MGC Resource Editor Tool

This tool for ArcGIS Desktop generates the folder/file structure required to upload data resources to the Commons. It will gather the files and populate the folders required for a successful upload of a single data resource. It is also usefull for more complex resources as it builds the basic folder structure required and manual adjustments can be added.

Download Resource Editor
Note: Download also includes Data Resource Validaton Tool add-in.

Install Resource Editor
Unzip download file to local computer and double-click (mgc_resource_editor.esriAddIn) file. To enable tools in ArcMap simply open ArcMap and choose customize > Toolbars > MGC Resource Editor. If ArcMap is open at the time of install, you may need to close and reopen ArcMap to enable the tools. 

Toolbar Icons

Open the MGC Resource Editor form

Open (this) associated help document

Using MGC Resource Editor

1. Open ArcGIS and load your data resource
2. Symbolize the data as you would like it to appear (the Resource Editor will use this symbolization to create a layer file)
3. Rename the layer in ArcGIS by double clicking the data layer name in the TOC to open the Layer Properties dialogue box. Change the layer name in the General Tab to something easily recognizable - e.g. State Highways,
   Rice County Parcels, Metro Transit Lines, etc.
4. Click the Open MGC Resource Editor form on the toolbar.
5. The initial screen will prompt you to either choose an existing resource or create a new one. Previous resources created with the tool will be listed.  For this example we will walk through creating a "new resource" but the same steps apply to updating an existing resource. Choose "Make New Dataset"
6. In the MGC Resource Editor form that appears, the following information is required:
   
   1. Staging Folder: Specify a staging folder by manually typing it into the text box, or by using the ‘Navigate to Staging Folder’ button. Once a staging folder is specified, this location will appear when the app is reopened. It’s suggested you maintain a consistent location on your computer’s hard drive for staging folders.
   2. Publisher: Choose your organization in the Publisher drop-down list. If you do not see your organization listed, contact Zeb Thomas (DNR) to be added to the publisher list. Once you’ve selected a publisher, this information is saved and will appear in future instances of the application. This information will be written to the data resource’s dataResource.xml file.
   3. ISO Topic Category: Choose one or more ISO topic categories that apply to your data resource. This information will be written to the data resource’s dataResource.xml file.
   4. Base Folder Name: The base-folder name is auto-generated from the first topic category selected. By default, an “_UNTITLED” string is affixed to the name. Change this to something more descriptive. Naming requirements for the base-folder name are as follows:
      1.  32 characters or fewer, including ISO Topic Category prefix.
      2.  letters all lowercase, a-z
      3.  no special characters
      4.  no spaces; underbars are OK
      5.  do not alter the ISO Topic Category prefix that is assigned to the base-folder name
   5. Descriptive Name: the user should enter a descriptive name. The descriptive name is free-form text, in plain English, representing the title of the dataset.
   6. Source Metadata XML File:
      
      1. If a metadata file for the data resource already exists, navigate to it using the ‘Load Metadata XML’ button.
      2. If a metadata file needs to be generated, navigate to the Minnesota Metadata Editor application to create one using the MME button.
         After your first time navigating to the MME executable location, the button will remember the application’s location and will load from memory in future instances. See the MME tool internal help for metadata field definitions. More information on the MME tool, including a tutorial, is online at MnGeo.
      3. The Commons also requires an html version of the metadata; however, the MGC Resource Editor Add-in does not create this html. Instead, use the Minnesota Metadata Editor (Tools menu, "View Metadata as HTML" option), copy the html file into the "metadata folder" that the add-in creates, and name it "metadata.html".
          
   7. Sub Resource Information
      
      1. Source layer(s): Check layers to include them as sub resources in the data resource. Unchecked layers will be not be included.
         1. Add file-based sub resource: To add a file-based sub resource that does not currently exist in the open ArcMap document’s table of contents, click the ‘Add file-based sub resource’ button and navigate to the file. The file path and file name will be added to the source layer check box list.
         2. Add service-based sub resource: To add a service-based sub resource that does not currently exist in the open ArcMap document’s table of contents, click the ‘Add service-based sub resource’ button. A “New Service Sub Resource” source layer will appear in the source layer check box list. Select this item and modify the URL Type/Value/Description/Name. Once a URL information row is populated, another will appear below in case multiple URLs apply to the sub resource.
         3. Refresh list of layers. If you add data to your ArcMap session after you have started the MGC Resource Editor, this command will update the list of layers in the Source Layer list.
      2. Applicable URL Type/Value/Description/Name if service-based sub resource is being generated.