used, e.g. for those users who already have a licence for CPlex and who want to use that solver.

Although τ-ARGUS is free software (a result of a European 5^th Framework project), these solvers are commercial products. You can download the τ-ARGUS software from this page, but you have to obtain a licence for one of these solvers yourself, directly from the suppliers.

Since version 4.1.2 τ-ARGUS can also make use of Open Solvers. However, note that these solvers are not always able to deal with larger tables.

Questions related to τ-ARGUS should be directed to Peter-Paul de Wolf.

For the conditions to obtain Xpress-MP (including updates) see the 2010 pricelist here

A summary of the installation procedure for τ-ARGUS can be found here

For floating XPress licences a new licene manager has been develloped by FICO
The software can be downloaded here and a description can be found here

An upgrade for the XPress drivers for Windows XP can be found here

For the conditions to obtain CPlex see here