Metadata Creation and Management Software
Computer software to manage and implement metadata standards for an organization are wide-ranging. Various software packages specialize in metadata management or manipulation while others are a segment of a GIS software suite. The list provided her is not an endorsement of any given software, but a list gathered from personal use and other trainer recommendations. When choosing software for an organization there are several factors to consider:
What is the software cost?
cost per seat (annual or lifetime and does it include maintenance?) Do they offer discounts or grant programs?
Is the software a flat file or database system?
Both systems have their strengths, but database systems allow for repeated elements to be stored and retrieved as necessary. This can be a real time saver when producing many metadata.
What file type is the output?
The industry standard is moving to XML, so while a text file is important for interagency interoperability, XML output should be considered an investment for the future.
Metadata software tools
(Adapted from the list compiled by L. Kutner & T. Giles)
| Software Name |
Company/ WebLinks |
Description | Technical Notes |
Profiles/ Extensions |
Comments | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArcCatalog 9.0 |
ESRI www.esri.com |
FGDC-compliant metadata |
Runs on MS Windows NT 4.0 w/Service Pack 6a, Windows 2000, or Windows XP. Recommended system requirements: Pentium, 650 MHz or higher, 256 MB RAM | None | Intuitive windows GUI interface, good built-in help. If you're already using ArcGIS it is very convenient to use. Use of advanced synchronization tools is work around to create template with an existing metadata record. To create metadata record with biological data profiel, start with ArcCatalog, export , import to TKME or SMMS. |
Integral in ArcGIS 9.X Suite pricing. Discounts may apply for federal, state and academic institutions with there are many seats purchased. |
| ArcView 3.X Extension- Metadata Collector v 2.0 | Created by NOAA http://www.csc.noaa.gov/ metadata/download.html |
Has a series of user-friendly windows to creat FGDC metadata. Metadata records are stored as dfb files and the user can import/reuse portions such as citations, contacts, keywords, and attribute domain values. Automatically creates metadat for spatial metadata elements (kprojection, etc.). Creates metadata as text or html. |
Runs with ArcView 3.x | None | Intuitive windows GUI interface, includes help and examples for each metadata section. Good doption for programs that have only ArcView 3.x and do not have the budget to purchase addtional metadata software. |
FREE |
Metavist |
Created by US Forest Service |
Standalone tTool for creating FGDC standard metadata with NBII BDP | standalone | None | Current version does not reuse Sections 8-10, may be added in next update | FREE |
| SMMS Spatial Metadata Management System |
Intergraph http://imgs.intergraph.com /smms/ |
FGDC-compliant metadata editor. Can associate a SMMS metadata record with the actual GIS data layer it describes. Automated capture of spatial metadata elements and list of attributes. Metadata publishing. Can creat metadata temlates and deywords lists, and includes a databas soit can re-use components. Can create user-defined metadata fields | Runds on MS Windows NT or Windows 2000; uses MS Access, SQL Server, or Oracle backend | Biological Data Profile | Intuitive windows GUI interface, good buil-in help with sample metadata. Great ability to create and re-use templates adn components such as contacts and citations. SMMS is currently being used in the USGS FGDC / NBII metadata training workshops.
|
Single copy=$600; Volume discount = ~ $300. |
| TKME | USGS - |
Editor for formal metadata that conforms to the FGDC CSDGM. Closely allied with MP (see list). Multi-lingual-can be configure for french, spanish and indonesian element names. TKME is capable of creating remote sensing metadata.
The capability is not readily |
Runs on MS Windows 95, 98, NT, and 2000. DOS-based tool. | Biological Data Profile (and other extensions such as ESRI metadata components) | Initially takes more effort to figure out how to use the software
(steep learning curve) since it is not a Windows GUI application. Once
you get the hang of TKME it is easy to work in and since it has a large
window in some ways is better for editing long text fields. Suggest
using with hard copy of FGDC standard to help keep track of where you
are and what the required elelments are. Was easily able to import
metadata file originally created in ESRI ARcCatalog and use TKME to
add the biological data profile metadata elements. DOS-based software. Fairly comprehensive instructions available online, and software author (Peter Schweitzer)ver accessible to answer questions. |
FREE |
| Metascribe | NOAA- http://www.csc.noaa.gov /metadata/metascribe/ |
An online, template based, metadata creation and validation tool.
Generates FGDC compliant metadata, deliverable in several formats and methods. |
Requires machine capable of running Internet browser such as Explorer or Firefox | None | Creating a template can be cumbersome and available tool types may not handle needs (e.g. no multi-select list box). Your template must be resubmitted to the server for each record yo wish to generate. Metadata will be FGDC compliant when finished-cannot download the record from server until it is. | FREE |
| CNS Chew and spit |
USGS - http://geology.usgs.gov /tools/metadata/tools /doc/cns.html |
Metadata formatting tool. Pre-parser for formal metadat to convert
records that cannot be parsed by MP (see list) into records that can
be parsed by MP. |
Runs on MS-DOS MS Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 (386 required) or UNIX (DG/UX, HP/UX, and Linux). | Biological Data Profile (must be configured for BDP and other extensions) | VERY helpful tool to help massage metadat into correct format. DOS-based software. Fairly comprehensive instructions available online, and software author (Peter Schweitzer) ver accessible to answer questions. |
FREE |
| MP - Metadata Parser |
USGS- http://eology.usgs.gov /tools/metadata/tools /doc/mp.html |
Metadata quality control and output configuration tool. Compiler
to parse formal metadata, checking the syntax against the FGDC CSDGM
and generating output suitable for viewing with a web browser or text
editor; multilingual-can be configured for french, spanish and indonesian
element names. |
Runs on MP-DOS MS Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000 (386 required) or UNIX (DG/UX, HP/UX, and Linux). | Biological Data Profile (must be configured for BDP and other extensions) | VERY helpful tool to quality control metdata, ensuring that all of the required elements are present and that elements with restricted values are entered correctly. Also ver useful for generating output in text, HTML, SGML, XML, or DIF. DOS-based software. Fairly comprehensive instructions available online, and software author (Peter Schweitzer) ver accessible to answer |
FREE |
| MPBatch | Intergraph http://ingssupport. intergraph.com/Tools.asp |
A Windows shell to run the CNS & MP tools for those who don't like DOS | Windows 98, NT, XP | Biological Data Profile (CNS and MP must also be configured for BDP and other extensions) | Designed to be used with CNS and MP, but gives them a standard Windows look and feel. Straight forward and easy to use. | FREE |
(NOTE: THESE SOFTWARE PACKAGES PRESENTED HERE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY, NOT AS AN ENDORSEMENT. THIS MAY NOT BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF AVAILABLE SOFTWARE. )
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