What is Metadata?

Metadata is loosely defined by many as: "Data about Data". A description of a geo-spatial dataset is often referred to as a metadata record.

The value of Metadata

Metadata can help the city planner, the graduate student in geography, or the forest manager find and use geo-spatial data. The capture of metadata also benefits the primary creator by ensuring that knowledge of dataset is not to an individual...
The uses and benefits of capturing data are:
   * To maintain an organization's internal investment in geo-spatial data;
   * To provide information needed to process and interpret data to be received through a transfer from an
        external source;
   * To advertise organizations' geo-spatial data holdings through intra- and internet based search engines (or so
        called 'clearinghouse');
   * To eliminate duplication in the costly and time consuming capture of geo-spatial data sets.

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A standard for Metadata

International metadata standards are currently being developed. A metadata standard can be described as a common set of terms and definitions that describe data.
The directorate: NSIF opted to use tools freely available to capture Metadata.
These tools conform to the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) content standard. The FGDC will in future adopt the International Organization for Standardization (IOS), standard on geo-spatial metadata.

Download MetaLite

Type http://www.nsif.org.za/public/upload/metalite/meta171.exe at the address prompt in the web browser;
Save the file to a temporary directory (e.g. c:\metalite_temp);
‘meta171.exe’ is a self extractig file, in other words, by clicking on the file, it will expand into all the files necessary to run the software, including the setup.exe-file.
Install the software through setup.exe
The software will be installed as default under the Windows, ‘Program Files’ directory (i.e. c:\Program Files\Metalite\)
You can also download MetaLite (1.7.5) from the USGS-site if you encounter any problems with the above: http://edcnts11.cr.usgs.gov/metalite

Please inform us of any problems encountered or questions that may arise relating to the above. Your comments and suggestions will be highly appreciated. Please E-mail us at: nsif@dla.gov.za

Instructions for the use of MetaLite

If you initially go to <File> <Open>, you will be notified that currently no records exist in the database. You thus first have to create a new metadata record: Go to <File> <New>
You will be prompted to define an "Export Name" - please type in any name, which will uniquely identify the record (e.g. WR_DCM_1). This will be the file name of the metadata record;
Also please type the "Title" of the data-set in this box (e.g. Gauteng Road Network);
You will then access the metadata capturing forms (the forms referred to is the ‘Folders’ directly under the icon & menu bar within Metalite - i.e. ‘Originator’, ‘Description’ ‘Time and Status’, ‘Spatial Domain’ etc.);
Fill in the forms as comprehensive as possible. The intention is that should another organization be interested in acquiring your data-set, it should provide them with adequate information to determine whether your data-set will fit their needs for a specific application;
If you are not sure how to fill in certain fields, please refer to the <Help> <Content> <Reference>. This guide will provide you with explanations of the different fields and how it should be filled in. If the Help function does not appear immediately, use the <alt> <tab> function on the keyboard to access it.
A tutorial how to use Metalite is also included under <Help> <Content> <Using Metalite>.
After completing the capture of the metadata record, go to <File> <Save>. The record will be saved within a MS Access file under your c:\Program Files\Metalite directory, namely: Metalite.MDB
The ‘Spatial Data Discovery Facility’ can be accessed at the following address: http://196.3.167.42/linux/spatial-ie.htm - click on Metadata. Please use the ‘SDDF’ to get familiar with the metadata records already included, and also use this records as examples of how to capture your own records.
MetaLite can be used as a stand alone package, or it can be centrally loaded onto your server where numerous users can capture metadata records on the same MS Access MDB-file. The last mentioned option might be preferable where various persons within an organization are responsible for different data sets. One person should take responsibility for exporting the metadata records from this centrally located MDB-file. This should be done on an agreed date and interval (e.g. once a month) to ensure that all the records are updated before it is exported.
When records are exported from MetaLite, it creates a .txt, .sgml, and .html file. The .sgml-file is used by the Isite-software for indexing and making it available through the Clearinghouse on the World Wide Web. After exporting, all these .sgml-files should thus be copied within a specified directory where the Isite-software will do the indexing. If your organization does not host a Metadatabase Node on your local server, these .sgml-files should be forwarded to NSIF, to make it available through your virtual or decentralized Node