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Metadata reference

Overview

Metadata is the information that describes an item. Metadata can be included for all items in a portal including web maps, web scenes, and web apps. Once enabled in the organization, metadata can be added to an item by uploading an xml file using add item operation. Existing metadata can be updated using update (item) operation.

Example URL for metadata:

https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/[itemId]/info/metadata/metadata.xml

Enable metadata for the organization

In lieu of using the front-end interface, administrators can also enable or disable metadata for the organization using update (org) operation in the Sharing API.

https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/portals/[portalID]/update

If metadataEditable=true, all members of the organization can view the metadata. Only item owners and administrators can update metadata.

If metadataEditable=false, no one in the organization can access the metadata.

ParameterDetails
metadataEditable

Indicates if the organization has metadata enabled.

Values: true | false

Metadata styles

To add or edit metadata style for an organization, use the following URL:

https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/portals/[portalID]/update

ParameterDetails
metadataFormats

Metadata style used for organization. Default is iso19139.

Values: fgdc | inspire | iso19139 | iso19139-3.2 | iso19115

Example:

metadataFormats : iso19139-3.2

The full name of each metadata style is shown here:

StyleDescription
fgdc

FGDC CSDGM Metadata

inspire

INSPIRE Metadata Directive

iso19139

ISO 19139 Metadata Implementation Specification

iso19139-3.2

ISO 19139 Metadata Implementation Specification GML3.2

iso19115

North American Profile of ISO19115 2003

See Metadata in ArcGIS Online help for more information about each metadata style.

Add or update metadata

In lieu of using the front-end interface, a user can also add metadata using add item operation to go along with the new item. A metadata file in .xml format must be uploaded.

A user can also update existing metadata of an item using update operation. A metadata file in .xml format must be provided here also.

Note:

A user cannot update individual fields in the metadata. An xml needs to be uploaded as a file every time a change must be made to an item metadata.

View metadata

Once metadata is added to an item, the metadata can be viewed using the following URL:

https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/<itemId>/info/metadata/metadata.xml

A user can also view metadata in different formats and outputs.

Example URL to view metadata in the format that was setup in the organization:

https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/<itemId>/info/metadata/metadata.xml?format=default

Example URL to view metadata in FGDC format:

https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/<itemId>/info/metadata/metadata.xml?format=fgdc

A user can also specify how to render the chosen metadata format. For example, a user can specify metadata of an item to be shown in FGDC format but to be displayed as html output.

Example URL:

https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest/content/items/<itemId>/info/metadata/metadata.xml?format=fgdc&output=html

Field mapping

An itemInfo.xml is generated for each item once the user adds values like title, tags, description etc. A user can also upload an itemInfo.xml. Please see itemInfo for more information.

The following table show the field mapping between itemInfo.xml and metadata.xml files. The data is synchronized bi-directionally.

itemInfo.xmlmetadata.xml

Type

distInfo> distFormat>formatName

If ISO format: distInfo>distributor>distorFormat>formatName

If FGDC format: idinfo>natvform (FGDC format)

Thumbnail

Binary>Thumbnail>Data

(or)

Binary>Thumbnail>Data>img>@src

Tags

dataIdInfo>searchKeys>keyword

If ISO format: dataIdInfo>descKey>keyword

If FGDC format: Idinfo>keywords>theme>themekey

Snippet/Summary/Purpose

dataIdInfo>idPurp

If FGDC format: Idinfo>descript>purpose

Description/Abstract

dataIdInfo>idAbs

If FGDC format: Idinfo>descript>abstract

Scale

dataIdInfo>dataScale>equScale>rfDenom

If ISO format: dqInfo>dataLineage>dataSource>srcScale>rfDenom

If FGDC format: dataqual>lineage>srcinfo>srcscale

Credit

dataIdInfo>idCredit

Constraints

resConst/Consts/useLimit

(or)

dataIdInfo>resConst>Consts>useLimit