Importing Metadata

There are two tools that can be used to import metadata, one basic and one more advanced. A list of the benefits and limitations of each is included at the start the sections describing them.

The basic import tool is fast and easy, but less flexible than the advanced metadata import using the Metadata Table Editor. General features of this importer are:

If desired, a metadata table can be edited later from within the Metadata Table editor as described in section 3.2.3. There, you can change the column data types (e.g. to types of numbers, dates, true/false) and you can designate a new key column.

To run the basic importer, go to:

        File | Import (Image Next_Folder_16_n_p) | Import Metadata (Image add_to_results_metadata_table_16_n_p)

In the box labeled Spreadsheet with sample information, select the Excel file (.xlsx/.xls) to be imported.

The rows in the spreadsheet are displayed in the Metadata preview window, as shown in figure 3.9. Click Next.

Image metadata_import_basic-step1
Figure 3.9: After an Excel file is selected, its rows are visible in the Metadata preview table.

The second wizard step, called "Associate with data", is optional. To proceed without associating data to metadata, click on the the button labeled Next.

Associating data with the metadata being imported is illustrated in figure 3.10. To do this:

The associated information can be viewed for a given data element in the Show Element Info view, as show in figure 3.11.

Image metadata_data_element_show_info
Figure 3.11: Metadata associations can be seen, edited, refreshed or deleted via the Show Element Info view.