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ISO Metadata Editor Review
Purpose:
The geospatial metadata community has benefitted greatly from the CSDGM Metadata Editor reviews created by Hugh Phillips and posted at: http://www.sco.wisc.edu/wisclinc/metatool/. As we make the transition toward implementation of an international metadata standard, the community requested that FGDC compile information about applications capable of creating ISO 19115 metadata. The information below was compiled to address that need.
Methods:
The following review of available ISO Metadata Editors was lead by the FGDC Metadata Working Group with special assistance from the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC). The review was compiled in two parts. Part One, the ‘Feature Review’, collected information about editor features and capabilities directly from the application developers. Part Two, the ‘User Review’, collected the observations of volunteers from the FGDC Metadata Working Group as they accessed and applied the editors. All content was collected from, and reviewed by, application developers and users. As such, FGDC is not responsible for inaccuracies or misrepresentations. Furthermore, presentation of this information does not constitute nor imply an endorsement of these applications by the FGDC.
The review was limited to ISO 19115 based metadata editors and does not include applications limited to:
- metadata standards other than ISO 19115
- metadata validation, distribution or other non-editor metadata operations.
Maintenance:
FGDC will provide regular updates to the compiled results as additional editors and features, including support for the ISO 19115 North American Profile (NAP), emerge. Only those ISO Metadata Editors for which the developers provided ‘Feature Review’ information are included. Developers interested in including information about additional editors or users interested in participating in the ‘User Review’ of current or additional editors can contact the FGDC . All ‘User Review’ observations will be moderated to standardize the presentation of content.
Additional Editors Under Review:
Content:
- Feature Review: Operating
Environment
standards supported, interface style, application environment, operating system, data storage format and programming languages - Feature Review: Metadata Development
support features, edit operations, validation operations, customization - Feature Review: Metadata Management
management operations, import/export operations, output formats, publication options - User Review
user observations that may relate to any of the above editor features - Links to Editors
Web addresses for each of the editors - Download PDF of complete review
| OPERATING ENVIRONMENT | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESRI ArcCatalog v9.2 | GeoNetwork v2.2.0 | IME v4.1 | M3CAT v1.6 | MetaD v3.0.4 | MetaGenie v2.0 | Parcs Canada Metadata Editor v1.0 | |
| Supported Standards | The editing environment includes elements from the following ISO standards: | ||||||
| ISO 19115 Geospatial Metadata | partial | complete | complete | complete | partial | partial | partial |
| ISO 19110 Feature Catalog | ■ | ■ | |||||
| ISO 19119 Services | complete | ||||||
| Other Edit Environment Standards | CSDGM, Dublin Core | CSDGM, CSDGM_NBII, GILS, user imported XSD | UK GEMINI | CSDGM, CSDGM_NBII | |||
| Interface | The following interface environments are available for editing: | ||||||
| GUI | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| XML | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Other Interface Environments | |||||||
| Application Environment | The application runs as: | ||||||
| Desktop - Stand Alone | ■ | with embedded web server and dbase | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| Desktop - Network | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Online | ■ | planned | ■ | ||||
| Other Application Environments | gvSig, Talend, ArcCatalog extension | ArcCatalog extension | |||||
| Operating System | The editor operates in the following operating systems: | ||||||
| Windows | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| Linux | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Web-based | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Java-based | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Other Operating Systems | MAC, NIX | IIS | Solaris | ||||
| Data Storage | Metadata is stored in the editor as: | ||||||
| Internal Database (no add't software/license required) | ■ | ■ | Access | ||||
| External Dbase (add't software/license required) | any JDBC - tested with MySQL, Postgresql, Oracle | Oracle, PostGres | Access | any ODBC/ JDBC | |||
| Document | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Other Data Storage Formats: | ArcSDE | MEF (Metadata Exchange Format) file bundles the data, preview images, and other information with the metadata | |||||
| Programming Languages | The source programming languages are: | ||||||
| JAVA | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Javascript | ■ | ||||||
| XSL | ■ | ■ | to translate XML to HTML | ■ | |||
| Open Source | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Proprietary | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Other Programming Languages | C++ | ASP | Visual Basic | ||||
| METADATA DEVELOPMENT | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESRI ArcCatalog v9.2 | GeoNetwork v2.2.0 | IME v4.1 | M3CAT v1.6 | MetaD v3.0.4 | MetaGenie v2.0 | Parcs Canada Metadata Editor v1.0 | |
| Support Features | The following support features are provided: | ||||||
| Drop-down Lists | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| Direct Access to Metadata Element Definitions | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | limited | ■ | |
| Thesauri | ■ | upload thesauri, ability to query ontology service | ■ | ■ | |||
| Spell Check | |||||||
| Interactive Content Guidance | popup messages with definitions, full online help guide integrated | element definition, domain, data type and normative reference viewable in edit interface | tour, FAQ and help | element definitions, faq | online guidelines for producing UK-GEMINI compliant records | ||
| Operating Instruction Manual | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
| Auto-capture Properties from Data Set | ■ | ||||||
| Other Support Features | user manual available as PDF | FAQ available via website; search standard for elements | color coding indicates conditionality; calendar function | downloadable tutorial/user guide | |||
| Edit Operations | The following edit operations can be performed: | ||||||
| Create 'library' of Contacts, Sources, or Other Content | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |||
| Edit Languages | EN | EN, FR, ES, CN (others available but not in web interface) | ES, EN, PL | FR, EN | CA, EN, ES, IT, EL | EN | FR, EN |
| Save Incomplete Record | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Batch Edits | ■ | planned for web interface in future versions | ■ | ■ | |||
| Auto-populate Some Content (e.g. default values, inherit from other records) | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Embed Attachments | ■ | ■ | |||||
| Other Edit Operations | upload and resize preview images, save template metadata records, duplicate metadata records; add, move and delete nodes | duplicate, delete & copy nodes; save profile as Template Text File | identify "parent" metadata record and copy content | ||||
| Validation Operations | The following validation operations can be performed: | ||||||
| Compliance Check | ESRI-ISO | ISO 19115 with 19139 & 19119 | ISO 19115 with 19139 | ISO 19115 | ISO 19115 w/ 19139 | UK-GEMINI | Parcs Canada Core |
| Batch Validate | upon import | ■ | |||||
| Validate Incomplete Record | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | mandatory elements only |
| Other Validation Features | CSDGM, DC & Schematron validation system | user-defined schemas | validation checks for completeness | ||||
| Customization | The user can add and/or create: | ||||||
| Custom Elements | ■ | with XSD | with configuration file | with XSD | ■ | Parks Canada Core Section, users can modify XSD | |
| Custom Domains/Picklists | ■ | with XSD | with codelists configuration file | ■ | Parks Canada picklist and user specified | ||
| Custom Thesaurus | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Custom Templates (add/select elements; standard values) | ■ | ■ | with IME template format | ■ | ■ | ||
| Custom Interface | ■ | with XSLT and CSS | ■ | ■ | |||
| Other Customizations | fonts, warnings, add or modify attributes of xml element with the configuration file | user defined profile, import XSD of other standards | |||||
| METADATA MANAGEMENT | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESRI ArcCatalog v9.2 | GeoNetwork v2.2.0 | IME v4.1 | M3CAT v1.6 | MetaD v3.0.4 | MetaGenie v2.0 | Parcs Canada Metadata Editor v1.0 | |
| Management Operations | The following mangement operations can be performed: | ||||||
| Search | all fields | all fields | all fields | title, keywords | all fields | ||
| Find/Replace | only available through Java call | ||||||
| Indicates Workflow Status (draft, validated, etc.) | ■ | ■ | |||||
| Delete Record | ■ | with automatic backup to MEF | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| Batch Delete | ■ | ■ | |||||
| Other Management Operations | user roles, transfer of metadata ownership, data download email notification, delete incomplete and unpublished records | admin user can 'approve' records | |||||
| Import Operations | The following import operations can be performed: | ||||||
| Import records Formatted to Other Standards | CSDGM | ESRI ISO, user defined XSLT | CSDGM | NGDF | |||
| Batch Import | ■ | from local machine and through WebDAV | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |
| Other Import Operations | import from MEF | zip XML of any supported standards | via user-specified xsl | multiple xml | |||
| Export Operations | The following export operations can be performed: | ||||||
| Export Records to Other Standards | CSDGM | ESRI ISO, user defined XSLT | CSDGM | ||||
| Batch Export | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | database function | ||
| Other Export Operations | export to MEF | ||||||
| Output Format | Records can be output as: | ||||||
| ISO 19139 XML | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |||
| XML (non-19139) | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||
| With User-designated XSLT | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |||
| HTML | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | |||
| Other Output Format | text, RSS, GeoRSS, OpenSearch DC interface | PDF, Template Text File, user-defined profiles | ASCII Text | ||||
| Metadata Publication | Metadata can be published from the editor via: | ||||||
| Z39.50 | ■ | ■ | ■ | ||||
| Web Accessible Folder (WAF) | |||||||
| Open Archive Initiative (OAI) Metadata Service | OAI-PMH server & client | ||||||
| Catalog Service for the Web (CSW) | ■ | ■ | |||||
| Other Publication Service/Protocol | companion application - ArcIMS Metadata Service | RSS, GeoRSS, GEO Opensearch | companion application - MetaManager | companion application www.gigateway.org.uk | |||
| USER COMMENTS | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESRI ArcCatalog v9.2 | GeoNetwork v2.2.0 | IME v4.1 | M3CAT v1.6 | MetaD v3.0.4 | MetaGenie v2.0 | Parcs Canada Metadata Editor v1.0 | |
| Note: Each editor was reviewed by individual teams of users. Therefore, if a feature or issue is listed for one editor but absent for another editor it cannot be assumed that the same observation does not apply, only that it was not noted by both User Review teams. | |||||||
| OPERATING ENVIRONMENT | |||||||
| Standards Supported | Missing ISO 19115 Core elements: Dataset Character Set and Metadata File Identifier | Elements with normative references are color-coded | Easy to use with clear element status and current edit window indicators | Based on UK profile of ISO 19115 aka 'UK GEMINI' | Based on Parcs Canada profile 'core' set of elements | ||
| Includes ISO 19110 elements | Includes ISO 19110 elements | ||||||
| Software Interface | Editor 'Wizard' guides metadata development | Well organized with good functionality | Interface not intuitive for first-time users | Interface is exceptionally clear, and logically organized | Well- designed GUI. Informative and easy to navigate | ||
| Metadata can be viewed in XML, HTML, and FGDC formats | |||||||
| Operating System | Cross platform set up is supportive of multiple communities | Windows only installation, but browser based client | Operates in Windows and Linux | Windows 2000 and XP | |||
| Application Environment | A web-enabled application on desktop, requiring MS server software/ environment for installation | Requires download installation of .NET Framework v2.0.50727 | |||||
| Data Storage | No internal data storage, must save to desktop and re-import to edit | Challenges implementing dbase storage option (desktop vers) | XML-based file storage | ||||
| METADATA DEVELOPMENT | |||||||
| Support Features | Element conditionality is not persistently indicated | Template duplication enables easier metadata creation | Instruction Manual is thorough but not intuitive | Effective use of color-coding to indicate element conditionality | Enables creation of Contact and Citation libraries for reuse of existing information and global edits | Manual is easy to use and comprehend, installs locally and web version is accessible from within application | Supports import of custom pick lists and edits |
| Uses ESRI vernacular that sometimes varies from ISO terminology | Supports import of custom thesaurus | Metadata 'tree' with element definitions is useful, but can be complex | Embedded calendar feature supports date selection | Geographic reference system assignment is simple and flexible | Some elements have limited help text | Supports import of custom thesaurus | |
| A "getting started" section in the manual would be useful | Supports import of custom thesaurus | Simple to use thesaurus with referential integrity that does not permit delete of keywords that occur in existing metadata records | Map interface features (bounding box map, etc) limited to Great Britain but Lat/Lon values can be entered manually | ||||
| Help is not searchable | Simple to use coordinate converter provided | ||||||
| Use of templates and scope codes supports documentation of spatial and nonspatial data in the same database | Thesaurus import requires input for all 3 languages when creating new thesauri | ||||||
| Useful on-screen help features | |||||||
| Edit Operations | Enables creation of Contact library during metadata edit | Unique value is autogenerated for 'fileIdentifier' and is not editable | Cannot save incomplete record in edit environment | Ability to review/edit metadata record after creation was not intuitive | Cannot save incomplete or non-validated record | Must change editor views to access/edit all elements | |
| Shaded fields in editor supports edit process | "Standard parameters" is a unique function that enables user defined library of content for any set of elements | ||||||
| Option to input XML, e.g. GML, within an element could be useful for extending the standard | Attempt to translate from EN to FR resulted in error message | ||||||
| Date/time format not specified in definition | |||||||
| Validation Operations | Unable to validate record | Enables validation of individual sections of record | Validation is limited to UK Gemini Metadata Standard | Validation with user-s pecified XSD | |||
| Error messages were not helpful | Validation functions take full advantage of ISO 19139 | Validation within editor is convenient and enables direct edit | |||||
| Validation messages are meaningful and useful | Error messages are easy to understand | ||||||
| Validation allows for any combination of 10 digits in date field | |||||||
| Adaptability | Enables creation of custom 'profiles' | Enables addition of user defined domain values | Enables creation of custom 'profiles' with XSD | ||||
| METADATA MANAGEMENT | |||||||
| Import Operations | Enables import of compressed (.zip) xml | CSDGM import does not reflect the FGDC crosswalk | Import limited to Parcs Canada profile | ||||
| Batch import limited to ISO 19115 formatted records | |||||||
| Does not enable import of ISO 19139 xml, only other records created in MetaD | |||||||
| Management Operations | Advanced search results are thorough | Batch import option was not apparent | |||||
| Could not apply remote search function | |||||||
| Export Operations | No export functionality | Export function works well as both individual and batch process | Successfully exported CSDGM xml and imported into in-house metadata catalog | ||||
| Output Format | ISO 19139 output supports interoperability | ISO 19139 output supports interoperability | Ability to output a user-defined profile | Exports as both text and XML | ISO 19139 output supports interoperability | XML output is CSDGM not ISO 19115 | |
| No text output option | |||||||
| 19139 XML implementation is thorough | |||||||
| Metadata Publication | Multiple publication options are beneficial for sharing metadata | No publication options | |||||
| OTHER | |||||||
| Needed IT help to install desktop software on Windows | Easy download and installation | Application did freeze on occasion | |||||
| Needed IT help for installation | |||||||
| METADATA EDITORS | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO Metadata Editor | Website | ||||||
| ESRI ArcCatalog v9.2 | http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0405/files/arcatalog9.pdf | ||||||
| GeoNetwork v2.2.0 (beta 1) | http://sourceforge.net/projects/geonetwork | ||||||
| IME v4.1 | http://www.crepad.rcanaria.es/metadata/en/index_en.htm | ||||||
| M3CAT v1.6 | http://www.intelec.ca/html/en/technologies/m3cat.html | ||||||
| MetaD v3.0.4 | http://www.geoportal-idec.net/geoportal/ | ||||||
| MetaGenie v2.0 | http://www.gigateway.org.uk/metadata/metagenie.html | ||||||
| Parcs Canada Metadata Editor v1.0 | http://www.fgdc.gov/participation/working-groups-subcommittees/mwg/isoreview/Metadata_Setup.zip | ||||||
| CATMDEdit v 4.0.1 | http://catmdedit.sourceforge.net/ | ||||||
| terraCatalog v 2.2 | http://www.sdi-suite.de/en/terra-catalog.shtm | ||||||