CESSDA has released the next version of the CESSDA Metadata Validator (CMV). This tool, which validates DDI metadata documents against a given DDI profile, has been enhanced with new features to improve the user experience. It detects and reports any constraint violations (violations of the rules defined in the selected profile) and XSD Schema violations, so the metadata can be improved if necessary.

CESSDA has also released new metadata profiles for DDI 2.6 and DDI 3.3, allowing metadata creators that use this format to benefit from the support that the CMV provides. In addition, the current profiles have also been updated, fixing several issues. More details can be found in the metadata profiles’ release notes.

What does it do? 

The CESSDA Metadata Validator (CMV) validates DDI metadata records used by CESSDA’s tools and services, against a given DDI Profile. The profiles contain the rules and constraints that metadata records need to follow to be compatible with the CESSDA Data Catalogue and the European Question Bank.

Who uses CMV and how?

CMV is used by study-level metadata producers to ensure their metadata complies with the CESSDA Metadata Model and adheres to the DDI XML structure.

Additionally, CESSDA Data Catalogue developers utilise CMV to check the compliance of new metadata sources before incorporating them to the catalogue.

It can be used by developers of OAI-PMH applications to check they are emitting correctly formatted DDI XML.

You can try it out yourself 

You can try it yourself by going to the CESSDA Metadata Validator, selecting a profile from the list of predefined items, selecting a resource from the list of predefined items and pressing the Validate button.  The results appear lower down the screen.

Screenshot from the CESSDA Metadata Validator

Recent improvements

• Dynamic Download Options - Reports for each validated document can be exported in a choice of formats (CSV or JSON) for manual or automated analysis.

• Precision Validation - CMV validates documents according to the XSD schema definition provided in the document to be validated.

• Tailored Validation Lists - Individual documents can be removed from the list of documents to validate.

• Clarity with Borders - Borders have been added to individual reports, making them easier to distinguish from each other.

• More Efficient Reporting - Reports now shrink if only a small amount of problems are found, reducing unnecessary whitespace.

• Real-time Progress Tracking - A progress bar has been added for long running validations containing many documents.

• Bulk Validation Simplicity - Multiple documents can be validated at the same time.

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