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Creating a Metadata Registry with (mostly) Open Source Tools

Course Description: This class describes how to build a metadata registry that complies with ISO/IEC 11179 standards using mostly freely available Open Source tools. These technologies include XML, XML Schemas, ISO/IEC 11179 standards, XML transforms (XSLT 2.0), Apache Ant 1.6, Eclipse 3.1 and Saxon 8. Although most of these tools are licensed under various flavors of Open Source tools, we do recommend the use of XMLSpy which does require a software license.

Target Audience: Metadata architects and software developers.

Prerequisites: To be most effective, course participants should have a background in XML, XML Schema and XML transformations.  This class will introduce the concepts of Apache Ant, build files and the ant targets used to build complete web sites.

Sample Course Content

1. Overview of Apache Ant
2. Ant targets
3. Ant tasks
4. Creating a reproducible build process
5. Structure of metadata registries and data element structures
6. ISO/IEC 11170 attributes
7. Presentation attributes
8. Capturing semantic equivalents
9. Capturing data sources
10. Business benefits of managed metadata
11. Metadata workflow
12. Metadata registry standards
13. ISO/IEC 11179 metadata registry standards
14. Metadata Semantics
15. Classification schemes
16. Representation terms
17. Visualization transforms
18. SQL transforms
19. Standard reports
20. System-specific reports
21. Public (Internet) publishing
22. Private (Intranet) publishing

Optional Additional Topics

1. National Information Exchange Model (NIEM) - Recommended for state and federal agencies
2. Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM) - Recommended for public safety agencies
3. Web Ontology Language - OWL exports
4. FreeMind transformations
5. MindManager transformations
6. XMI transformations
7. CWM transformations

Labs

1. Installing Apache Ant
2. Installing Eclipse 3.1
3. Installing Eclipse 3.1 Plug-ins
4. Performing XML transformations (XSLT) with Apache Ant

Length: 2-5 days depending on participant background and options

Cost: Approximately $1,500 per day with a two day minimum.  Add $95 for each additional student above 10.  Customization work is performed at $150.00/hr.  This price does not include lodging, transportation or classroom setup time.

Classroom setup: This class is designed to teach participants how to create their own build environment.  Participants should each bring their own laptop with at least 1GB free disk space.  Classroom experience will be enhanced if the following software is pre-installed on each laptop (Apache Ant 1.6 or greater, Saxon 8 libraries or greater, Eclipse 3.1 or greater). In addition the use of XMLSpy^(TM) for viewing and modifying XML Schemas is strongly encouraged.