Skip to main content

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.
Prices mentioned are based on on-site training at CBS, unless otherwise mentioned. Information on Online or Hybrid Training can be found below.

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 scheduled from March 25 through 28, 2024 as an online training via Zoom.

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 with Windows computers
      - No prior Blaise experience required

Blaise 5 Layout Training

Module RE01 from the Blaise 5 Layout training is currently scheduled to take place on February 5 and 6, 2024.

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 €1750.

  • BB02 – New in Blaise 5 for Blaise 4 Programmers (1 day) - € 350
    BB02 is currently not scheduled.

    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) - € 700
    LD01 is currently not scheduled.

    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) - € 700
    RE01 is currently scheduled for 5-6 February, 2024. It will be taught via Zoom.

    The third module describes the more advanced layout options. How to change default templates and how to create your own templates. It is mostly 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. It is also useful for people who need to work with CMA, so they can understand how and where to make changes if necessary.

  • MAN01 – Blaise 5 Manipula (1.5 day) - € 525
    This training 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 to 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

Blaise 5 cma Training

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

Blaise 5 CMA Training is a 1-day training course for developers who need to learn how to set up CMA for interviewers.
CMA is a tool that is shipped with Blaise which allows interviewers to manage cases. This course also talks about the CPI tool.
The CMA Admin Tool is a tool that is shipped with Blaise which allows supervisors to manage cases. The Admin Tool is for supervisors.

  • CMA01 – Case Management Application (CMA) (0,75 day) - € 265
    This course teaches you how to set up and use our Case Management Application. Interviewers will use this in the field to keep track of their caseload.

    This course covers the following topics:
      - What is CMA? How to run it?
      - Compiling and deploying CMA
      - Installing the DepApp
      - Overview of CMA interfaces
      - CMA Settings
      - Customizing CMA
      * adding custom columns
      * enabling/disabling features
      * survey specific settings
      * translating CMA
      * etc.
      - Survey requirements for CMA
      - Short overview of the CPI App (Consumer Price Index App)
    Prerequisites for this module are:
      - Manipula
  • CMA02 – Case Management Application Admin Tool (0,25 day) - € 85
    This course teaches you how to set up the CMA Admin Tool and how to use it. It is meant for supervisors.

    This course covers the following topics:
      - CMA Admin Tool Overview
      - Roles in the interview process
      * Interviewer
      * Supervisor
      * Manager
      * Administrator
      - Compiling and deploying the Admin Tool
      - Admin Tool databases
      * UserInfo
      * ManageInfo
      - Functionality present for each role
      * Supervisor
      * Manager
      * Administrator
      - One-step vs. Two-step transfers
      - Admin-specific settings
    Prerequisites for this module are:
      - Manipula


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.  If you need an invitation letter for a VISA application, you can This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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, usually from 9:00-13:00 CET/CEST (but times can be adjusted for timezones if necessary). The teacher will explain the slides and show some samples. You wil do the exercises by yourself in between sessions. Participants are requested to leave their video on and their microphone off if possible during the course. They are free to unmute themselves if they want to ask a question.

The fee for the online course is €145 per person per 4-hour Zoom session.

Hybrid training

Hybrid training means that you are invited to join us at Statistics Netherlands if you prefer in-person training, or if you don’t have the budget, time or inclination to come here, you can follow the training via Zoom. Given that it’s partly a physical training, the training will be full days and exercises will be done directly after the topic has been explained. Personal help via Zoom will be limited in this set-up, but you are of course encouraged to ask questions. The costs for the course will be the costs for on-site training at CBS.

Gaining deeper understanding