Record structure metadata
Structural metadata is used to structure the XML document that contains metadata about research domain objects.
These elements fulfil a technical function in exchanging metadata using the RIF-CS Schema.
Registry Objects <registryObjects>
Meaning and purpose
This element is the root element for any RIF-CS compliant document used for data interchange.
It appears at the beginning and end of any XML document that complies with the RIF-CS Schema. It has no relationship to objects being described, but exists solely as part of the interchange infrastructure.
It is a wrapper element for metadata records (registry objects).
RIF-CS best practice guidelines
Registry Objects is not repeatable. There can only be one <registryObjects> element in each RIF-CS document.
RIF-CS Example
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<registryObjects xmlns="http://ands.org.au/standards/rif-cs/registryObjects" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://ands.org.au/standards/rif-cs/registryObjects http://services.ands.org.au/documentation/rifcs/schema/registryObjects.xsd">
<!--remainder of document containing one or many registry objects-->
</registryObjects>
Registry Object <registryObject>
Meaning and purpose
A registry object is equivalent to a metadata record (a set of metadata describing a single object or entity). There will be one registry object for each activity, collection, party or service that is described by a set of metadata in the ANDS Collections Registry.
This element appears at the beginning and end of each section of an XML document that complies with the RIF-CS Schema. It marks the start and finish of a metadata record. It is a wrapper element containing descriptive and administrative metadata for a single registry object.
Group is an attribute of registryObject in the RIF-CS Schema.
RIF-CS best practice guidelines
This element can be repeated as often as required within a RIF-CS XML document, although there may be technical limits on the number of records imposed by harvesting software.
To avoid duplication, check to see whether an object already exists before creating a new Registry Object for that object.
RIF-CS examples
This example shows the outline of a RIF-CS XML document containing two metadata records (registry objects).
<registryObjects>
<registryObject group="Monash University">
<!--remainder of record1-->
</registryObject>
<registryObject group="Monash University">
<!--remainder of record2-->
</registryObject>
</registryObjects>
| Date | Change history |
| April 2010 | Consultation draft |
| 26 October 2010 | First web publication |
| 14 April 2011 | Updated and corrected examples |
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