Documenting Catalog Services For the Web (CSW)
From Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP)
Catalog Services for the Web (CSW) Core Queryables
The Open Geospatial Consortium Catalog Services for the Web (CSW) standard defines eleven "Core Queryables" that must be supported in any compliant implementation. Profiles of CSW map these queryables to concepts and xPaths for particular metadata dialects.
Crosswalks
| Concept | Description | Dialect (Fit) Paths |
|---|---|---|
| Theme Keyword | A word or phrase that describes some aspect of a resource. Can be one of several types. Note: The general identification keywords usually have a type of "theme" and are refered to as "theme keywords". Other types and vocabularies are used for other information. Service Entry Resource Format (SERF) requires a Science and a Service GCMD Keyword. This concept is called Subject in the CSW Specification. | ISO (1) /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords[gmd:type/gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode='theme']/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:descriptiveKeywords/mri:MD_Keywords[mri:type/mri:MD_KeywordTypeCode='theme']/mri:keyword/gco:CharacterString ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:CategoryKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:TopicKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:TermKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:VariableLevel1Keyword/echo:Value ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:VariableLevel2Keyword/echo:Value ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:VariableLevel3Keyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:DetailedVariableKeyword DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Category DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Topic DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Term DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_1 DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_2 DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_3 DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Detailed_Variable |
| Resource Title | A short description of the resource. The title should be descriptive enough so that when a user is presented with a list of titles the general content of the data set can be determined. | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:citation/cit:CI_Citation/cit:title/gco:CharacterString ECHO /*/echo:ShortName>/*/echo:LongName DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_Title DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Title |
| Abstract | A paragraph describing the resource. Note: This concept is called "Desciption" in Catalog Services for the Web. | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:abstract/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:abstract/gco:CharacterString ECHO /*/echo:Description DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Summary/dif:Abstract |
| Resource Format | The physical or digital manifestation of the resource | ISO /*/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributor/gmd:MD_Distributor/gmd:distributorFormat/gmd:MD_Format/gmd:name/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributionFormat/gmd:MD_Format/gmd:name/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributionFormat/mrd:MD_Format ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributor/mrd:MD_Distributor/mrd:distributorFormat/mrd:MD_Format ECHO /*/echo:DataFormat DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Distribution/dif:Distribution_Format |
| Metadata Identifier | A phrase or string which uniquely identifies the metadata file/record. | ISO /*/gmd:fileIdentifier/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataIdentifier/mcc:MD_Identifier DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_ID |
| Modified Date | Date on which the record was created or updated within the catalogue | ISO /*/gmd:dateStamp/gco:Date ISO /*/gmd:dateStamp/gco:DateTime ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:dateInfo/cit:CI_Date[cit:dateType/cit:CI_DateTypeCode="lastUpdate"]/cit:date/gco:DateTime ECHO /*/echo:LastUpdate DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Last_DIF_Revision_Date |
| Resource Type | A resource code identifying the type of resource; e.g. dataset, a collection, an application (See MD_ScopeCode) for which the metadata describes. | ISO /*/gmd:hierarchyLevel/gmd:MD_ScopeCode ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataScope/mdb:MD_MetadataScope/mdb:resourceScope/mcc:MD_ScopeCode |
| Bounding Box | A bounding box for identifying a geographic area of interest Note: This concept is called "Coverage" in the CSW Specification | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:extent/gex:EX_Extent/gex:geographicElement/gex:EX_GeographicBoundingBox ECHO /*/echo:Spatial/echo:HorizontalSpatialDomain/echo:Geometry/echo:BoundingRectangle DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage |
| Coordinate Reference System (CRS) | Geographic Coordinate Reference System (Authority and ID) for the BoundingBox | ISO /*/gmd:referenceSystemInfo/gmd:MD_ReferenceSystem/gmd:referenceSystemIdentifier/gmd:RS_Identifier/gmd:code ISO /*/gmd:referenceSystemInfo/gmd:MD_ReferenceSystem/gmd:referenceSystemIdentifier/gmd:RS_Identifier/gmd:codeSpace ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:referenceSystemInfo/mrs:MD_ReferenceSystem/mrs:referenceSystemIdentifier/mcc:MD_Identifier/mcc:code/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:referenceSystemInfo/mrs:MD_ReferenceSystem/mrs:referenceSystemIdentifier/mcc:MD_Identifier/mcc:codeSpace/gco:CharacterString ECHO /*/echo:Spatial/echo:HorizontalSpatialDomain/echo:Geometry/echo:CoordinateSystem |
| Association | Complete statement of a one-to-one relationship | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:aggregationInfo/gmd:MD_AggregateInformation ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:associatedResource/mri:MD_AssociatedResource ECHO /*/echo:AssociatedDIFs |
Catalog Services for the Web (CSW) Core Returnable Properties
The Open Geospatial Consortium Catalog Services for the Web (CSW) standard defines eleven "Core Queryables" that must be supported in any compliant implementation. Profiles of CSW map these queryables to concepts and xPaths for particular metadata dialects.
Crosswalks
| Concept | Description | Dialect (Fit) Paths |
|---|---|---|
| Resource Title | A short description of the resource. The title should be descriptive enough so that when a user is presented with a list of titles the general content of the data set can be determined. | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:title/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:citation/cit:CI_Citation/cit:title/gco:CharacterString ECHO /*/echo:ShortName>/*/echo:LongName DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_Title DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Title |
| Author / Originator | The principal author of the resource Note: In CSW this concept is called Creator | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty[gmd:role/gmd:CI_RoleCode='author'] ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty[gmd:role/gmd:CI_RoleCode= 'originator'] ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:citation/cit:CI_Citation/cit:citedResponsibleParty/cit:CI_Responsibility[cit:role/cit:CI_RoleCode='author'] ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:citation/cit:CI_Citation/cit:citedResponsibleParty/cit:CI_Responsibility[cit:role/cit:CI_RoleCode='originator'] ECHO /echo:Contacts/echo:Contact[Role='Data Originator'] DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Creator |
| Theme Keyword | A word or phrase that describes some aspect of a resource. Can be one of several types. Note: The general identification keywords usually have a type of "theme" and are refered to as "theme keywords". Other types and vocabularies are used for other information. Service Entry Resource Format (SERF) requires a Science and a Service GCMD Keyword. This concept is called Subject in the CSW Specification. | ISO (1) /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords[gmd:type/gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode='theme']/gmd:keyword/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:descriptiveKeywords/mri:MD_Keywords[mri:type/mri:MD_KeywordTypeCode='theme']/mri:keyword/gco:CharacterString ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:CategoryKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:TopicKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:TermKeyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:VariableLevel1Keyword/echo:Value ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:VariableLevel2Keyword/echo:Value ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:VariableLevel3Keyword ECHO (1) /*/echo:ScienceKeywords/echo:ScienceKeyword/echo:DetailedVariableKeyword DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Category DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Topic DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Term DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_1 DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_2 DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Variable_Level_3 DIF (1) /dif:DIF/dif:Parameters/dif:Detailed_Variable |
| Abstract | A paragraph describing the resource. Note: This concept is called "Desciption" in Catalog Services for the Web. | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:abstract/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:abstract/gco:CharacterString ECHO /*/echo:Description DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Summary/dif:Abstract |
| Publisher | Publisher of the cited resource | ISO //gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty[gmd:role/gmd:CI_RoleCode='publisher']/gmd:organisationName/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 //cit:CI_Responsibility[cit:role/cit:CI_RoleCode='publisher']/cit:party/cit:CI_Organisation/cit:name/gco:CharacterString DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Publisher DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Reference/dif:Publisher |
| Contributor Name | Contributor to the resource | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:citedResponsibleParty/gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty[gmd:role/gmd:CI_RoleCode = 'manyOptions']/gmd:CI_Individual/gmd:name/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:citation/cit:CI_Citation/cit:citedResponsibleParty/cit:CI_Responsibility[cit:role/cit:CI_RoleCode='manyOptions']/cit:party/cit:CI_Individual/cit:name/gco:CharacterString |
| Modified Date | Date on which the record was created or updated within the catalogue | ISO /*/gmd:dateStamp/gco:Date ISO /*/gmd:dateStamp/gco:DateTime ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:dateInfo/cit:CI_Date[cit:dateType/cit:CI_DateTypeCode="lastUpdate"]/cit:date/gco:DateTime ECHO /*/echo:LastUpdate DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Last_DIF_Revision_Date |
| Resource Type | A resource code identifying the type of resource; e.g. dataset, a collection, an application (See MD_ScopeCode) for which the metadata describes. | ISO /*/gmd:hierarchyLevel/gmd:MD_ScopeCode ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataScope/mdb:MD_MetadataScope/mdb:resourceScope/mcc:MD_ScopeCode |
| Resource Format | The physical or digital manifestation of the resource | ISO /*/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributor/gmd:MD_Distributor/gmd:distributorFormat/gmd:MD_Format/gmd:name/gco:CharacterString ISO /*/gmd:distributionInfo/gmd:MD_Distribution/gmd:distributionFormat/gmd:MD_Format/gmd:name/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributionFormat/mrd:MD_Format ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:distributionInfo/mrd:MD_Distribution/mrd:distributor/mrd:MD_Distributor/mrd:distributorFormat/mrd:MD_Format ECHO /*/echo:DataFormat DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Distribution/dif:Distribution_Format |
| Metadata Identifier | A phrase or string which uniquely identifies the metadata file/record. | ISO /*/gmd:fileIdentifier/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:metadataIdentifier/mcc:MD_Identifier DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Entry_ID |
| Source Citation | Reference to the processing input source. | ISO /*/gmd:dataQualityInfo/gmd:DQ_DataQuality/gmd:lineage/gmd:LI_Lineage/gmd:source/gmd:LI_Source/gmd:sourceCitation/gmd:CI_Citation ISO /*/gmd:dataQualityInfo/gmd:DQ_DataQuality/gmd:lineage/gmd:LI_Lineage/gmd:processStep/gmd:LI_ProcessStep/gmd:source/gmd:LI_Source/gmd:sourceCitation/gmd:CI_Citation ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:resourceLineage/mrl:LI_Lineage/mrl:source/mrl:LE_Source/mrl:sourceCitation/cit:CI_Citation ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:resourceLineage/mrl:LI_Lineage/mrl:processStep/mrl:LE_ProcessStep/mrl:source/mrl:LE_Source/mrl:sourceCitation/cit:CI_Citation |
| Metadata Language | Language of the metadata | ISO /*/gmd:language/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:defaultLocale/lan:PT_Locale/lan:language/lan:LanguageCode |
| Related Resource Citation | Citation information about the associated resource. | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:aggregationInfo/gmd:MD_AggregateInformation/gmd:aggregateDataSetName/gmd:CI_Citation ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/gmd:aggregationInfo/gmd:MD_AggregateInformation/gmd:aggregateDataSetName/gmd:CI_Citation ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/mri:MD_DataIdentification/mri:associatedResource/mri:MD_AssociatedResource/mri:name/cit:CI_Citation ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/mri:associatedResource/mri:MD_AssociatedResource/mri:name/cit:CI_Citation |
| Bounding Box | A bounding box for identifying a geographic area of interest Note: This concept is called "Coverage" in the CSW Specification | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/srv:extent/gmd:EX_Extent/gmd:geographicElement/gmd:EX_GeographicBoundingBox ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:extent/gex:EX_Extent/gex:geographicElement/gex:EX_GeographicBoundingBox ECHO /*/echo:Spatial/echo:HorizontalSpatialDomain/echo:Geometry/echo:BoundingRectangle DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Spatial_Coverage |
| Rights | Information about rights held in and over the resource | ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_LegalConstraints ISO-1 /mdb:MD_Metadata/mdb:identificationInfo/*/mri:resourceConstraints/mco:MD_LegalConstraints |
Catalog Service for the Web (CSW) Additional Queryable Properties
Additional queryable properties defined in the ISO Profile of CSW (Table 10)
Crosswalks
| Concept | Description | Paths |
|---|---|---|
| Revision Date | Date of revision of the cited resource | ISO //gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:date/gmd:CI_Date[gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode='revision']/gmd:date/gco:Date ISO //gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:date/gmd:CI_Date[gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode='revision']/gmd:date/gco:DateTime ISO-1 //cit:CI_Citation/cit:date/cit:CI_Date[gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode='revision']/cit:date/gco:Date ISO-1 //cit:CI_Citation/cit:date/cit:CI_Date[gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode='revision']/cit:date/gco:DateTime |
| Publication Date | Date of publication of the cited resource | DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_Release_Date DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Reference/dif:Publication_Date Dryad dcterms:dateSubmitted EML /eml:dataset/eml:pubDate/eml:text FGDC /fgdc:metadata/fgdc:idinfo/fgdc:citation/fgdc:citeinfo/fgdc:pubdate ISO //gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:date/gmd:CI_Date[gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode='publication']/gmd:date/gco:Date ISO //gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:date/gmd:CI_Date[gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode='publication']/gmd:date/gco:DateTime ISO-1 //cit:CI_Citation/cit:date/cit:CI_Date[gmd:dateType/gmd:CI_DateTypeCode='publication']/cit:date/gco:Date |
| Organization Name | Name of the organization | ECHO /echo:Collection/echo:Contacts/echo:Contact/echo:OrganizationName ISO //gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty/gmd:organisationName/gco:CharacterString OGC-SOS /sos:Capabilities/ows:ServiceProvider/ows:ProviderName |
| Has Security Constraints | Are there any security constraints? | DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Access_Constraints DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Use_Constraints ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo//*/gmd:resourceConstraints/gmd:MD_SecurityConstraints |
| Metadata Language | Language of the metadata | ISO /*/gmd:language/gco:CharacterString |
| Resource Identifier | Identifier for the cited resource | DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Data_Set_Citation/dif:Dataset_DOI DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Reference/dif:DOI ECHO /echo:Collection/echo:DataSetId ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:citation/gmd:CI_Citation/gmd:identifier/gmd:MD_Identifier/gmd:code/gco:CharacterString ISO-1 //cit:CI_Citation/cit:identifier/cit:MD_Identifier/cit:code THREDDS /thredds:catalog/thredds:dataset/@thredds:ID netCDF /nc:netcdf/nc:attribute[@name=id]/@value |
| Parent Identifier | A unique identifier for a parent dataset or collection | DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Parent_DIF ISO /*/gmd:parentIdentifier/gco:CharacterString |
| Keyword Type | Methods used to group similar keywords | DIF /dif:DIF/dif:Related_URL/dif:URL_Content_Type/dif:Type > /dif:DIF/dif:Related_URL/dif:URL_Content_Type/dif:Subtype ISO /*/gmd:identificationInfo/*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords/gmd:MD_Keywords/gmd:type/gmd:MD_KeywordTypeCode OGC-SOS /sos:Capabilities/ows:ServiceIdentification/ows:Keywords/ows:Type |
xPath Note: The xPaths included in this table use several wildcards. // means any path, so //gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty indicates a gmd:CI_ResponsibleParty anywhere in an XML file. /*/ indicates a single level with several possible elements. This usually indicates one of several concrete realizations of an abstract object. For example /*/gmd:identificationInfo could be gmd:MD_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo or gmi:MI_Metadata/gmd:identificationInfo and gmd:identificationInfo//*/gmd:descriptiveKeywords could be gmd:identificationInfo/gmd:MD_DataIdentification/gmd:descriptiveKeywords or gmd:identificationInfo/srv:SV_ServiceIdentification/gmd:descriptiveKeywords.
