IGS Metadata Builder

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CNS and MP

Chew and Spit and Metadata Parser are programs written by Peter N. Schweitzer of the U.S. Geological Survey to facilitate the process of creating consistent metadata records. These tools are not used to compile metadata, but are processing tools used to standardize the format of completed metdata files. The two programs are to be run in sequence; CNS first, then MP.

CNS (Chew and Spit)

Some of the functions CNS can accomplish are:

Rectify indentation of metadata elements and their text.
Fix irregular capitalization and supply underlines in element names.
Strip out element numbers which precede element names.
Translate from 'descriptive' element names to 'official' FGDC element names (with use of an alias file).
Supply missing container elements (sometimes).

Note: Don't use CNS blindly! Look carefully at the output files and compare them to the input files to determine whether the conversion actually represented your metadata. You may need to make changes to the original input file. If the input metadata aren't arranged like the standard, the process may not work well at all.

CNS output does not have to be error-free to be accepted by Metadata Parser. (However, there is a limit. If too many errors exist, Metadata Parser will not accept the file).

MP (Metadata Parser)

MP is a metadata parser. After you have used CNS to make sure your metadata is in the proper format, you can use this tool to check for technical errors. Once you have fixed necessary errors, you can use this tool to publish your metadata in a number of different formats (TXT, HTML, XML, or SGML).

MP can perform both of the following functions on properly formatted metadata:

Produce an error report by validating the metadata against the CSDGM.
Convert a text (or SGML) input file into formatted TXT, HTML, SGML, or DIF output files.

MP is picky about two things:

The metadata elements must be indented to indicate the hierarchical relationships between them.
The element names must be properly spelled, with string element names connected by underlines.

Other Tools

The Metadata Tools page at the FGDC site contains a list of other tools that are available for metadata creation, validation, and publication, along with reviews of some of these tools. These reviews can help you evaluate which tools will best suit your needs.