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| Main Menu (24K) |
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| Main data entry form (19K) |
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| Pop-up bounding box form with defaults for Grand Canyon N.P. (8K) |
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| Screen grab of sample output (11K) |
- Name/Version reviewed: Dataset Catalog Version 4.0
- Reviewer / Date: Hugh Phillips / October 1997
- Version and date of last known release: Access 2002/XP version of the Dataset Catalog - version 2, released 01/12/2004.
- Function:
- Metadata creation tool for data that is primarily intended for non-spatial data including for example data files, reports, notebooks and photographs (however bounding box coordinates may be entered if applicable). It is not intended as a replacement for other metadata tools that are specific for geospatial data.
- Background Information and Software:
- Latest Version, released 01/12/2004: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/apps/datacat/index.htm
- Reviewed Version 4 download instructions: try auto-reply email to obtain the software and documentation as described in this document. If you experience difficulties via that method, contact the Version 4 Principal Contact. Get the latest version of Dataset Catalog
- Platform:
- The standalone database (tool) requires a system with Microsoft Access 2.0 or higher. The tool with a run-time version of Microsoft Access is available for Windows 3.11
- Principal Contact:
- For current version: Willene Hendon - Willene_Hendon@partner.nps.gov or Lisa Nelson - Lisa_L_Nelson@nps.gov
- For reviewed version 4: Joe Gregson - Joe_Gregson@nps.gov
- Status: Available
- Metadata Storage Structure: Database
- Brief Description:
-
The core of the Dataset Catalog is a one page form allowing a user to enter a limited amount of metadata (roughly 30 elements) about a data set. These elements include many of the minimum mandatory elements (or the elements could be cross-walked to them). Buttons on this form pop up text boxes for text entry and smaller forms for topics like contact informations. Pick lists are also used on the form.
The Dataset Catalog was built with Microsoft Access, so one has the ability to use functions built into that shell, such as spell checking. The form was designed for use by the National Parks to document natural resource datasets, and as a result has some built-in park-specific features, such as lookup of park 'center point, ' bounding box, or mailing address.
This tool seems useful for producing abbreviated metadata when there is little intention to contribute this metadata to a commonly searchable (Isite based) NSDI Clearinghouse. Users interested in producing more complete or in-depth metadata and insuring compliance with the CSDGM should probably consider other tools. - Cost: None
- Notable Plus:
- The tool comes with a set of "Data Management Protocol" documents in WordPerfect form which provide some good ideas for anyone involved with collecting data/metadata in their organization
- Notable Minus:
- Metadata Exchange:
- The Dataset Catalog will export a .dbf file containing the contects of the of the database, and it can import a .dbf file so generated. It does not import or export metadata in any other forms. The output portion of the tool produces a nicely formattted (for printing) report, however, it does not appear to produce a simpler pure ASCII text file which could be processed through mp.
- Usability:
-
The tool provides an interface, the form, which helps guide the user through metadata entry. Pick lists simplify entry and retrieval of terms and contacts. A copy function within the tool allows the metadata for one data set to be cloned, then modified to document another dataset. The tool is supported by a context sensitive Windows help file for each element.
Some aspects of the tool interface seem awkward or misleading. For example, on the main menu, I found myself constantly selecting the large buttons which spelled out the action or form desired, such as "Dataset Catalog Input Form' over the smaller 'Input' button next to it which actually takes you to the form. The 'Center' button in the metadata entry form affects fields which are next to the 'Spatial' button, and no matter what I did with the bounding box subform popped up with the latter button, I couldn't get it to be reflected in the output report. The 'New' button on the data entry form doesn't appear to do anything. The 'Copy' button brings up a help window with a several step process to clone a record or a field from a record, however, you must close the help window before starting the copy process.
The tool is Windows based so text from external documents can be pasted into the forms. The tool can be stopped and restarted at will. There is a Windows help file for the tool which provides context sensitive help with elements and directions for import/export of the database. - Administrative:
- The tool operates on platforms supporting Microsoft Access (Windows 3.x, 95, NT). The database alone (not including the also needed Access software) occupies approximately 9Mb. Installation went smoothly under Windows NT with Microsoft Access 97; re-establishing the needed table links for a non-standard directory istallation was well documented in the support files. Users with Windows 3.11 may obtain the tool with a run-time version of Microsoft Access; other users need to have Microsoft Access. Users familiar with Access could modify this tool if they desired.
- Tool Reliability:
- The tool seemed stable; closing down Access in the middle of a data entry session caused no loss of entered data.
