1. Based on material developed by Samantha Romanello and
How to Create EML Packages Using Morpho and Store them in an ILTER Metacat
Kristin Vanderbilt
Based on material developed by Samantha Romanello and
Will Tyburczy

2. What is EML? It’s a metadata standard developed by ecologists
EML is a structured format for metadata written in XML

3. EML (Ecological Metadata Language) looks like this:

4. EML: Is not meant for humans to read!
Captures metadata in a structurerd XML format that computers can easily read.
EML from many sites can be put into a single database (a Metacat) so that cross-site searches for data can be done

5. EML EML Israel LTER Metacat SAEON Metacat JaLTER Metacat EML Brazil
All ILTER Metacats will be linked, so all metadata can be accessed from a single web page
Brazil
Metacat
TERN
Metacat
EML US
LTER
Metacat
EML

6. Search Page for US LTER Metacat
A Similar Web Page will be built to search all ILTER metadata
This Web Page searches the US LTER Metacat

7. ILTER Metadata Recommendations
At the 2008 ILTER meeting in Slovakia, the ILTER voted to adopt EML as the ILTER Metadata Standard
It was agreed that ILTER members would create ‘Discovery Level EML’ and submit the EML to network metadata caches (known as Metacats)

8. ILTER Metadata
ILTER EML packages must have the following elements (in English):
Title
Owner
Abstract
Keywords
Package-ID (A unique identifier for the EML package)
There are many other elements, but only these five are required by the ILTER

9. These Slides Show:
How to create an EML data package using the Morpho Metadata Editor
How to insert that EML data package into an ILTER Metacat
NOTE: A “data package” is a file that contains metadata as EML and may also contain data

10. What is Morpho?
It provides a way for ecologists to share data by defining a common structure to document their data
It uses an XML format to create the common structure.
So, basically, Morpho is an XML editor

11. What can Morpho do? Create EML data packages
Import data in to a data package
Save data packages – both locally and over the network
Search for data packages – both locally and over the network
Open and edit data packages
Export data packages

12. Let’s get started making a Discovery Level EML Document

13. First, Register with KNB (Knowledge Network for Biocomplexity)
KNB developed Morpho
By registering with KNB, you can search data in the KNB Metacat and also save your metadata to a Metacat
Registration is necessary in order to use Morpho

14. Register with KNB
To begin, register as a user at the KNB site
Scroll down the page until you find the login & registration box in lower left of the page
Click on the link ‘create a new account’
Note some of you may already have account. User name is usually first initial and last name. The password can be anything
Write down your username, organization and password as you will use this in Morpho. Use ‘LTER’ as your organization.

15. Downloading & Installing Morpho
Next go to to download the most recent version of Morpho (1.8.0).
There is an installer that will walk you through the installation.

16. Opening Morpho
Once you have installed Morpho. Locate Morpho in your program file and start the application.

17. Opening Morpho
When you open Morpho for the first time, you will see a New Profile window.

18. Creating a profile Enter a name for the profile Enter your name
Suggested: first initial and last name (kvanderbilt)
Enter your name
Hit “Next”

19. Creating a profile
Enter the username and affiliation of your KNB account
This is the same username and organization you created on the KNB site
Hit “Next”

20. Creating a profile Select an identifier prefix Hit “Finished”
Usually the same as your account username
Used as the first part of the name of your data packages
Hit “Finished”

21. Network Login A screen will open asking you for your password.
This is the same password that you created on the KNB site
By logging in, you can search for data in a Metacat through Morpho and you can contribute your metadata to a Metacat
If you don’t login (Skip Login), your metadata is stored locally

22. The main window All controls are accessible via the menu bar
Butterfly icon indicates that program is processing

23. The main window All controls accessible via the menu bar
Butterfly icon indicates that program is processing

24. Logging in You can see your network status in two places
The main window
The login status icon on the lower right

25. Logging in You can see your network status in two places
The main window
The login status icon on the lower right

26. Try a search for data packages:

27. Searching for data packages
You can search on your local computer or on the network (which defaults to the KNB Metacat)
You can search multiple terms using “More”
You can combine subject search with taxonomic and spatial constraints

28. Searching for data packages
You can search on local computer or network (which defaults to the KNB Metacat)
You can search multiple terms using “More”
You can combine subject search with taxonomic and spatial constraints

29. Searching for data packages
Search on local disks or network
Search multiple terms using “More”
You can combine a subject search with taxonomic and spatial constraints

30. Searching for data packages
Select taxonomic rank and enter name
Can search multiple taxa using “More”

31. Searching for data packages
Select taxonomic rank and enter name
You can search multiple taxa using “More”

32. Searching for data packages: by location
Select area of interest by moving box or enter coordinates by hand
Zoom in to allow greater precision using the graphical box

33. Searching for data packages
Select area of interest by moving box or enter coordinates by hand
Zoom in to allow greater precision using the graphical box

34. Searching for data packages
Data packages matching criteria are listed by last modification date
Red icon indicates the package includes data table level EML
Double click a package to open it

35. Searching for data packages
Data packages matching criteria are listed by last modification date
Red icon indicates the package includes data table level EML
Double click a package to open it

36. Searching for data packages
Data packages matching criteria are listed by last modification date
Red icon indicates the package includes data table level EML
Double click a package to open it

37. Start the Wizard to Create EML

38. Creating a data package: The Data Package Wizard
Step-by-step interface for creating valid EML documents
Required elements are listed in RED
After creating documents, the interface for the various sections is reachable via the “Documentation” menu

39. Creating a data package: The Data Package Wizard
Step-by-step interface for creating valid EML documents
Required elements are listed in RED
After creating documents, the interface for the various sections is reachable via the “Documentation” menu

40. Editing Data Packages: Title and Abstract
Enter a descriptive title
Briefly describe the content and purpose of the data in the abstract

41. Editing Data Packages: Title and Abstract
Enter a descriptive title
Briefly describe the content and purpose of the data in the abstract (note: abstract is not required)

42. Editing Data Packages: Keywords
Hit “Add” to enter keywords (required)

43. Use the first radio button when adding keywords
Hit ‘Add’ and enter a keyword in the space provided.
To edit or delete existing keywords, select them and hit the ‘Delete’ button

44. Editing Data Packages: Data Set Owner
To add an owner, hit “Add” (required)
To edit or delete an owner, select the listing, then hit the appropriate button

45. Editing Data Packages: Data Set Owner
To add an owner, hit “Add” (required)
To edit or delete an owner, select the listing, then hit the appropriate button

46. Editing Data Packages: Data Set Owner
Enter in the information for the owner, then hit “OK”
You have to enter one of the red-labeled entities: either enter Last Name, Organization (e.g., Sevilleta LTER) or Position Name (e.g., Sevilleta IM)

47. Editing Data Packages: Contact Person
Works similarly to data set owners
To add a contact, hit “Add”

48. Editing Data Packages: Contact Person
You can select a previous entry in the data package to specify the same person
You can also specify a person from another data package

49. Editing Data Packages: Contact Person
You can select a previous entry in the data package to specify the same person
You can also specify a person from another data package

50. Editing Data Packages: Contact Person
To select an entry from another data package:
select the package on the left
then the contact on the right

51. Editing Data Packages: Contact Person
To select an entry from another data package:
select the package on the left
then the contact on the right

52. You have completed a basic EML document
At this point, you have entered enough information to generate a discovery-level EML document.
You can either click “next” on all the rest of the windows in the Wizard, or you can continue to add more detail to your metadata.
If you are done entering metadata, then go to slide 83

53. Editing Data Packages: Associated Parties
Works similarly to entering owners and contacts

54. Editing Data Packages: Associated Parties
Works similarly to entering owners and contacts
Can enter “Role” by hand or select from the drop down list

55. Editing Data Packages: Research Project
Check the box if the dataset is part of a larger research project
This is a subjective call, so use it when you feel it is appropriate (For instance, the Sevilleta Warming Study is part of the larger Sevilleta LTER program)

56. Editing Data Packages: Research Project
Enter the information about the research project

57. Editing Data Packages: Usage Rights
Describe usage restrictions for the dataset, if any

58. Editing Data Packages: Spatial Coverage
To add an area of spatial coverage to the data, hit “Add”

59. Editing Data Packages: Spatial Coverage
Enter a description for the area
There are many ways to select the area
Enter coordinates manually
Select from list
Box Tool
Point Tool

60. Editing Data Packages: Spatial Coverage
Enter a description for the area
Many ways to select the area
Enter coordinates manually
Select from list
Box Tool
Point Tool

61. Editing Data Packages: Spatial Coverage
Enter a description for the area
Many ways to select the area
Enter coordinates manually
Select from list
Box Tool
Point Tool

62. Editing Data Packages: Spatial Coverage
Enter a description for the area
Many ways to select the area
Enter coordinates manually
Select from list
Box Tool
Point Tool

63. Editing Data Packages: Spatial Coverage
Enter a description for the area
Many ways to select the area
Enter coordinates manually
Select from list
Box Tool
Point Tool

64. Editing Data Packages: Temporal Coverage
To add a new temporal coverage, hit “Add”

65. Editing Data Packages: Temporal Coverage
Enter in the date and hit “OK” if your data were collected on a single day
Alternatively, you can enter a range of coverage

66. Editing Data Packages: Temporal Coverage
Enter in the date and hit “OK”
Alternatively, you can enter a range of coverage

67. Editing Data Packages: Taxonomic Coverage
To enter additional taxonomic information, hit “Add” beside the top frame
To enter information above genus level, select the appropriate entry and hit “Edit”

68. Editing Data Packages: Taxonomic Coverage
To enter additional taxonomic information, hit “Add” beside the top frame
To enter information above genus level, select the appropriate entry and hit “Edit”

69. Editing Data Packages: Taxonomic Coverage
Enter in the names and common names for each rank
Ranks can be added, deleted, or modified as appropriate

70. Editing Data Packages: Taxonomic Coverage
Enter in the names and common names for each rank
Ranks can be added, deleted, or modified as appropriate

71. Editing Data Packages: Taxonomic Coverage
To enter a classification reference (e.g. Lights Manual), hit “Add” under “Classification System”

72. Editing Data Packages: Taxonomic Coverage
Fill in the information for the reference

73. Editing Data Packages: Methods
Enter a description for the method of sampling and the extent of the study
To enter a new step in the methods, hit “Add”

74. Editing Data Packages: Methods
Enter a description for the method of sampling and the extent of the study
To enter a new step in the methods, hit “Add”

75. Editing Data Packages: Methods
Fill in the description of the method

76. Editing Data Packages: Access Rights
Control who is allowed to view, edit, delete, and change access rights to your data package
Only applies to copies saved on the network
anyone can view and edit data packages saved on the local machine

77. Editing Data Packages: Access Rights
Select whether to give read access to the public
To add an additional access privilege or restriction, hit “Add”

78. Editing Data Packages: Access Rights
Select whether to give read access to the public
To add an additional access privilege or restriction, hit “Add”

79. Editing Data Packages: Access Rights
Click “Refresh the user list…”
Select the user or group to give special access rules
Select “Allow” or “Deny”
Select the type of access

80. Editing Data Packages: Access Rights
Click “Refresh the user list…”
Select the user or group to give special access rules
Select “Allow” or “Deny”
Select the type of access

81. Editing Data Packages: Access Rights
Click “Refresh the user list…”
Select the user or group to give special access rules
Select “Allow” or “Deny”
Select the type of access

82. Editing Data Packages: Access Rights
Click “Refresh the user list…”
Select the user or group to give special access rules
Select “Allow” or “Deny”
Select the type of access

83. Click ‘Finish’ to finish entering metadata

84. After you click ‘finish’, you will see your metadata:

85. Save your metadata

86. Saving Data: Local Select “Save…” from the “File” Menu
Select “Save Locally” from the pop-up window, then deselect “Save to Network” if necessary

87. Saving Data: Local
You should see “local” and a computer icon in the upper right hand corner below the butterfly

88. Saving Data: Network
Now you will save your EML documents to your regional networks.
Procedures for doing this differ between regions, as shown in next slides.

89. Save EML document to your ILTER Regional Metacat: Asia
In the EAP-ILTER, the regional metacat is hosted by TERN. Please contact Sheng-Shan Lu at The URL for the Asia metacat is:

90. Save EML document to your ILTER Regional Metacat: Africa
In Africa, the ELTOSA regional Metacat is hosted by SAEON. Please contact Victoria Goodall at and she will arrange a username and password for you. You will then be able to upload your EML to

91. Save EML document to your ILTER Regional Metacat: Europe
The LTER Europe metacat is hosted by LTER Israel. To submit documents, please contact David Blankman at

92. Save EML document to your ILTER Regional Metacat: Americas
If you are part of the Americas regional LTER, you can submit your to the LTER Metacat. Please contact Kristin Vanderbilt at for instructions.