Metadata Upload File Format

Introduction

This document describes the requirements for the Master Document List (MDL) of the Matrics Expert Team (MET) that allows the converter program (convertMetaData.pl) to convert the MDL or part of it into the DrawMGT Metadata Upload File ('''MUF''') format. It is not intended that the file format described here will be used by DrawMGT users, it is intended for SoftXS experts to help MET in mass uploading. The '''MUF''' format is for general using.

Minimal Data Set

To allow to insert a new document into the DrawMGT database at least

To allow to insert a new revision to a new or an existing document

To allow to upload a file to a new revision

MDL File Format

The Metadata Upload file uses a simple spreadsheet format which contains columns and rows of data.

Each row represents a single record and may contain information about a document, revision and comment (task).

Some column represents the individual data fields used to build a MUF. Some fields of the MUF are created as a combination or as a part of MDL fields.

Lines beginning with a '#' character are considered to be user information. These, as well as blank lines, are ignored by the Metadata Uploader.

The first row must contain column header information. The headers must match the column names described in the table in MDL Record Fields section. The converter program ignores data in columns that have misspelled or, otherwise don't match the header list. Thus, additional columns can be placed in MDL and they will be safely ignored by the converter program provided they do not conflict with the column names listed below.

All subsequent rows contain document, revision and comment data. Not all columns need to be defined. Again, MDL Record Fields section, describes which columns are required.T

The column headers may be in any order. The data in each column should correspond be in the same order as the headers.

Column headers and values in all rows must be separated using a tab character. This type of file is easily to create by MS Office or OpenOffice from a spreadsheet.

MDL Record Definition

MDL Record Components

The MDL record consists of a series of fields which can be divided into three categories:

  1. Document definition fields
  2. Revision definition fields
  3. Comment definition fields

A single document, revision and comment may be created in one upload record. Alternatively a revision can be updated. The following restrictions apply:

Note that the document code is collected from many fields. See MET Document Coding System for detailed information.

MDL Record Fields

The following tables describe the fields handled by the converter program and displays the following information:

Open points

Classifications

Only Claim and Quarter classifications are set from the MDL file yet. Quarter is set correctly. For classification 'claim' only the column Claim 70 is used, should be defined.

Missing required fields

Some fields are set at uploading but they are not defined in the MDL file.

Fields not processed

There are some columns in the MDL file, not processed by the converter program. These fields are:

Misc. notes and suggestions

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