Directory Interchange Format:

 

Description

The Directory Interchange Format (DIF) is a metadata standard used to describe Earth science datasets. The DIF standard is used to create records for the NASA Global Change Master Directory (GCMD), an on-line system with information about Earth science datasets. The DIF standard has a total of 36 elements, including 8 mandatory elements. The mandatory elements are EntryID, Entry Title, Keywords, ISO Topic Category, Data Center, Summary, Metadata Name and Metadata Version. Some of the fields are text fields, others require the use of controlled keywords (sometimes known as "valids"). The DIF standard is compatible with both the ISO 19115 and CSDGM standards.

Sample DIF Record

[REPLACE WITH LINK]

Entry_ID: ASAC_2372
Entry_Title: A comparative study on floral ecology between 
Malaysia and Antarctica
Group: Personnel
  Role: INVESTIGATOR
  Role: TECHNICAL CONTACT
  Role: DIF AUTHOR
  First_Name: MASHHOR
  Last_Name: MANSOR
  Email: mashhor@usm.my
  Phone:  
  Fax: 
  Group: Contact_Address
     Address: SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
     Address: UNIVERSITY SAINS MALAYSIA
     City: Gelugor
     Province_or_State: Penang
     Postal_Code: 11800
     Country: MALAYSIA
  End_Group
End_Group
Discipline: EARTH SCIENCE
Group: Parameters
  Category: EARTH SCIENCE
  Topic: BIOSPHERE
  Term: ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
  Variable: COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
End_Group
Group: Parameters
  Category: EARTH SCIENCE
  Topic: BIOSPHERE
  Term: VEGETATION
  Variable: VEGETATION SPECIES
End_Group
ISO_Topic_Category: BIOTA
Keyword: ANTARCTICA
Keyword: ECOLOGY
Keyword: FLORA
Data_Set_Progress: PLANNED
Group: Spatial_Coverage
 Southernmost_Latitude: 90.0S
 Northernmost_Latitude: 62.83S
 Westernmost_Longitude: 180.0W
 Easternmost_Longitude: 180.0E
End_Group
Location: ANTARCTICA
Location: MALAYSIA
Data_Set_Language: ENGLISH
Group: Data_Center
 Data_Center_Name:AU/AADC > Australian Antarctic Data Centre, Australia
 Data_Center_URL: http://www.aad.gov.au/default.asp?casid=3786
 Group: Personnel
   Role: DATA CENTER CONTACT
   First_Name: DATA OFFICER
   Last_Name: AADC
   Email: metadata@aad.gov.au
   Phone:  
   Fax: 
   Group: Contact_Address
     Address: Australian Antarctic Division
     Address: Channel Highway
     City: Kingston
     Province_or_State: Tasmania
     Postal_Code: 7050
     Country: Australia
    End_Group
  End_Group
End_Group
Group: Summary
  
 Preliminary Metadata record for data expected from ASAC Project 2372
 
 See the link below for public details on this project.
  
  ---- Public Summary from Project ----
   
  This project aims to determine the physiological adaptations of 
  algae to the extreme conditions of Antarctica. The major aim is 
  to understand the effect of global changes such as temperature 
  and ultraviolet radiation increases arising from the Antarctic 
  ozone hole and to detect environmental changes in the Antarctic 
  due to human activities.
End_Group
Group: Related_URL
 URL: http://its-db.aad.gov.au/proms/public/...
 Group: Description
     
   Public information for ASAC project 2372

 End_Group
End_Group
IDN_Node: AMD/AU
IDN_Node: CEOS
Originating_Metadata_Node: GCMD
Metadata_Name: CEOS IDN DIF
Metadata_Version: Version 9.4
DIF_Creation_Date: 2003-05-26
Last_DIF_Revision_Date: 2005-02-07