11.1: Editing Metadata Sets
This section describes how to edit metadata sets and previously assigned values.

Contents
Simple Instructions:
Editing sets
Editing elements

Simple Instructions:

On the left of the "Edit Metadata Sets" dialog is a list showing what metadata sets and profiles can be edited. Click one of these and its details will appear on the right in one or more tables. Beneath are buttons for adding, editing or removing the various parts; alongside them is the "Close" button. Many buttons are greyed out initially, and are activated by selections in the tables. Now we describe how to edit sets and elements.

To define a new metadata set, beside "Set" click "Add", fill out the information requested, and click "OK". "Namespace" is a short identifier for the new set (e.g. "dc" for Dublin Core; "dls" for the Development Library Subset).

To remove a metadata set, select it in the list on the left and click "Remove". A confirmation prompt will appear; confirming it permanently removes the set and all associated metadata.

Some information is associated with each metadata set, such as its creator and creation date. We call these "attributes" of the metadata set, and you can alter them. Beside "Attribute", click "Add" to add an attribute to the selected metadata set, fill in the requested information -- name, language and values -- and click "OK". Each metadata set is considered unique, so for a new metadata set the pull-down list for the name and value are initially empty. Beside "Attribute", "Edit" becomes active when an attribute is selected in the table and leads to the same dialog as "Add" (except that the current value is already filled out). Beside "Attribute", "Remove" becomes active when the attribute is selected; when clicked the attribute is removed.

Double clicking on a set in the list on the left will display a list of metadata elements in that set. You can add an element, remove it, and remove values from it. To add an element, beside "Element" click "Add" and specify the new element's name.

To remove a metadata element, select it and beside "Element" click "Remove". This permanently removes the element and all metadata associated with it.

Just as information is associated with each metadata set, information can also be associated with each metadata element -- metadata about metadata! Again we call these "attributes"; Examples are a language-specific name for the element, its definition, or perhaps a general comment.

You edit the attributes of an element in the same way that you edit the attributes of a metadata set, explained above. In this case the pull-down lists in the add and edit prompts may contain values from the same attribute of other elements within the set.

You can also alter the "value tree" for an element, which contains all the values that have been assigned to it. You can "Add" a value whenever an element is selected. Choose a parent folder (if any), enter the value and click "OK" to put the new value in the tree. You can "Edit" a value that you have selected in the value tree; click "OK" to commit the changes. Note that changing the parent subject will cause the value to be moved to that subject. You can "Remove" a value that you have selected in the tree -- but note that this does not remove all metadata referring to this value, and if the value is still in use it will be restored the next time you save.

Once you have finished changing the metadata set, click "Close".