In ArcGIS version 8 and 9, ESRI GIS software has a built-in metadata management tool within the ArcCatalog module. This tool follows the federal Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata but can be adapted for other standards, such as the Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines (MGMG), a streamlined version of the federal standard. The files that customize ArcCatalog 8 and 9 for MGMG are free online from this webpage.
ArcGIS 10: Unfortunately, the MGMG Editor does not work with ArcGIS 10. A Metadata Workgroup is in the final beta testing stage on a standalone solution -- see the workgroup's webpage for updates. In the meantime, although it is not as appealing an interface as the MGMG Editor, the free standalone DataLogr software works fine (except with Windows 7).
For more information on how ArcGIS 10 handles metadata, see these pages on Esri's website:
What are editors and stylesheets?
Download and install MGMG files
latest version 7/16/04
Importing DataLogr records
Known inconsistency
Exporting ArcCatalog records
Troubleshooting
Source code
More information
Definitions: ArcCatalog provides an editor to allow users to create and modify metadata files according to the federal metadata standard, and it uses stylesheets to determine how the metadata files will look on the screen. Different stylesheets will change the user’s view of the metadata without changing the way the metadata is internally stored. ArcCatalog allows users the option of customizing both editors and stylesheets to meet their own needs.
FGDC and ISO Editors: ArcCatalog Version 8.1 provided an FGDC editor to match the full federal metadata standard defined by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. At Version 8.2 it added a draft ISO editor to match the forthcoming International Standards Organization (ISO) metadata standard.
MGMG Editor: The Metropolitan Council of the Twin Cities has created an ArcCatalog editor that matches the Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines (MGMG), Version 1.2. Since it contains only one third as many fields as the FGDC editor, it is simpler and easier to use. DataLogr software users will find its fields and help text familiar. Dates are stored in machine-readable standard format (YYYYMMDD) to facilitate searching but are displayed in a friendlier format (MM/DD/YYYY).
MGMG Stylesheet: Internally, all metadata is stored in XML format. To display the metadata, the ArcCatalog user can choose different stylesheets from a pulldown menu. Several stylesheets are packaged with ArcCatalog. Among them are:
MnGeo has created a stylesheet that gives metadata the look and feel of the Minnesota Geographic Metadata Guidelines. It can display metadata created with ArcCatalog's FGDC editor or metadata that has been imported from another tool.
These tools enable the user to go back and forth between the state's DataLogr metadata collection tool and the tools provided within ArcCatalog. They ensure that metadata created using DataLogr can be migrated to ESRI metadata tools and that metadata created within ArcCatalog can be converted into DataLogr format.
Note that the MGMG conversion utility (wmeta32.exe), used to create HTML, XML, DataLogr, and CSV formats, is
also included in the download.
Download MGMG Metadata Editor
(MGMG_Editor_installer.exe, Version 1.2, 1.8 MB, 10/13/03;
revised converter added 2/2/04; updated .BAT file for Arc 9 added 7/16/04)
(if using Internet Explorer, right click and choose "Save Target
As...") NOTE: We recommend using
ArcGIS version 8.2 or higher. Earlier versions may cause errors.
To install:
To use: When you click on the "Create Metadata" or "Edit Metadata" icons in ArcCatalog, a metadata editor (input form window) is automatically opened and readied for data entry. Any metadata elements that have already been entered appear in the form in the appropriate fields. The FGDC Editor is the default editor that is opened. Once it has been installed, you can make the MGMG Editor your default editor. To change the default editor, go to ArcCatalog's Tools menu, choose "Options . . .", and click the Metadata Tab. At the bottom of the metadata page, go to the "Editing Metadata" section. Click on the "Metadata Editor" pulldown list, and click on "MGMG Editor". This editor will now be activated every time you choose to create or edit metadata. While the Metadata Tab is still active, you can make the MGMG Stylesheet your default stylesheet. Go to "Viewing Metadata" at the top of the metadata page and select "MGMG" from the "Default Stylesheet" pulldown list.
For more
detailed instructions, use the short tutorial provided at: C:\arcgis\MGMG_Editor\tutorial\MGMG_ArcCatalog_tutorial.pdf
Metadata created using DataLogr software can be imported into ArcCatalog and viewed with the MGMG stylesheet. If necessary, further edits can be made using the MGMG Editor:
If the metadata is associated with a shapefile, the Import routine will
rename the metadata file with the shapefile name followed by .shp.xml and will store it
in the directory containing the shapefile. If the metadata is associated with a coverage or grid file, it
will be renamed metadata.xml and will be stored in the coverage or grid
directory.
One known inconsistency exists between the HTML format produced by DataLogr's MGMG converter and the MGMG stylesheet (the underlying metadata record is the same – only the display is different).
| HTML | ArcCatalog MGMG stylesheet |
|---|---|
| Lineage text begins on the same line as the element name. | Lineage text begins one line below the element name - this allows the federal standard's repeating fields to be inserted into MGMG's single field. |
Error: "SDE Feature Class, Editor is not meant to be used with this file type" You may get this message when using the MGMG Editor on an SDE feature class.
Solution: Just hit the "OK" button in the error message box and the editor should work fine.
Explanation: The message is just informational. At the time the editor was written, the programmer did not have access to ArcSDE to test it. Since then, he has tested it with ArcSDE 9.0 with SQL Server 2000 and it appears to work with no problems. In this version, the message box cannot be disabled so it just remains as a minor nuisance.
The author of the MGMG Editor and Stylesheet has made the
source code available for free download on ESRI's ArcScripts
website.
Questions or comments about the MGMG editor or stylesheet? Contact the Minnesota Geographic Data Clearinghouse at
clearing.house@state.mn.us.