Arc/Info 8’s Metadata Collection tool:

ArcCatalogA user’s perspective

By Frank Roberts

Coeur d’Alene Tribe GIS

Thanks to Bob Booth of ESRI

Bob is one of the main players in design of the metadata portion of Arc

Catalog, and provided some of the graphics for this presentation.

What is Arc Catalog?

• Arc Catalog is the GIS data management tool in ArcInfo that has two primary visual components—a tree view that displays the list of available folders and a views panel that provides four different methods of examining data.

Arc Catalog, Content

Arc Catalog, Preview

Arc Catalog, Metadata

Cool Stuff about ArcCatalog Metadata

•It is built to make viewing metadata very handy.•It allows you to export the data in several different formats.•It can import metadata.•It stores the metadata internally in the GIS coverage or grid.•It has very nice users input screen (from SMMS Version 2)

Where is metadata stored?Where is metadata stored?

• All data types and containers have metadata….

• Coverages: XML file in coverage folder

• Shape files & images: XML file

• Folders & workspaces: metadata.xml file

• Geodatabase data: XML in the database

• Includes attached documents, e.g. Word.

• All data types and containers have metadata….

• Coverages: XML file in coverage folder

• Shape files & images: XML file

• Folders & workspaces: metadata.xml file

• Geodatabase data: XML in the database

• Includes attached documents, e.g. Word.

Metadata Storage Techniques

•The metadata is stored (in coverages and grids) inside the coverage folder. For shape files and images the metadata is stored as an additional file.

What’s an XML file?

•Extended Markup Language (XML) •HTML on steroids•I think of XML like a database•Typically composed of 2 files.

• XML: Data file• XSL: Style Sheet

•XML documentation schemata can be built to conform to organizational documentation standards. •For more info see: http://www.xmlinfo.com/

How XML Works

.xml.xml

Content

.dtd.dtd

Document TypeDefinition

Defines how the document is structured

.xsl.xsl

Stylesheet

Defines how the document is displayed

Why XMLWhy XML

• Structured, just like metadata

• Emerging, open industry standard

• Oriented to publishing, sharing, and interchange, especially using Internet

• Multiple ways of viewing

• Multiple viewers

• Multiple ways of editing/updating

• Structured, just like metadata

• Emerging, open industry standard

• Oriented to publishing, sharing, and interchange, especially using Internet

• Multiple ways of viewing

• Multiple viewers

• Multiple ways of editing/updating

GIS userGIS user

GIS Professional

GIS userGIS user

Engineering user

GIS userGIS user

Kiosk user

Viewing MetadataViewing Metadata

Different Views of the Same XML file

Internet Explorer 5.0

Internet Explorer 5.0 OtherOtherNetscape

5.0Netscape

5.0Arc 8.0Arc 8.0

Metadata Viewers

Metadata Viewers

Creating metadataCreating metadata• Choose dataset and click Metadata tab…

• Metadata is automatically created if it doesn’t exist already.

• Some metadata is obtained from the data automatically (“harvested”).

• You can control how frequently metadata is harvested: – automatic time interval – manually

• Choose dataset and click Metadata tab…

• Metadata is automatically created if it doesn’t exist already.

• Some metadata is obtained from the data automatically (“harvested”).

• You can control how frequently metadata is harvested: – automatic time interval – manually

Editing MetadataEditing

MetadataCustom

editors (VB)

Custom editors (VB)

Third party editors

Third party editors

Other editors in the box

Other editors in the box

FGDC editorFGDC editor

ApplicationsApplications

Choose which metadata editor you want to get when the Edit button is pressed

User input screen

GIS userGIS user

GIS Professional

GIS userGIS user

Engineering user

GIS userGIS user

Data entry

Editing MetadataEditing

Metadata

Any files can be added as attachments and stored in the metadata

Metadata toolbar

Choose how metadata will be displayed

Edit metadata

Attach documents

Update

Import utility

Export Utility

To do listTo do list• Import existing FGDC HTML metadata,

– Done for Arc 8.1

• Import DOCUMENT.AML metadata,

– workaround: create metadata file, run file through CNS and then MP

• “Interview” style editor

– currently working on prototype

• Search and publishing mechanism

– Done for Arc 8.1

• Update metadata during geoprocessing

– Not attempted yet

• Processing history automation

– Not attempted yet

• Import existing FGDC HTML metadata,

– Done for Arc 8.1

• Import DOCUMENT.AML metadata,

– workaround: create metadata file, run file through CNS and then MP

• “Interview” style editor

– currently working on prototype

• Search and publishing mechanism

– Done for Arc 8.1

• Update metadata during geoprocessing

– Not attempted yet

• Processing history automation

– Not attempted yet

DTD used in Arc 8.0DTD used in Arc 8.0

http://www.esri.com/metadata/esriprof80.dtd

Deficiencies in Arc Catalog

• No way to search all metadata

• No way to create metadata on the fly for the system

• Contact information not default-able

• Potential problem with non ArcUsers reading the xml file.

Questions?

Thanks for listening!

Feel free to Email me at:

froberts@dmi.net