Programmatically modify a metadata element in ArcCatalog

Summary

This article shows how to modify a metadata element in ArcCatalog using ArcObjects.

Procedure

1. Start ArcCatalog.
2. Open the Visual Basic Editor.
   
   
   In ArcCatalog, select Tools > Macros > Visual Basic Editor.
   
   
3. In the Project Explorer window, expand Normal.gxt and select ArcCatalog Objects > ThisDocument then right-click and select View Code.
   
   
4. Copy the following code into the code module.
   
   

   Code:
   Sub ModifyMetadata()
   
   Dim pGxApp As IGxApplication
   Dim pGxObj As IGxObject
   Dim pMD As IMetadata
   Dim pPS As IPropertySet
   
   Set pGxApp = Application
   Set pGxObj = pGxApp.SelectedObject
   Set pMD = pGxObj
   Set pPS = pMD.Metadata
   
   'Modify the abstract metadata element
   pPS.SetProperty "idinfo/descript/abstract", "This is a test."
   pMD.Metadata = pPS
   
   End Sub

   
   
5. Close the Visual Basic Editor.
6. Select the data set containing metadata to update.
7. Run the code.
   
   
   A. In ArcCatalog, select Tools > Macros > Macros to display the Macros dialog box.
   
   B. Select a macro and click Run.