Hands On Make a few simple changes in metadata production and greatly improve the quality of your records. tools to meet your needs. It is important to evaluate your needs against the features that particular tools offer when making a decision. If you would like more information about tools or considerations for choosing one, a number of resources are available. The FGDC Web site includes information on metadata tools and choosing the appropriate tools for your needs. This information covers tools for both FGDC CSDGM and ISO 19115/19139 editing. In addition, the Innovate metadata training Web site provides information about popular tools and considerations for using them. A metadata tools comparison spreadsheet (located with the sample data) is available with Microsoft PowerPoint training modules that contain information about considerations for choosing tools (introductory slides, module 3). One popular choice is the EPA Metadata Editor (EME) version 3.0. EME is a freely available ArcCatalog extension that provides a number of key features including clearly identifiable requirements, buttons that autopopulate a record with your default information, use of a configurable Microsoft Access database to allow you to specify defaults, and an integrated help system. To access the EME and related resources (e.g., training videos, frequently asked questions, or source code) go to the EME Web site. Synchronization is the process of inserting information about your dataset into your metadata, which may include attribute information, spatial extent, coordinate system information, or other details. Enabling synchronization causes ArcCatalog to insert these details into your metadata whenever you click on a dataset in ArcCatalog. This is beneficial because it automates the process of documenting these details and helps ensure metadata integrity. However, the process may have some unintended side effects such as inserting information you do not want in your records, simultaneously inserting both FGDC and ISO elements, or inserting noncompliant information. To control this, you should configure your synchronizers. ArcCatalog allows you to enable and disable your synchronizers and select which synchronizers to use. Turning synchronization on or off is performed within the Metadata tab of the ArcCatalog settings interface by choosing Tools > Options and selecting the Metadata tab. In this interface, you can enable or disable the synchronization process and select which synchronizers to use by adding the Set Working Synchronizers button to an ArcCatalog toolbar. This button allows you to select which default synchronizer to use (FGDC, ISO, or Geography Network). The drawback to this approach is that it results in an all-ornothing approach. Synchronization is either entirely enabled or entirely disabled. Some users may want additional flexibility. Turning synchronizers on or off in ArcCatalog Set working synchronizers in ArcCatalog The EPA Metadata Editor (EME) interface An alternative to the all-or-nothing approach just described is to use the EPA Synchronizer that comes with EME version 3.0. The EPA Synchronizer allows you to specify which elements to synchronize with the dataset. That way, your organization can choose which elements to update as part of the synchronization process. You can also specify which synchronizers to use within the EPA Synchronizer interface. Access the EPA Synchronizer from a button on the EME toolbar. For more information, visit the EPA EME Web site and access the EPA Synchronizer training video in module 2. For additional, more general information about how synchronizers work, visit the Innovate metadata training Web site and access the introductory training modules (module 2). Continued on page 48 ArcUser Spring 2009 47 Step Three Configure Your Metadata Synchronizers Many people who create metadata are not aware of metadata synchronizers. In fact, many metadata developers are using synchronizers without knowing it. This is because synchronization is an automated process in ArcCatalog that is enabled by default during installation. www.esri.com