Suggestions
⬆
Add workbooks to start tagging
Click "Add workbook" to load Excel files.Each file is separate but queried together.
Click "Generate Turtle RDF" to serialize your tagged data.
Natural Language SPARQL
Tag your columns first, then ask questions in plain English.
"How many beneficiaries per city?" · "List distributions by project" · "Show affected females by location"
Tag your columns first, then ask questions in plain English.
"How many beneficiaries per city?" · "List distributions by project" · "Show affected females by location"
Tag columns first, then run checks to find data quality issues.
How to use HXL Ontology Tagger
This tool helps you label your Excel data so that different organizations can share and compare it — even if their files look different.
1
Load your Excel file
Click Add workbook at the top left. Select your
.xlsx file. You can load multiple files from different organizations — they will all be connected together automatically.2
Pick which sheets to use
After loading, you will see sheet tabs at the top (e.g. NeedsAssessment, Projects, Inventory). Click a tab to view that sheet. To remove a sheet you do not need, click the 🗑 trash icon on its tab. To hide a sheet from queries without deleting it, click the 👁 eye icon.
3
Tag your columns
Each column in your sheet needs a label from the ontology (the list on the left). This tells the system what each column means.
Two ways to tag:
• Click to tag: Click a property name in the left panel (e.g. "Beneficiary Name"), then click the grey box under the matching column.
• AI suggest: Click the ✦ suggest button under any column. The AI will read the column header and suggest the best match automatically.
• Suggest all at once: Click the yellow "✦ Suggest all" banner that appears after loading. The AI analyzes every column in one go — you just review and accept.
To remove a tag, click the ✕ on the tag badge. To hide a column you do not need, click the 👁 button on that column.
Two ways to tag:
• Click to tag: Click a property name in the left panel (e.g. "Beneficiary Name"), then click the grey box under the matching column.
• AI suggest: Click the ✦ suggest button under any column. The AI will read the column header and suggest the best match automatically.
• Suggest all at once: Click the yellow "✦ Suggest all" banner that appears after loading. The AI analyzes every column in one go — you just review and accept.
To remove a tag, click the ✕ on the tag badge. To hide a column you do not need, click the 👁 button on that column.
4
Save your work
Click 💾 Save in the tab bar. This downloads a small
.json file. Next time you open the app and load the same Excel file, click 📂 Load to restore all your tags instantly — no need to redo the work.5
Export your tagged data
Go to the Serialize to RDF tab.
• Click Generate Turtle RDF to convert your tagged data into a format that computers can reason about.
• Click Export active sheet to download your Excel file with the HXL tags added as a second row — this is the standard format used by UN agencies and NGOs worldwide.
• Click Export all sheets to download every tagged sheet at once.
• Click Generate Turtle RDF to convert your tagged data into a format that computers can reason about.
• Click Export active sheet to download your Excel file with the HXL tags added as a second row — this is the standard format used by UN agencies and NGOs worldwide.
• Click Export all sheets to download every tagged sheet at once.
6
Ask questions about your data
Go to the Query (SPARQL) tab. Type a question in plain English and press Enter. Examples:
"How many beneficiaries are there in each city?"
"Which projects have the highest number of displaced people?"
"List all deliveries with status pending"
The system generates a technical SPARQL query automatically and shows you the results in a table. If you loaded multiple workbooks, it queries across all of them at once.
"How many beneficiaries are there in each city?"
"Which projects have the highest number of displaced people?"
"List all deliveries with status pending"
The system generates a technical SPARQL query automatically and shows you the results in a table. If you loaded multiple workbooks, it queries across all of them at once.
Common questions
What is HXL? HXL (Humanitarian Exchange Language) is a simple labeling system used by the UN and NGOs to make spreadsheets readable by machines. It adds hashtag labels like
Do I need an API key? Only for AI features (auto-suggest and natural language queries). Manual tagging and export work without one.
Is my data private? Your data stays on your computer. Only column headers and a few sample values are sent to the AI — never the full dataset.
What if a column has no match? Leave it untagged. Only tagged columns are included in the serialization and queries.
#beneficiary +name to column headers.Do I need an API key? Only for AI features (auto-suggest and natural language queries). Manual tagging and export work without one.
Is my data private? Your data stays on your computer. Only column headers and a few sample values are sent to the AI — never the full dataset.
What if a column has no match? Leave it untagged. Only tagged columns are included in the serialization and queries.
Ontology Reference
This explains what each category and property in the ontology means, and when to use it.
Project
Information about an aid project or programme — its name, sector, and how many people it plans to reach.
#project +codeUnique identifier for the project (e.g. NRC-2024-001)#project +nameFull name of the project#project +sectorWhich humanitarian sector it belongs to (WASH, Shelter, Food, etc.)#project +targetedNumber of people the project plans to reach#beneficiary +totalTotal number of beneficiaries enrolledDistribution
A distribution event — when aid items are handed out to people at a specific time and place.
#distribution +codeUnique ID for this distribution event#distribution +statusWhether it is planned, ongoing, or completed#distribution +start +dateDate the distribution started#distribution +end +dateDate the distribution ended#distribution +qQuantity of items distributedDelivery
The logistics of getting aid items to a distribution point — transport, dates, and status.
#delivery +codeUnique ID for this delivery#delivery +dateDate of the delivery#delivery +statusPending, in transit, delivered, etc.#delivery +channelHow it was transported (truck, air, boat, etc.)Needs Assessment
Data collected when assessing a person's needs — before they are confirmed as a beneficiary. Use this for survey and registration data.
#needsAssessment +codeID of the assessment form or session#respondee +nameName of the person being assessed#respondee +codeUnique ID assigned to the respondee#respondee +genderGender of the respondee#respondee +hhHousehold size (number of people in the household)#respondee +severityHow severe their situation is (low / medium / high / critical)#respondee +scoreNumeric vulnerability score#respondee +need +nameWhat kind of help they need (food, shelter, medical, etc.)#respondee +infantsNumber of infants (0-2 years) in the household#respondee +childrenNumber of children (3-17 years) in the household#respondee +elderlyNumber of elderly (60+) in the householdBenefit Contract
A confirmed aid recipient — someone who has been approved and enrolled in an aid programme. Use this for your beneficiary lists.
#beneficiary +codeUnique ID for this beneficiary#beneficiary +nameFull name of the beneficiary#beneficiary +genderGender of the beneficiary#beneficiary +hhHousehold size#benefitContract +codeID of the aid contract or registration#benefitContract +start +dateDate the aid entitlement started#benefitContract +end +dateDate the aid entitlement endsImpact Report
Aggregated numbers about a crisis — how many people were killed, injured, displaced, or are in need. Use this for situation reports and 5Ws data.
#crisis +nameName of the crisis or emergency#crisis +typeType of crisis (conflict, flood, earthquake, etc.)#affectedTotal number of people affected#affected +inneedPeople in need of humanitarian assistance#affected +displacedInternally displaced persons (IDPs)#affected +refugeeRefugees who have crossed a border#affected +killedConfirmed deaths#affected +injuredPeople injured#affected +targetedPeople targeted for assistanceOrganization
An NGO, UN agency, government body, or any organization involved in the response.
#org +codeShort code for the organization (e.g. NRC, WFP, UNHCR)#org +nameFull name of the organization#org +sectorWhich sector they work in#org +typeNGO, UN, government, donor, etc.Location
Geographic information at any level — from country down to neighbourhood. Use the most specific level available in your data.
#country +nameCountry name (e.g. Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon)#adm1 +nameFirst administrative level — governorate or province#adm2 +nameSecond administrative level — district#city +nameCity or town name#area +nameNeighbourhood or local area#geo +latGPS latitude coordinate#geo +longGPS longitude coordinateAid Item
A specific item being distributed — food, non-food items, medicine, cash vouchers, etc.
#item +codeItem code or SKU#item +nameName of the item (e.g. Food basket, Hygiene kit)#item +typeCategory of item (food, NFI, cash, etc.)#item +unitUnit of measurement (kg, litres, pieces)#item +qQuantity#sector +nameHumanitarian sector (WASH, Shelter, Food Security)#cluster +nameUN cluster coordinating the response for this item