contents   previous   next

12.8  Streamlining database curation

Curating data to make quality archives is a valuable and difficult task. Typically datasets are submitted to a database team (as attachments to emails, or via web forms), and need to be edited and checked before they are submitted to the curated database.

Catalyzer's flexiblity in setting data entry forms makes it ideal for this purpose. The database curator can set up the structure of the catalog specifying all the required fields, and the people submitting data can use Catalyzer to enter their data. The database curator can also create Template Catalogs, with some fields already filled out, and controls on what can be added / removed.

The catalogs and data can then be submitted to the database team - and the curation process will be simpler as the information will already be in the correct structure. Catalogs are saved as XML, which makes them simple to add to existing database infrastructure. The submission itself can use the upload facilities built into Catalyzer (which will upload catalogs and data to an FTP server).