Metadata Transfer

Principal investigators who have completed NPRB-funded research are required to provide datasets and metadata records for all data collected under NPRB grants. 

You will work with the NPRB Data Systems Manager (907-644-6711) throughout the transfer, and he is also available throughout your project should you have any metadata or data storing/format-related questions.

The NOAA Coastal Services Center has retained Metadata Bob (shown at left) to help you navigate through the sometimes confusing world of creating metadata records. The NOAA publication Sailing Through Coastal Metadata is a great information resource.

Download the Metadata Template

We have created a metadata template (.zip), which has predefined attributes and explanations of what we expect to see a value for. The template contains:

• nprb_metadata_template.xml | metadata template document
• NBII_classic.xsl | an .xslt script program that helps you to generate a user-friendly representation of the metadata file in a browser such as Internet Explorer.

Instructions: Unzip both files in the same folder and double-click the template.xml file. By default, the ".xml" file extension is associated with Internet Explorer in Windows so you will be able to see this even if you do not have a specific metadata application program.

Create Your Metadata Records

To edit the metadata template -- and thus create your project-specific metadata records -- we recommend using Metavist, which can be downloaded for free.

The Metavist download also includes a PowerPoint presentation used for teaching Metavist and for including taxonomic information directly from ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). You can also use the Online Biological Data Profile Workbook as a guide.

Note on Predefined Entities | If you use a plain text editor such as Notepad instead of the recommended Metavist to edit the provided template and create your project specific metadata record, you should be aware that 5 symbols called "predefined entities" should be encoded this way:

• Symbol “less than” {<} should be represented by {&lt;} character sequence
• Symbol “greater than” {>} should be represented by {&gt;} character sequence
• Symbol “apostrophe” {'} should be represented by {&apos;} character sequence
• Symbol “quote” {"} should be represented by {&quot;} character sequence

Tips and Tricks

Remove Comments | Once you open the file in Metavist, you will find explanations and comments enclosed in square brackets. These are there for instruction purposes only and should be removed once you have entered your information.

Use Real Dates | Where possible the Date value "Unknown" should be substituted with a real date. The "Unknown" value is used to avoid an error message during Metavist value verification.

Spatial Data and Spatial References | The template does not contain an example for Spatial Data Organization Information and Spatial Reference Information (Sections 3 and 4). However, if applicable to your data you must complete these sections.

Distribution and Metadata Reference Information | You are not required to provide Distribution Information (Section 6), as this is the purview of NPRB. We will add links for the files later when we make them available online. We will also update the Metadata Reference Information (section 7) as this document will be hosted and distributed by NPRB. You are welcome to provide additional Distribution Information if your datasets are also going to be distributed by other distribution systems.

A Note on Data Management and QA/QC Statements

If you were asked by us in the past to provide a "Data Management and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Statement" you may disregard that request. All information required for that statement is now included within the metadata document.

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