This is a listing of good resources for learning about XBRL.  This information was accumulated over the years as part of creating XBRL taxonomies and XBRL instances (US GAAP and IFRS financial reporting), testing them to see how they worked, whether they met the results which were trying to be achieved. These examples will help you understand how XBRL works and build quality XBRL taxonomies and XBRL instances. Each provides taxonomies, instances, documentation and other information helpful to those learning about XBRL.

To read about the evolution of these “patterns”, please visit this web page Modeling Business Information Using XBRL: the Evolution of Patterns: http://www.xbrlsite.com/EvolutionOfPatterns-2009-01-08.htm.

XBRL Instances and XBRL Taxonomies for Learning, Samples, Examples, Demonstration and Testing:

These contain various sets of XBRL instances and XBRL taxonomies which can be used for learning about XBRL, demonstrating software, testing, etc.  These XBRL instances and XBRL taxonomies are small, each focusing on making specific points or showing specific things.

While the best samples and examples are the newer ones (newest date on the list), each offers some unique insight into XBRL. Each set builds on the older versions.

*** Best ***

SEC Logical Model Based Examples/Samples (2011): http://www.xbrlsite.com/DigitalFinancialReporting/

Documentation: http://xbrl.squarespace.com/digital-financial-reporting/

Metapatterns: http://www.xbrlsite.com/DigitalFinancialReporting/Metapatterns/2011-07-15/Index.html

Business Use Cases: http://www.xbrlsite.com/DigitalFinancialReporting/BusinessUseCases/2011-07-15/Index.html

Comprehensive Example: http://www.xbrlsite.com/DigitalFinancialReporting/ComprehensiveExample/2011-07-15/Index.html

SEC XBRL Filings / US GAAP Taxonomy Reporting (2010): http://www.xbrlsite.com/US-GAAP

Metapatterns: http://www.xbrlsite.com/US-GAAP/Metapatterns/2010-09-30/

Business Use Cases: Coming soon!

Basic Example: http://www.xbrlsite.com/US-GAAP/BasicExample/2010-09-30/Landing.html

Model SEC XBRL Filing: http://www.xbrlsite.com/US-GAAP/Models/2010-11-01/BasicFinancialLeverageXBRL/Landing.html

Business Reporting Logical Model (2010): http://www.xbrlsite.com/Patterns/2010-08-01/Index.html

Metapatterns: http://www.xbrlsite.com/Metapatterns/2010-08-01/Matrix.html

Business Use Cases: http://www.xbrlsite.com/Patterns/2010-08-01/Matrix.html

Basic Example: http://www.xbrlsite.com/Examples/BasicExample/2010-08-01/Matrix.html

Comprehensive Example: http://www.xbrlsite.com/Examples/ComprehensiveExample/2010-08-01/Matrix.html

XBRLS Business Use Cases (2008): (Good examples by obsolete, use Business Reporting Logical Model)

Patterns Documentation: http://xbrl.squarespace.com/storage/xbrls/XBRLS-BusinessUseCases-2008-04-25.pdf

File Set for Download: http://xbrl.squarespace.com/storage/xbrls/XBRLS-BusinessUseCases-2008-04-18.zip

Human browsing: http://www.xbrlsite.com/Patterns/2008-04-18/Viewer.htm

RSS Feed: http://www.xbrlsite.com/Patterns/2008-04-18/rss.xml

USFRTF Patterns (2007): (Good examples by obsolete, use Business Reporting Logical Model)

Patterns Documentation: http://www.xbrl.org/us/USFRTF/USFRTF-PatternsGuide-PWD-2007-04-17.doc

File Set for Download: http://www.xbrl.org/us/USFRTF/USFRTF-PatternsFiles-PWD-2007-04-17.zip

Human browsing: http://www.xbrlsite.com/patterns/usfrtf/viewer.htm

RSS Feed: http://www.xbrlsite.com/patterns/usfrtf/rss.xml

Patterns Document (2005): (Good examples by obsolete, use Business Reporting Logical Model)

Patterns Documentation: http://frux.wikispaces.com/space/showimage/Chapter-11-ModelingFinancialReportingConcepts.pdf

File Set for Download: http://xbrl.squarespace.com/storage/Patterns-2005-07-07.zip

Human browsing: http://www.xbrlsite.com/patterns/2005-07-07/Viewer.htm

RSS feed: http://www.xbrlsite.com/Patterns/2005-07-07/rss.xml

Other Patterns Related Information:

RSS Feed to read all of these XBRL taxonomies and XBRL instances: http://www.xbrlsite.com/rss.xml

US GAAP Taxonomy Style Guide: http://www.xbrl.org/us/usfrtf/XBRL-StyleGuide-RECOMMENDATION-2007-03-08.doc

US GAAP Taxonomy Architecture: http://xbrl.us/Documents/SECOFM-USGAAPT-Architecture-20080428.pdf

XBRLS Background Information: http://xbrl.squarespace.com/storage/xbrls/XBRLS-How-simpler-can-be-better-2008-03-11.pdf

Comprehensive Example (2008-04-18): http://www.xbrlsite.com/examples/comprehensiveexample/2008-04-18