5.1: The Enrich View
This section describes how to input and edit metadata using the Enrich view.

Contents
Simple Instructions:
The collection tree
The MetaEdit Controls
The value tree
The metadata table

Simple Instructions:

Use the Enrich view to assign metadata to the documents in the collection. Metadata is data about data -- typically title, author, creation date, and so on. Each metadata item has two parts: "element" tells what kind of item it is (such as author), and "value" gives the value of that metadata element (such as the author's name).

On the left of the "Enrich" view is the Collection Tree. To the right is the Metadata Table, which shows metadata for any selected files or folders in the Collection Tree. Columns are named in grey at the top, and can be resized by dragging the separating line. Clicking any row transfers its details to the MetaEdit Controls below. If several files are selected, black text indicates that the value is common to all of the selected files, while grey text indicates that it is not. Black values may be updated or removed, while grey ones can be removed from those that have it, or appended to the others.

A folder icon may appear beside some metadata entries. This indicates that the values are inherited from a parent (or ancestor) folder. Inherited metadata cannot be edited or removed, only appended to or overwritten. Click on the folder icon to go immediately to the folder where the metadata is assigned.

The MetaEdit Controls at the lower right appear only when a file is selected from the tree and a row is selected from the table. Use them to update, append, and remove the metadata value. The value field is for entering or editing the metadata value. Beside it is a button labelled "..." which, when clicked, opens a larger editing box. In the buttons below, "Append" assigns the value as new metadata and adds it to any existing values for the selected element, "Replace" overwrites the selected existing value with the new one, and "Remove" clears the selected value. Underneath, labelled "All Previous Values", is the "Value Tree".

The Value Tree expands and collapses. Usually it is a list that shows all values entered previously for the selected element. Clicking an entry automatically places it into the value field. Conversely, typing in the text field selects the Value Tree entry that starts with the characters you have typed. Pressing [Enter] auto-completes the typing with the selected value.

Metadata values can be organised into a hierarchy. This is shown in the Value Tree using folders for internal levels. Hierarchical values can be entered using the character "\" to separate the levels. For example, "Cards\Red\Diamonds\Seven" might be used in a hierarchy that represents a pack of playing cards. This enables values to be grouped together. Groups can also be assigned as metadata to files.

Greenstone extracts metadata automatically from documents into a metadata set whose elements are prefixed by "ex.". This has no value tree and cannot be edited, so the edit controls are hidden if such an entry is selected. The "..." button still serves to expand the value, but the text cannot be edited.