Workflow

This is a workflow for using GeoNetwork to meet the Government’s guidance on sharing tabular data.

Choosing a data format

We recommend using CSV for your non-spatial tabular datasets to meet Government data sharing guidance but JSON may be a more suitable format if the data is more complex. See Government API guidelines for information on good practice for JSON.

If you are more accustomed to sharing data as an Excel spreadsheet, we would strongly recommend that you convert to CSV as above for data sharing to avoid security risks from macros, or problems arising from Excel’s auto-formatting functionality.

Formatting your data as a CSV

The Government’s guidance on a tabular data standard recommends that you share non-spatial metadata in CSV format, meeting the following specifications:

0 or 1 header rows (preferrably 1)
After the header row, each row should represent a record (eg no blank lines, totals or so on)
Fields are separated by commas, with text optionally delimited with double quotes
All rows have the same number of fields
Line-breaks use windows style “\r\n”
Use UTF8 for encoding
No Byte Order Mark (see the link above for more information)

Creating a metadata record

Log into GeoNetwork as a user with Editor priviliges or higher and navigate to the Contribute Tab. Choose Add a new record and then select Non geographic dataset from the list on the left. Assuming you have followed the configuration instructions you should be offered the template Template for metadata in ISO19139 non-spatial format. Select it by clicking on it, then choose the group you wish to create the record in, and finally click the +Create button on the right.

Fill in all the fields shown in the default non-spatial view once the record’s edititng page opens. Remember to save the changes before closing the window using the buttons at the top of the page.

Create a non-spatial record

Uploading your dataset

In your non-spatial record editing view, use the Associated resourcses wizard in the top right and click +Add. From the list of options, choose Link an online resource.

In the Metadata file store section to the right, click the +Choose or drop resource here button to navigate to your CSV file. Once it is uploaded, click on its name in the list so that some of the options on the left (like the URL and Resource name) are auto-completed for you.

Fill in a Description, and choose Download from the list of Functions. You can leave the Application profile section blank.

Finally, click the Add online resource button.

Attach file to record

Important

GeoNetwork will check that the URL to the CSV file is reachable, and will show you an error message at the bottom if it is not. In that case, check the URL is correct.

Creating a Feature Catalog record from your dataset

A feature catalog describes the data model of the dataset with the list of tables, attributes, definitions, list of values, etc.

Feature catalogs can be described:

as a document (e.g. PDF or CSV) and linked to the metadata record (see Linking a document)
as a record and described using the ISO19115-3 standard (replacing ISO19110)

Warning

Users downloading a record will need to download the associated feature catalog (or any associated resources) separately as this is not currently downloaded at the same time by default.

Creating a link to a Feature Catalog

Log into GeoNetwork as a user with Editor priviliges or higher and find the metadata record for your dataset
Start an editing session of the metadata record in Default view
On the right-hand side click the Add button of the Associated resources panel
Choose Link to a feature catalog from the dropdown menu
In the pop-up window that opens, use the search bar at the top to locate an existing feature catalog or insert a link to a remote catalog
Click on the Link to a feature catalog button to link the two resources

Associated resources panel showing the dropdown menu options and the button to choose for linking a feature catalog

Link a feature catalog pop-up window — “Link a feature catalog” pop-up window

If the steps above have been successful, you should see your linked Feature Catalog in the Associated resources panel on the right-hand side. Remember to save the changes before closing the window using the buttons at the top of the page.

Associated resources panel showing a linked feature catalog