Introduction
DC Database Planning Flowchart
Question 1: Use Record Builder for online updates?
Question 2: Customize template?
Question 3: Existing data to upload?
This document describes the steps involved in planning a new DC database using either the Dublin Core DCQ or DC(2) database framework and the order to complete these steps. The steps you take depend on whether you want to:
- use Database Builder's Record Builder application for online record updates to the database
- customize the DCQ or DC(2) template
- load existing data into the database in batch mode
DC Database Planning Flowchart
This flowchart shows the activities involved in planning and creating a new DC database. The diamonds represent questions to consider during the process of planning your database development activities. Click any of the diamonds in the flowchart for more information about that question. The rectangles represent tasks or activities to take based on your response to a prior question. Click any of the rectangles in the flowchart to jump to a document that describes these tasks in more detail.
.
Question
:
Use Record Builder for online record updates?
The first question to ask is whether you want to use Record Builder for making online record updates to this local database. It is possible to batch load SGML data into a local database and then subsequently use Record Builder to edit these records or to create new records. Even if you do not currently plan to use Record Builder for online record updates, consider batch loading the data in a format compatible with Record Builder to leave this option open to you in the future.
Do you want to use Record Builder for online record updates?
- Yes.
Determine which database framework you wish to use ((DC(2) or DCQ).
Clone the appropriate framework. Then
go to Question
.
- No. Use SSDOT to update the database in batch mode.
Examine the elements,
their labels, and the schemes and qualifiers
provided in the database framework you selected in Question .
One way to do this is to create
a new record in the sample database that uses this framework. While
viewing the Edit Record screen, look at the data elements, their labels,
and the schemes and qualifiers provided for each data element. Then ask
yourself these questions:
- Do you need to add locally-defined data elements or other data elements recommended by domain-specific Dublin Core Working Groups for this database?
- Are there elements that do not apply to to the items that you wish to describe in the database?
- Are there schemes or qualifiers that do not apply to the items that you wish to describe in the database?
- Do you need to add locally-defined or domain-specific schemes or qualifiers?
- Would you like to change the field labels to terms that are more meaningful for your metadata specialists?
- Will many of the records in the database have the same values (constant data) for one or more data elements?
If you answer "yes" to one or more of these questions, you need to customize the database framework's template. This means that you modify the framework's template.xml file or other files that contribute to populating its data entry workform(s).
Do you want to customize the template?
- Yes. See Customizing DC Templates and appropriate step-by-step procedures referenced in that document.
- No.
Go to Question
.
Question:
Existing data to upload?
Do you have source data that you want to add to the database? If this source data is in SGML format, you can import it into the database and then subsequently edit this data with Record Builder. (There are a few differences between a standard SSDOT batch load and the batch load procedure to use if you want to edit the data with Record Builder. See Batch and Individual Record Editing for DC Databases.) You can also switch between batch and individual record editing as needed.
- Yes. See the procedure Batch Loading Data into a Local DC Database Updated with Record Builder.
- No. Begin using Record Builder to add new records to the database.
See Also