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Metadata in the <head>
The guidance provided is best available until metadata workgroup completes their work and provides final guidance.
Meta elements (tags) generally provide additional information about the document to search engines. These metadata elements will aid in building epa.gov's information architecture and the move to a CMS.
To modify the meta elements in Dreamweaver:
- Add changes to code in the code view
- In the Design View use View -> Head content to fill in the meta tag information. Look in the Property Inspector panel as you click on each Head Content icon. The properties for each meta tag will display in the Properties Inspector as you step through the Head Content icons.
In general, for existing pages, your current meta elements, if any, will carry over and the new ones will be added in. For new pages, you'll have to fill in the correct information.
Metadata include those that are:
Modified for each Page
<meta name="keywords" content="" />
This tag is retained from Template 2.1. Keywords that describe the content of the page. This list uses open keywords.<meta name="DC.title" content="" />
This tag is new. The information in the HTML <title> tag or your PageName (<h1>) should also be added to this metadata field.<meta name="DC.description" content="" />
replaces description (from Template 2.1.1). A short description of the page and its content.<meta name="DC.subject" content="" />
This tag is new and are keywords that describe the content of the page. These terms will come from the EPA controlled vocabulary.
Note: A link will be provided to the controlled vocabulary when it becomes available.<meta name="DC.type" content="" />
This tag is new. These types (e.g., Navigational, Small Business, Regulatory) will come from the EPA controlled vocabulary.
Note: A link will be provided to the controlled vocabulary when it becomes available.<meta name="DC.date.reviewed" content="" />
This tag is new. When you review and update a page, this date must be changed. Write the date in the form "YYYY-MM-DD" (e.g., 2006-05-02).
Note: Definitions for "reviewed" vs. "modified" will be provided.<meta name="DC.date.modified" content="" />
This tag is new. It is the date when the page was last modified. Write the date in the form "YYYY-MM-DD" (e.g., 2006-05-02).
Note: Definitions for "reviewed" vs. "modified" will be provided.<meta name="DC.date.created" content="" />
This tag is new. It is the date when the page is first created. Write the date in the form "YYYY-MM-DD" (e.g., 2006-05-02).
Added Once To Template
<meta name="DC.creator" content="" />
This tag is new. It will be used for the federal government wide search (in development).
Recommended content: US EPA, AA/RA, Real Owner (Lab/Center/Office/Division/Branch) with the last and real owner spelled out.- Examples
- Program Office: US EPA, Office of Air and Radiation
- Lab: US EPA, ORD, National Exposure Research Laboratory
- SubOffice: US EPA, OW, Office of Science and Technology
- Division: US EPA, ORD, Ecosystem Research Division
- Examples
<meta name="DC.language" content="en|sp" />
This tag is new. It tells search engines that your content is English (or Spanish). If you only have English content, edit this tag to read:
<meta name="DC.language" content="en" />
The Spanish template has<meta name="DC.language" content="sp" />
Never Modified
<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
This tag is new. It tells browsers that we are using a cascading style sheet.<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" />
This tag comes from Template 2.1. It tells browsers how to render the characters on our pages.<link rel="schema.DC" href="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" />
This tag is new. It simply references the proper way of writing these meta tags. It's similar to the DOCTYPE (which contains a link to the XHTML DTD).<link rel="meta" href="http://www.epa.gov/labels.rdf" type="application/rdf+xml" title="ICRA labels" />
This tag is new. It replaces the old "pics-label" meta tag provided by the Internet Content Ratings Association.
Removed from Template
<meta name="description" content="" />
This tag was in Template 2.1, but is being replaced by DC.description.
Note: You can replace description with DC.description to retain the current content and update the element.