Upgrade Metadata (Conversion)
Summary
Updates an ArcGIS item's metadata or a stand-alone XML file to the current ArcGIS metadata format.
The current release of ArcGIS will only maintain information in the ArcGIS metadata format. For example, if an ArcGIS item has metadata in another format it must be upgraded to ArcGIS metadata before ArcGIS will automatically update it with the item's current properties; the item's properties are recorded in ArcGIS metadata elements.
Upgrading metadata for the current release of ArcGIS will not change the existing metadata except to add ArcGIS metadata alongside the existing information. The existing metadata will remain unchanged.
Usage
When you view an ArcGIS item's metadata or a stand-alone metadata XML file in the Description tab, a notification will prompt you if an item has FGDC-format metadata that hasn't been upgraded yet; clicking Yes will open this tool with the Upgrade Type set to FGDC_TO_ARCGIS. Also, an Upgrade button may be available that will run this tool. If you have many items or metadata XML files you want to upgrade, run this tool as a batch process to upgrade all your metadata at once.
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The Source Metadata parameter has a complex data type. If you use this tool in a model, create a variable for the Source Metadata parameter in ModelBuilder by right-clicking the tool and choosing Make Variable > From Parameter > Source Metadata.
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When using this tool in ModelBuilder, the Output Metadata parameter is derived from the Source Metadata parameter.
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If you do not have write access to the ArcGIS item or its metadata or the stand-alone metadata XML file that you are trying to modify, this tool will complete successfully, but the item's original metadata will remain unchanged.
Syntax
| Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
Source_Metadata |
The item whose metadata will be upgraded, or a stand-alone XML file that will be upgraded. | Data Element; Layer |
Upgrade_Type |
The type of conversion that will take place.
An upgrade type must be specified; otherwise, no conversion will be performed. | String |
Code Sample
Upgrades information in an ArcGIS item's metadata formatted following the FGDC CSDGM standard to ArcGIS metadata.
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.UpgradeMetadata_conversion ("locationMap.mxd", "FGDC_TO_ARCGIS")