Metadata Creation and Validation Tools of the Trade

Metadata Tools Some available tools for metadata creation, validation, and publication. CNS and MP “Chew ‘n spit,” checks and corrects structural errors, and “Metadata Parser”, which checks for errors in element compliance. Template tools CSC’s metaScribe create large numbers of similar records. ArcView Tools Extension for ArcView 3.x ArcCatalog for ArcGIS 8.x TKME Text editor used for metadata entry.

TKME, CNS and MP are FREE downloads! gov/tools/metadata

Tools of the Trade TKME - An editor for formal metadata, TKME is intended to simplify the process of creating metadata that conform to the Standard. - Hierarchical structure - Proper arrangement Maintains: of elements

Tools of the Trade - How Tkme works “Add” element names from dropdown menu When right side turns white, you know to input info (import, cut & paste, etc.)

Tools of the Trade - How Tkme works Help Menu: - Version (how to use, helpful hints - Element (definition of element) - Output (final output look) - Fonts (choose different fonts Help Menu

Tools of the Trade CNS CNS (“Chew ‘n Spit”) - Pre-parser for formal metadata designed to help you convert records that cannot be parsed by mp, into records that can

Tools of the Trade Assumptions by CNS: The input_file has metadata elements identified by name which is the first alphabetic string of characters on the line. CNS does NOT assume that you use underscores in the standard element names (i.e. Indentification_Information). You may use non-standard names (aliases) for standard elements and/or spaces (i.e. Spatial_Domain as Geographic Extent). NO indentation required

Tools of the Trade - How CNS works Builds a “parse tree” based on your input_file Establishes parent/child relationships Creates leftovers and info_files

Tools of the Trade – How CNS works Options : -v -c config_file -i info_file -a aliases -e leftovers -o output_file Usage C:>\cns [options] input_file

Now it’s your turn... USER REVISION!! You must compare the output files generated by CNS to your original input files, to determine if CNS properly transferred your information. Tools of the Trade - CNS CNS should only be used where metadata are not properly indented or if the element tags happen to include numbers on them!

Tools of the Trade - MP MP (Metadata Parser) - A compiler to parse formal metadata, checking the syntax against the FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata and generating output suitable for viewing with a web browser or text editor. Options: -c config-file -l language-code -e error-file -t text-file -h html-file -f faq-file -s sgml-file -x xml-file -d dif-file -fixdoc Usage C:>\mp [options] input_file

Tools of the Trade – How MP works C:>\mp [options] input_file (Note- input_file for MP =.out file from CNS) MP generates error_file and the output format you specify (.txt,.html,.xml, etc.)

Tools of the Trade – How MP works Correcting Errors Generated with MP All errors must be fixed in the original metadata record (warnings don’t count) Errors output in numbered list – how to locate these in your record? Open DOS window and edit the file View the CNS output file, “Find” in WordPad Use a text editor (Ultra Edit, Crimson Editor) open.err file and input file ESRI software Fix errors, run through MP again

Tools of the Trade - MP Text-t tfile HTML-h hfile FAQ/HTML-f ffile SGML-s sfile XML-x xfile DIF-d dfile OutputCommand

Tools of the Trade - MP Examples of commands for MP: 1.mp charts.met –e charts.err A report of errors is written to the file charts.err 2.mp charts.met –e charts.err –h charts.html In addition to the error file charts.err, an outline style HTML page is created called charts.html

Example of HTML style page created by MP

Example of FAQ-style HTML page created by mp Remember “Metadata in Plain Language”... ?

Tools of the Trade Diagram of MP’s function - Peter Schweitzer, USGS

Tools of the Trade NOAA’s CSC: ArcView® Metadata Collector v2.0 Extension

Tool Time The ArcView® Metadata Collection Tool was developed by CSC in ArcView using Avenue® scripting language. This tool collects and compiles FGDC- compliant metadata for ARC/INFO coverage's, shapefiles, grids and supported image formats. NOAA CSC ArcView ® Metadata Collector

Tools of the Trade ESRI’s ArcGIS 8.x: ArcCatalog

Tools of the Trade Intergraph’s MP Batch Check multiple records at one time for CNS and MP compliance SMMS Metadata Software Variety of metadata tools (but it cost) > Free Utilities/Tools

Tools of the Trade NPS Metadata Tools/Extensions - ArcGIS ESRI Metadata Customizations - ArcCatalog extension; 5 new buttons (Mp, editor, organizational, input/export capabilities) - Spell checker: understands element names, underscores - Advanced synchronization: turn on/off different sections so it’s not “automatically updated” (Entity & Attributes)

Tool Time NOAA CSC’s MetaScribe A template driven tool created to reduce the labor required to produce FGDC compliant metadata Used for large data sets that have similar content and very few fields changing from one record to the next

Tool Time Creating this template using MetaScribe, would produce this data page.

Tools of the Trade NBII Biological Data Profile Remote Sensing Extension FGDC Profiles and Extensions to the CSDGM Shoreline Data Profile

Kim Owens NOAA National Ocean Service