How To: Import and Export Metadata without Changing the Metadata Content or Format

Summary

The instructions provided describe how to import and export metadata without changing the metadata content or format. There are several options available for importing and exporting the metadata of ArcGIS items. Metadata can be imported and exported from the Description tab in the Catalog window and ArcCatalog, from the ArcCatalog Metadata toolbar, and by using the metadata geoprocessing tools.

Note:
With these options, if the source information is not stored in the ArcGIS metadata format, it is converted to the ArcGIS metadata format before being imported.

The Metadata Importer tool retrieves metadata from the source item and transfers it to the target item without making any changes. The source and target may be ArcGIS items or stand-alone metadata XML files.

Procedure

Use the Metadata Importer tool to import and export metadata from XML documents or ArcGIS items to XML documents or ArcGIS items.

Importing
1. In ArcMap or ArcCatalog, navigate to ArcToolbox > Conversion Tools > Metadata and double-click Metadata Importer.
2. For Source Metadata, click the navigation button and select the data that contains the metadata to be imported.
3. For Target Metadata, click the navigation button and select the XML document or ArcGIS item that the metadata will be imported to.

Note:
Create a new XML document for importing by right-clicking a folder and selecting New > XML Document.

4. Click OK to run the Metadata Importer tool.

Exporting
1. In ArcMap or ArcCatalog, navigate to ArcToolbox > Conversion Tools > Metadata and double-click Metadata Importer.
2. For Source Metadata, click the navigation button and select the data that contains the metadata to be exported.
3. For Target Metadata, click the navigation button and select the XML document or ArcGIS item that the metadata will be exported to.

Note:
Create a new XML document for exporting by right-clicking a folder and selecting New > XML Document.

4. Click OK to run the Metadata Importer tool.

Article ID: 000011288

Software:

ArcMap

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Import and export metadata without changing the metadata content or format

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