Content specifications
Well, we now have a package described in XML, we need some content and maybe images, PDFs and information structured in XML that extends the information recorded in the package. This means we have one or more XML-documents to describe the information and its structure, and another XML-document to describe the whole package with all the content, but not the structure of the information itself. We can even handle a relational database in this way, extracting it in XML format and then packaging it in a SIP for transfer to the archive. Specifications of content are at the heart of the eArchiving Building Block, and the number of specifications is growing steadily. There are lots of different kinds of information that need to be described, luckily there are many specifications for describing information in XML, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel.
The eArchiving building block specifications.
In the image the content is described with the acronym CITS which means Content Information Type Specifications. Currently there are three available as described previously.
A specification for electronic records management systems (ERMS), the specification uses a XML-schema as the format and is based upon several available records management standards which in their turn don’t have a common XML-format available which means the ERMS specification is the connection between the different standards and the export of information from a ERMS.[15]
A specification for geospatial data which uses the ISO standard for preservation of geospatial data in combination with the regulation within the union regarding geospatial data “the Inspire directive”. In the specification a description of geospatial data and what it is found together with how the description of the data is carried out since the geospatial system themselves export information in readable formats but lack descriptions making the information understandable in the future.[16]
A specification for how to place a relational database exported with the format SIARD in an information package. The format has been developed by the Swiss Federal Archives and is now a part of the DILCIS Boards responsibilities. The SIARD format is based upon export of the database as XML and several tools exist which aids with the task.[17]
[15]https://github.com/DILCISBoard/E-ARK-ERMS