The Bulk Import tool has the ability to load metadata (types, aspects, and their properties) into the repository. This is done using “shadow” Java property files in XML format as it has good support for Unicode characters. These shadow properties files must have exactly the same name and extension as the file for which it describes the metadata, but with the suffix .metadata.properties.xml. For example, if there is a file called IMG_1967.jpg, the “shadow” metadata file is called IMG_1967.jpg.metadata.properties.xml.
These shadow files can also be used for directories. For example, if you have a directory called MyDocuments, the shadow metadata file is called MyDocuments.metadata.properties.xml.
The metadata file itself follows the usual syntax for Java XML properties files:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE propertiesSYSTEM "http://java.sun.com/dtd/properties.dtd">
<properties>
<entry key="key1">value1</entry>
<entry key="key2">value2</entry>
...
</properties>
There are two special keys:
- Type contains the qualified name of the content type to use for the file or folder
- Aspects contains a comma-delimited list of the qualified names of the aspect(s) to attach to the file or folder
The remaining entries in the file are treated as metadata properties, with the key being the qualified name of the property and the value being the value of that property. Multi-valued properties are comma-delimited. However, these values are not trimmed so it’s recommended you do not place a space character either before or after the comma, unless you want that in the value of the property.
Here is an example using IMG_1967.jpg.metadata.properties.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE propertiesSYSTEM "http://java.sun.com/dtd/properties.dtd">
<properties>
<entry key="type">cm:content</entry>
<entry key="aspects">cm:versionable,cm:dublincore</entry>
<entry key="cm:title">A photo of a flower.</entry>
<entry key="cm:description">A photo I took of a flower while walking around Bantry Bay.</entry>
<entry key="cm:created">1901-01-01T12:34:56.789+10:00</entry>
<!-- cm:dublincore properties -->
<entry key="cm:author">Peter Monks</entry>
<entry key="cm:publisher">Peter Monks</entry>
<entry key="cm:contributor">Peter Monks</entry>
<entry key="cm:type">Photograph</entry>
<entry key="cm:identifier">IMG_1967.jpg</entry>
<entry key="cm:dcsource">Canon Powershot G2</entry>
<entry key="cm:coverage">Worldwide</entry>
<entry key="cm:rights">Copyright (c) Peter Monks 2002, All Rights Reserved</entry>
<entry key="cm:subject">A photo of a flower.</entry>
</properties>
Additional notes on metadata loading:
- You can’t create a new node based on metadata only, you must have a content file (even if zero bytes) for the metadata to be loaded. Even so, you can “replace” an existing node in the repository with nothing but metadata. Despite the confusing name, this won’t replace the content; instead the new metadata is added.
- The metadata must conform to the type and aspect definitions configured in Content Services (including mandatory fields, constraints, and data types). Any violations will terminate the bulk import process.
- Associations between content items loaded by the tool are not yet nicely supported. Associations to objects that are already in the repository can be created using the NodeRef of the target object as the value of the property.
- Non-string data types (including numeric and date types) have not been exhaustively tested. Date values have been tested and do work when specified using ISO8601 format.
- Updating the aspects or metadata on existing content won’t remove any existing aspects not listed in the new metadata file; this tool is not intended to provide a full file system synchronization mechanism.
- The metadata loading facility can be used to supplement content that’s already in the repository, without having to upload that content again. To use this, create a “naked” metadata file in the same path as the target content file. The tool will match it up with the file in the repository and add the new aspect(s) and/or metadata to that file.