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You are here: Home Metadata Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata 6 : Distribution Information
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6 : Distribution Information

Distribution Information -- information about the distributor of and options for obtaining the data set.
Type: compound
Short Name: distinfo

Distribution_Information =
Distributor +
0{Resource_Description}1 +
Distribution_Liability +
0{Standard_Order_Process}n +
0{Custom_Order_Process}1 +
(Technical_Prerequisites) +
(Available_Time_Period)

Distributor =
Contact_Information (see section 10 for production rules)

Standard_Order_Process =
[Non-digital_Form |
1{Digital_Form}n ] +
Fees +
(Ordering_Instructions) +
(Turnaround)

Digital_Form =
Digital_Transfer_Information +
Digital_Transfer_Option

Digital_Transfer_Information =
Format_Name +
([Format_Version_Number |
Format_Version_Date] +
(Format_Specification) ) +
(Format_Information_Content) +
0{File_Decompression_Technique}1 +
(Transfer_Size)

Digital_Transfer_Option =
1{ [Online_Option |
Offline_Option] }n

Online_Option =
1{Computer_Contact_Information}n +
(Access_Instructions) +
(Online_Computer_and_Operating_System)

Computer_Contact_Information =
[Network_Address |
Dialup_Instructions]

Network_Address =
1{Network_Resource_Name}n

Dialup_Instructions =
Lowest_BPS +
0{Highest_BPS}1 +
Number_DataBits +
Number_StopBits +
Parity +
0{Compression_Support}1 +
1{Dialup_Telephone}n +
1{Dialup_File_Name}n

Offline_Option =
Offline_Media +
0{Recording_Capacity}1
1{Recording_Format}n +
0{Compatibility_Information}1

Recording_Capacity =
1{Recording Density}n +
Recording_Density_Units

Available_Time_Period =
Time_Period_Information (see section 9 for production rules)

6.1 Distributor -- the party from whom the data set may be obtained.
Type: compound
Short Name: distrib

6.2 Resource Description -- the identifier by which the distributor knows the data set.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: resdesc

6.3 Distribution Liability -- statement of the liability assumed by the distributor.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: distliab

6.4 Standard Order Process -- the common ways in which the data set may be obtained or received, and related instructions and fee information.
Type: compound
Short Name: stdorder

6.4.1 Non-digital Form -- the description of options for obtaining the data set on non-computer- compatible media.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: nondig

6.4.2 Digital Form -- the description of options for obtaining the data set on computer-compatible media.
Type: compound
Short Name: digform

6.4.2.1 Digital Transfer Information - description of the form of the data to be distributed.
Type: compound
Short Name: digtinfo

6.4.2.1.1 Format Name -- the name of the data transfer format.
Type: text
Domain: domain values from the table below; free text
Short Name: formname

Domain
Value Definition
"ARCE" ARC/INFO Export format
"ARCG" ARC/INFO Generate format
"ASCII" ASCII file, formatted for text attributes, declared format
"BIL" Imagery, band interleaved by line
"BIP" Imagery, band interleaved by pixel
"BSQ" Imagery, band interleaved sequential
"CDF" Common Data Format
"CFF" Cartographic Feature File (U.S. Forest Service)
"COORD" User-created coordinate file, declared format
"DEM" Digital Elevation Model format (U.S. Geological
Survey)
"DFAD" Digital Feature Analysis Data (National Imagery and Mapping Agency)
"DGN" Microstation format (Intergraph Corporation)
"DIGEST" Digital Geographic Information Exchange Standard
"DLG" Digital Line Graph (U.S. Geological Survey)
"DTED" Digital Terrain Elevation Data (MIL-D-89020)
"DWG" AutoCAD Drawing format
"DX90" Data Exchange '90
"DXF" AutoCAD Drawing Exchange Format
"ERDAS" ERDAS image files (ERDAS Corporation)
"GRASS" Geographic Resources Analysis Support System
"HDF" Hierarchical Data Format
"IGDS" Interactive Graphic Design System format (Intergraph Corporation)
"IGES" Initial Graphics Exchange Standard
"MOSS" Multiple Overlay Statistical System export file
"netCDF" network Common Data Format
"NITF" National Imagery Transfer Format
"RPF" Raster Product Format (National Imagery and Mapping Agency)
"RVC" Raster Vector Converted format (MicroImages)
"RVF" Raster Vector Format (MicroImages)
"SDTS" Spatial Data Transfer Standard (Federal Information Processing Standard 173)
"SIF" Standard Interchange Format (DOD Project 2851)
"SLF" Standard Linear Format (National Imagery and Mapping Agency)
"TIFF" Tagged Image File Format
"TGRLN" Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) Line format (Bureau of the Census)
"VPF" Vector Product Format (National Imagery and Mapping Agency)

6.4.2.1.2 Format Version Number -- version number of the format.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: formvern

6.4.2.1.3 Format Version Date -- date of the version of the format.
Type: date
Domain: free date
Short Name: formverd

6.4.2.1.4 Format Specification -- name of a subset, profile, or product specification of the format.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: formspec

6.4.2.1.5 Format Information Content -- description of the content of the data encoded in a format.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: formcont

6.4.2.1.6 File Decompression Technique -- recommendations of algorithms or processes (including means of obtaining these algorithms or processes) that can be applied to read or expand data sets to which data compression techniques have been applied.
Type: text
Domain: "No compression applied", free text
Short Name: filedec

6.4.2.1.7 Transfer Size -- the size, or estimated size, of the transferred data set in megabytes.
Type: real
Domain: Transfer Size > 0.0
Short Name: transize

6.4.2.2 Digital Transfer Option -- the means and media by which a data set is obtained from the distributor.
Type: compound
Short Name: digtopt

6.4.2.2.1 Online Option -- information required to directly obtain the data set electronically.
Type: compound
Short Name: onlinopt

6.4.2.2.1.1 Computer Contact Information -- instructions for establishing communications with the distribution computer.
Type: compound
Short Name: computer

6.4.2.2.1.1.1 Network Address -- the electronic address from which the data set can be obtained from the distribution computer.
Type: compound
Short Name: networka

6.4.2.2.1.1.1.1 Network Resource Name -- the name of the file or service from which the data set can be obtained.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: networkr

6.4.2.2.1.1.2 Dialup Instructions -- information required to access the distribution computer remotely through telephone lines.
Type: compound
Short Name: dialinst

6.4.2.2.1.1.2.1 Lowest BPS -- lowest or only speed for the connection's communication, expressed in bits per second.
Type: integer
Domain: Lowest BPS >= 110
Short Name: lowbps

6.4.2.2.1.1.2.2 Highest BPS -- highest speed for the connection's communication, expressed in bits per second. Used in cases when a range of rates are provided.
Type: integer
Domain: Highest BPS > Lowest BPS
Short Name: highbps

6.4.2.2.1.1.2.3 Number DataBits -- number of data bits in each character exchanged in the communication.
Type: integer
Domain: 7 <= Number DataBits <= 8
Short Name: numdata

6.4.2.2.1.1.2.4 Number StopBits -- number of stop bits in each character exchanged in the communication.
Type: integer
Domain: 1 <= Number StopBits <= 2
Short Name: numstop

6.4.2.2.1.1.2.5 Parity -- parity error checking used in each character exchanged in the communication.
Type: text
Domain: "None" "Odd" "Even" "Mark" "Space"
Short Name: parity

6.4.2.2.1.1.2.6 Compression Support -- data compression available through the modem service to speed data transfer.
Type: text
Domain: "V.32" "V.32bis" "V.42" "V.42bis" free text
Short Name: compress

6.4.2.2.1.1.2.7 Dialup Telephone -- the telephone number of the distribution computer.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: dialtel

6.4.2.2.1.1.2.8 Dialup File Name -- the name of a file containing the data set on the distribution computer.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: dialfile

6.4.2.2.1.2 Access Instructions" -- instructions on the steps required to access the data set.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: accinstr

6.4.2.2.1.3 Online Computer and Operating System -- the brand of distribution computer and its operating system.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: oncomp

6.4.2.2.2 Offline Option -- information about media-specific options for receiving the data set.
Type: compound
Short Name: offoptn

6.4.2.2.2.1 Offline Media -- name of the media on which the data set can be received.
Type: text
Domain: "CD-ROM" "3-1/2 inch floppy disk" "5-1/4 inch floppy disk" "9-track tape" "4 mm cartridge tape" "8 mm cartridge tape" "1/4-inch cartridge tape" free text
Short Name: offmedia

6.4.2.2.2.2 Recording Capacity -- the density of information to which data are written. Used in cases where different recording capacities are possible.
Type: compound
Short Name: reccap

6.4.2.2.2.2.1 Recording Density -- the density in which the data set can be recorded.
Type: real
Domain: Recording Density > 0.0
Short Name: recden

6.4.2.2.2.2.2 Recording Density Units -- the units of measure for the recording density.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: recdenu

6.4.2.2.2.3 Recording Format -- the options available or method used to write the data set to the medium.
Type: text
Domain: "cpio" "tar" "High Sierra" "ISO 9660" "ISO 9660 with Rock Ridge extensions" "ISO 9660 with Apple HFS extensions" free text
Short Name: recfmt

6.4.2.2.2.4 Compatibility Information --- description of other limitations or requirements for using the medium.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: compat

6.4.3 Fees -- the fees and terms for retrieving the data set.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: fees

6.4.4 Ordering Instructions -- general instructions and advice about, and special terms and services provided for, the data set by the distributor.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: ordering

6.4.5 Turnaround -- typical turnaround time for the filling of an order.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: turnarnd

6.5 Custom Order Process -- description of custom distribution services available, and the terms and conditions for obtaining these services.
Type: text
Domain: free text

Short Name: custom

6.6 Technical Prerequisites -- description of any technical capabilities that the consumer must have to use the data set in the form(s) provided by the distributor.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Short Name: techpreq

6.7 Available Time Period -- the time period when the data set will be available from the distributor.
Type: compound
Short Name: availabl