Metadata Tools - Extension for ArcGIS

Overview

Managing metadata can be a daunting task. With the proliferation of GIS data, however, the need to effectively document and track this data is more important than ever. While this task in considerably easier in ArcGIS's ArcCatalog, there are still a limited number of tools for managing large sets of metadata. The NPS Metadata Tools Extension expands on these tools:

Tools

Parsing

Use MP (USGS's metadata parser) within ArcCatalog to examine metadata errors and use extensions to the FGDC standard. Create an HTML version of the syntax error file to ease correcting errors.

Import metadata

Batch import from SGML or text metadata files or from XML templates. 

Export metadata

Export metadata to SGML, text, HTML, or XML using ArcCatalog's or MP's exporter. NOTE: Use the Parse with MP tool for creating HTML pages to post to the NPS GIS Clearinghouse.

Fix ArcGIS 8.x errors

Fixes several ArcGIS 8.x metadata errors including table attributes.

Other

Search metadata fields easily.

Spell check metadata using Word's spellchecker.
Create an Access database of summary metadata.
Batch import E00 files.
Import, view, and export NBII compliant metadata.
Manually edit XML within a personal geodatabase.

Overall, the extension helps importing existing and legacy metadata into ArcCatalog and getting metadata to parse with MP. View the documentation for the extension.

Guides and FAQs

• Instructions for creating NBII Biological Profile and for using the extension with NBII Biological Profile metadata.
• Please see our MP FAQ for specific issue and questions related to the Parse with MP tool with the extension.

Download

• Download the zip file that contains the install package: NPSMetadata_1.5.1.zip (latest version 1.5.1 posted 10/20/2004). See change log for list of fixes and additions. The source code is also available.
• The extension has been tested and works in ArcGIS versions 8.3 and 9.0.
• The install must be run with an account with administrator priviledges.
• Before running the install program, CLOSE all ArcGIS programs and uninstall any previous version of the NPS Metadata Tools Extension. Additionally, Windows 2000 requires that Service Pack 4 is installed. This extension has not been tested with Windows XP Service Pack 2.
• See the extension documentation for further instructions and details of using the extension's tools.

Questions or feedback

Please contact Eric Compas about any questions or comments about the NPS Metadata Tools Extension.