Over the years over thirty metadata tools have been written and distributed. This number of tools presents a confusing array of choices for a user attempting to select a metadata tool for their working environment. For a variety of reasons, including lack of continuing development, poor operational characteristics, and because other newer more capable tools have become available, many metadata tools that have been developed have drifted into retirement status or are no longer available. Out of this group approximately ten metadata tools (editors and utilities) remain strong contenders. This is still a confusingly large number of tools for someone new to the metadata arena to try to sort out.
On the suggestion of Bruce Westcott, I have attempted to define some of the most common GIS working environments and tools that are recommended for that environment. My recommendations are shaded by those tools that I am familiar with; unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to review many other metadata tools that are available. However I am confident that the tools and tool combinations recommended here are good ones for users in the United States that desire to produce metadata according to the 1998 CSDGM. The agency you work for or your state GIS council may have specific guidelines for tools to use and that are different than those recommended below in order to insure compatibility or a certain format and content.
| Environment | Main metadata editor | Utilities and operations |
| ArcGIS 8.0+, ArcView 8.1+ | ArcCatalog (FGDC Metadata Editor) | cns and mp may be useful to prepare outside metadata for import into ArcCatalog. mp may be preferred to produce HTML output over ArcCatalog because it can be customized. Confident metadata editors may find that using tkme to edit the ArcCatalog XML files affords advantage for certain editing operations. |
| ArcInfo < 8.0 | tkme (or xtme with UNIX platform ArcInfo) | Use FGDCMETA (AML) to extract ArcInfo dataset 'property' information, then import that into tkme. Use mp to validate metadata and convert it to output forms including XML, SGML and HTML. |
| ArcInfo < 8.0, Arcview 3.x | SMMS | cns and mp may be useful to prepare outside metadata for import into SMMS. |
| ArcView 3.x | tkme | DBFmeta should be used to create Entity and Attribute metadata snippet. Use mp to validate metadata and convert it to output forms including XML, SGML and HTML. |
| Geomedia | Geomedia SMMS | |
| Other GIS environments | tkme or SMMS | both of these tools can operate independent of any particular GIS software. Use mp to validate metadata and format it for output |
| MapInfo | Gamma Tools Metadata Manager? | Apparently only for MapInfo tables, may not even create CSDGM compatible fragment. This is just an idea, not a recommendation, sorry. |
I apologize the authors and companies that may have produced other metadata tools as capable as those tabulated above, and that aren't included in the table.
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