2. By the end of today’s session we will have
given you an introduction to:
• XML
• EAD
• EAD Editor
3. XML = Extensible Markup Language
XML is a system for creating languages:
◦ Or a meta-language
Use XML to design your own markup language,
consisting of meaningful tags that describe the data
they contain
Create a language for describing…anything
4. the ability to exchange/share data
provides advantages of cross-searching, so user can easily search
across and retrieve resources from a variety of different systems
allows users to move beyond individual websites for individual
resources
integrates information resources presented in different formats
XML facilitates interoperability
5. XML does not do anything itself. It is pure
information wrapped in XML tags
You must use other means to send, receive or
display the data
XML XML technologies
is used by to create
Detailed
description
to view in a
browser
Summary
entry to
view in a
browser
PDF for
print
6. XML is not about content, though there might be
certain restrictions on content
XML is essentially about structure
Creating a consistent structure via XML tagging enables
content to be easily identified (by machines) and used
in different ways
7. <title> Alice in Wonderland </title>
*XML allows you to define your tags*
<book>Alice in Wonderland</book>
<filmtitle>Alice in Wonderland</filmtitle>
<tag> content </tag>
8. Title Alice in Wonderland
Author Lewis Carroll
Extent 1 volume
Format hardback
10. Valid XML provides consistency and facilitates the exchange of
data
Valid XML is important for displaying, processing and
exchanging XML in a wider environment
a root element is required
<catalog>
…..all your tags and content…
</catalog>
closing tags are required
case matters
11. elements must be properly nested
<physdesc>
<extent>10 boxes</extent>
</physdesc>
<physdesc>
<extent>10 boxes</physdesc>
</extent>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kylemacdonald/3199283481/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iguanajo/297386921/
12. Look at the album information on your sheet of paper
In pairs, create xml tags for the information that you
see
e.g.
◦ <title></title>, <albumtitle></albumtitle>
◦ <artist></artist>, <singer></singer>, <band></band>
10 mins to create tags
5 mins to feedback
archiveshub.ac.uk
14. A Document Type Definition or Schema defines the
building blocks of an XML document
It specifies elements and attributes and defines how
they can be used
People can agree to use a common DTD/Schema for
interchanging data
15. XML file DTD or Schema Valid XML
Blue
Elephant
Papers
……………………
…………
Blue
Elephant
Papers Browse
List
16.
17.
18. International standard, supported by the W3C
Open, licence free and platform neutral
Human and machine readable
Hierarchical structure (good for archive descriptions)
Can be used for data exchange
◦ XML is the main basis for defining data exchange languages
◦ Meaningful tags facilitate extraction – data can be manipulated as
required
Government mandates XML for data exchange (e-GIF)
XML has been widely adopted commercially as well as in the public
sector
19. EAD = Encoded Archival Description
EAD is XML for finding aids
A data structure standard – not a content
standard
EAD Working Group (EADWG)
20. Allows finding aids to be indexed, searched, retrieved and
navigated
Compatible with ISAD(G)
Flexible enough to deal with all types of finding aids
◦ single or multi-level, long or short, lists or calendars etc.
Can create new finding aids as well as converting old ones to
standardised form
Can share data between systems
24. <archdesc level="fonds">
<did>
<unitid>GB 0001 Foster</unitid>
<unittitle>Papers of Dr Foster</unittitle>
<unitdate normal = "1820-1833">1820-1833</unitdate>
<repository>University of Gloucestershire</repository>
<physdesc>
<extent>1 box</extent>
<physfacet>Four folders of letters, 230 folios</physfacet>
</physdesc>
<langmaterial><language langcode=“eng”>English<language>
</langmaterial>
<origination>Dr Foster</origination>
</did>
25. EAD version 1 DTD
EAD 2002 DTD
EAD 2002 Schema
Available from http://www.loc.gov/ead/
Human-readable version: EAD Tag Library (Society of
American Archivists)
26. Library of Congress Official EAD site:
http://www.loc.gov/ead/
Tag Library: http://www.loc.gov/ead/tglib/index.html
EAD Roundtable Help Pages:
http://www.archivists.org/saagroups/ead/
27. It is XML, which is an international standard
It is a simple and effective way of structuring content
and providing meaning
Machines can manipulate the content in all sorts of
ways
It is a great format to store finding-aids
28. Not many UK archives currently using EAD as a storage format
EAD will increasingly be used as an export format from
proprietary database systems like CALM, for use in XML-based
gateways such as Aim25 and the Archives Hub
New software becoming available all the time, which makes it
easier to create, search and display XML – much of this is
open source and often free
31. Differences in how EAD is used
Encourages interoperability but still requires work to
ensure seamless cross-searching
EAD is flexible and includes a large number of tags
which has advantages and disadvantages
32. XML is an international standard for sharing
information
EAD is the XML language for archival finding aids
EAD is not a content standard
EAD will become increasingly important
Notes de l'éditeur
Talk about exchange of information – need to agree rules – DTD/schemas
Key UKAD partners: Access 2 Archives, Archives Hub, AIM25, Archives Wales, Genesis, Janus, National Register of Archives, Scottish Archives Network, A Vision of Britain
