Metadata Editing Framework: An open source project for building metadata tools

As part of the DDI4RDC development project initiated in 2009, a set of editors and researcher tools based on the DDI-Lifecycle model were developed to meet the Canadian Research Data Center Network metadata documentation specific needs. As the project evolved, the core components of the platform morphed into a flexible and generic framework on which numerous types of metadata management and user tools can be built. The core framework as well as the RDC specific editors will be released as an open source project in the second quarter of 2012. Our presentation will detail the underlying principles and architecture of the framework, as well as the design of the RDC specific editors. Particular focus will be paid to how these components can be leveraged by other organizations to develop metadata tools meeting their specific management and user needs. Examples will be provided detailing how the framework is being leveraged to develop stand alone DDI editing tools, a data management plan documentation tool, and a researcher Toolkit.