The desktop Dataset Catalog is a tool for keeping an inventory of and providing abbreviated metadata ("metadata lite") about a variety of natural resource data sets, from physical files and photographs to digital scientific and spatial data. The Federal government requires that spatial data have fully FGDC-compliant metadata, but for non-spatial data the Dataset Catalog provides a means for parks to keep an inventory of various data files, notebooks of field data forms, photographs, etc. The one-page input and report forms provide a straightforward way to document all types of resource data that may or may not meet formal metadata standards. As with other applications available from the Inventory and Monitoring Program, the desktop version of the Dataset Catalog is available through a website and can be linked to the desktop versions of NPSpecies (the Biological Inventory database) and NatureBib (the NPS Bibliographic Inventory database).

The purpose of the Dataset Catalog is to provide a single source for information about existing data on parks' natural and cultural resources and to combine the individual databases into a Service-wide catalog of park-based data. The current version of the Dataset Catalog desktop consists of a relational database that can be shared among NPS units. The Dataset Catalog is not intended to be an exhaustive metadata listing but a basis for implementing comprehensive metadata standards by generating minimal metadata. The Dataset Catalog desktop integrates with the master online metadata database, the NR-GIS Data Store. This integration results in an NPS Integrated Metadata System for spatial and natural resources metadata.

This latest version of the Dataset Catalog desktop application (v.3, released 06/30/2005) has many new features designed to make the creation and management of park and network metadata easier. New and experienced users are encouraged to read the help file. Here is a quick list of some of the new features:

• Exporting records in XML format for interchange with the on-line NR-GIS Data Store application, the NPS Metadata Tools and Editor or with ArcCatalog.
• Completely revised help documentation including a training exercise
• Refined Source Information and Source Citation editing operations
• Correction of ghost records in Citations and in Table/ Layer source records
• Two quick-browse options to Browse by Unit and Browse by Unit and Keyword
• Address labels, address book, and phone book reports

New development on the Dataset Catalog desktop application ceases with version 3. Bug-fixes and back-end file conversion support will continue.

1) Click the link below to download the file DCAT_v3Install.zip. A 'File Download' window will appear. Be sure that 'Save program to disk' is selected and then click 'OK'. Use the Save As window to browse to a directory of your choice on your computer or network and click 'Save'. Depending on your internet connection speed, the download may take several minutes or only a few seconds.

2) Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the file DCAT_v3Install.zip in the directory you specified and double-click the DCAT_v3Install.zip file to extract the Dataset Catalog application datacat.exe executable file. Double-click this executable file to install the Dataset Catalog application and associated files. This will give you the option of creating the following directory structure on your hard drive: \Temp\Datacat\ (e.g. C:\Temp\Datacat\) containing the Dataset Catalog and associated files or browsing to a different directory to download the files. After selecting your download directory, unzip your files. You can move the Datacat folder or its contents to another location if you like.

3) DCAT_v3Install.zip contains three Access database (.mdb) files, three help (.hlp) files and the readme file INSTALL3.doc. To start using the Dataset Catalog, open INSTALL3.doc and follow the instructions given there for getting started.