ArcMap

Upgrade Metadata

Summary

Updates an ArcGIS item's metadata or a stand-alone XML file to the current ArcGIS metadata format.

The current release of ArcGIS will only maintain information in the ArcGIS metadata format. For example, if an ArcGIS item has metadata in another format it must be upgraded to ArcGIS metadata before ArcGIS will automatically update it with the item's current properties; the item's properties are recorded in ArcGIS metadata elements.

Upgrading metadata for the current release of ArcGIS will not change the existing metadata except to add ArcGIS metadata alongside the existing information. The existing metadata will remain unchanged.

Learn more about upgrading metadata

Usage

  • When you view an ArcGIS item's metadata or a stand-alone metadata XML file in the Description tab, a notification will prompt you if an item has FGDC-format metadata that hasn't been upgraded yet; clicking Yes will open this tool with the Upgrade Type set to FGDC_TO_ARCGIS. Also, an Upgrade button may be available that will run this tool. If you have many items or metadata XML files you want to upgrade, run this tool as a batch process to upgrade all your metadata at once.

  • The Source Metadata parameter has a complex data type. If you use this tool in a model, create a variable for the Source Metadata parameter in ModelBuilder by right-clicking the tool, pointing to Make Variable, pointing to From Parameter, and then clicking Source Metadata.

  • When using this tool in ModelBuilder, the Output Metadata parameter is derived from the Source Metadata parameter.

  • If you do not have write access to the ArcGIS item or its metadata or the stand-alone metadata XML file that you are trying to modify, this tool will complete successfully, but the item's original metadata will remain unchanged.

Syntax

UpgradeMetadata(Source_Metadata, Upgrade_Type)
ParameterExplanationData Type
Source_Metadata

The item whose metadata will be upgraded, or a stand-alone XML file that will be upgraded.

Data Element; Layer
Upgrade_Type

The type of conversion that will take place.

  • ESRIISO_TO_ARCGIS —Upgrades ESRI-ISO-format metadata. ESRI-ISO metadata is typically created with the ISO metadata editing wizard provided with ArcGIS Desktop 9.3.1 and earlier releases.
  • FGDC_TO_ARCGIS —Upgrades FGDC-format metadata. For example, FGDC metadata may have been created in ArcGIS Desktop 9.3.1 with the FGDC metadata editor. FGDC metadata may have been created outside ArcGIS.

An upgrade type must be specified; otherwise, no conversion will be performed.

String

Code sample

Upgrade FGDC metadata to ArcGIS metadata

Upgrades information in an ArcGIS item's metadata formatted following the FGDC CSDGM standard to ArcGIS metadata.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.UpgradeMetadata_conversion ("locationMap.mxd", "FGDC_TO_ARCGIS")

Environments

Licensing information

  • Basic: Yes
  • Standard: Yes
  • Advanced: Yes

Related topics