When items are copied in ArcGIS, a flag is incorrectly added to the copied item's metadata, identifying it as ArcGIS metadata. This causes the Upgrade button to not appear in the Description tab when an item has FGDC (Federal Geographic Data Committee) metadata that has not been upgraded yet.
- Copy/paste file-based items in Windows Explorer if possible and practical.- Force metadata to be upgraded for ArcGIS by opening the Upgrade Metadata tool from the Search dialog box and using it to upgrade Version 9.3.1 metadata. Use the appropriate Upgrade Type depending on which metadata editor was used to create metadata in ArcGIS Desktop 9.3.1. This tool can be run for all items at once by opening it in batch mode from the ArcToolbox window. The Upgrade Metadata tool is in the Conversion toolbox in the Metadata toolset.