Export

In a final, automated stage of the lab workflow, the master TIFF image files are compressed and the metadata is uploaded to a relational database. In addition to the descriptive metadata created in the early stages of the workflow, the software automates the creation of technical metadata for all files created, as well as the scanning process itself. Technical information is captured on the file size and dimensions of individual images, versions and specifications of all file formats, details on all equipment and software used during the capture process, and information on times, dates and operator names for each stage in the workflow.

All of this metadata is exported to a relational database that can be viewed and edited using a simple web interface. The web interface provides a mechanism for tracking the progress of digitization efforts, and for correcting or enhancing metadata. The database was designed in such a way that all metadata can be easily transformed to XML for permanent storage in the Stanford Digital Repository.