7train METS Generation Tool Released

The California Digital Library (CDL) is pleased to announce the release of “7train”, an XSLT 2.0-based tool for generating Metadata and Encoding Transmission Standard (METS) files from standardized XML inputs.  Version 1 of the open-source, platform-independent tool is available via Sourceforge at http://seventrain.sourceforge.net.

7train was designed to transform XML documents into METS files conforming to a specific METS profile.  This initial implementation was designed with the goal of transforming exports from the CONTENTdm digital asset management tool (Version 4.0 and higher) into the CDL 7train METS profile, available at http://www.loc.gov/mets/profiles/00000010.xml, which is suitable for inclusion in CDL repositories.  However, the tool can be customized to produce METS files from any kind of standardized XML document (e.g, OAI records).

The tool was developed through the CDL’s work in the “California Local History Digital Resources Project”, a multi-year LSTA grant-funded project that explores a model to aggregate, preserve, and provide permanent public access to digitized local history content via a statewide online access point.

The CDL invites METS implementors and CONTENTdm users to utilize and comment on the toolkit.  The Sourceforge web page contains contact information for feedback.