Controlled Keywords, Uncontrolled Keywords and Tags in InPort
Table of Contents
Overview
One of the most important tasks of writing metadata is providing rich, useful, and standardized descriptors to aid in metadata discovery and search. In InPort, this can be accomplished through the use of Controlled Keywords, Uncontrolled Keywords, and Tags. This help guide is intended to assist users in choosing the appropriate method for the various descriptors they will be using.
Controlled Keywords
Controlled Keywords In InPort represent a set of standardized, controlled vocabularies that are commonly used within the InPort community and across NOAA, and are officially supported in InPort.
Using shared, normalized vocabularies helps to delineate relationships between metadata records in a clear and unambiguous way, in contrast to free-text or uncontrolled vocabularies. This, in turn, improves discoverability and search within metadata catalogs, as well as the transmissibility and discoverability of metadata records in other systems.
When describing metadata, authors should aim to use Controlled Keywords whenever possible. In particular, NASA's Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Keywords has emerged as a de facto standard within NOAA for describing metadata. Consequently, even if your organization standardizes on a different thesaurus, we strongly recommend also including equivalent GCMD Keywords for the most important keywords whenever possible.
Both Controlled Keywords and Uncontrolled Keywords are included in InPort standards-based metadata exports for dissemination (such as ISO 19115 and Dataset Schema). This is in contrast to Tags, which are not.
However, all Controlled Keywords, Uncontrolled Keywords and Tags, are indexed and searchable within InPort.
Thesaurus Support
In InPort, Controlled Keywords can only be entered from the currently supported InPort Controlled Keywords Thesauri. Unlike Uncontrolled Keywords, they cannot be entered as free-text and must be selected from a controlled list. We welcome suggestions and feedback on supporting additional thesauri in the future which may provide value for the broader InPort community.
Uncontrolled Keywords
Uncontrolled Keywords in InPort represent keywords belonging to uncontrolled vocabularies, or controlled vocabularies that InPort does not officially support. They may or may not be associated with a thesaurus, and are entered in InPort as unconstrained, free-text descriptors.
We recommend the use of Uncontrolled Keywords for:
- keywords that do not belong to an existing controlled vocabulary
- keywords belonging to a vocabulary which is specific or internal to your organization
- keywords that belong to a controlled vocabulary that InPort does not support
Both Uncontrolled Keywords and Controlled Keywords are included in InPort standards-based metadata exports for dissemination, such as ISO 19115 and Dataset Schema.
In addition, Uncontrolled Keywords, along with Controlled Keywords and Tags, are included in the list of fields which are searched on by InPort's search functions.
Tags
Tags represent the most "lightweight" form of descriptors in InPort. They provide a way for InPort users to annotate their records with user-defined labels and vocabularies, in order to create topical relationships between records and facilitate search.
For example, a Program or a Group within a larger InPort Organization may choose to use their name as a Tag, to more easily search within their own records on InPort.
Tags are not meant to be associated with a thesaurus or controlled vocabulary, and should not be used when a Controlled Keyword or Uncontrolled Keyword is more appropriate.
Tags are included in the list of fields which are searched on by InPort's search functions. However, unlike Controlled/Uncontrolled Keywords, they are not included in InPort standards-based metadata exports for dissemination, such as ISO 19115 and Dataset Schema. Consequently, they are only intended for internal uses within InPort organizations, or solely within InPort.
Note that Tags are managed in the Catalog Details section, not the Keywords section.