Content standards for digital geospatial metadata -- FGDC

6: Distribution Information -- information about the distributor of and options for obtaining the data set.

Syntax:

Distribution_Information =
1{Distributor + 0{Resource_Description}1 + Distribution_Liability + 0{Standard_Order_Process}n + 0{Custom_Order_Process}1 + (Technical_Prerequisites) + (Available_Time_Period) }n
Distributor =
Contact_Information
Standard_Order_Process =
[Non-digital_Form | 1{Digital_Form}n ] + Fees + (Ordering_Instructions) + (Turnaround)
Digital_Form =
Digital_Transfer_Information + Digital_Transfer_Option
Digital_Transfer_Information =
Format_Name + ([Format_Version_Number | Format_Version_Date] + (Format_Specification) ) + (Format_Information_Content) + 0{File_Decompression_Technique}1 + (Transfer_Size)
Digital_Transfer_Option =
1{ [Online_Option | Offline_Option] }n
Online_Option =
1{Computer_Contact_Information}n + (Access_Instructions) + (Online_Computer_and_Operating_System)
Computer_Contact_Information =
[Network_Address | Dialup_Instructions]
Network_Address =
1{Network_Resource_Name}n
Dialup_Instructions =
Lowest_BPS + 0{Highest_BPS}1 + Number_DataBits + Number_StopBits + Parity + 0{Compression_Support}1 + 1{Dialup_Telephone}n + 1{Dialup_File_Name}n
Offline_Option =
Offline_Media + 0{Recording_Capacity}1 + 1{Recording_Format}n + 0{Compatibility_Information}1
Recording_Capacity =
1{Recording_Density}n + Recording_Density_Units
Available_Time_Period =
Time_Period_Information

Semantics:

Distributor -- 6.1
the party from whom the data set may be obtained. Compound.
Contact_Information -- (10)
Resource Description -- 6.2
the identifier by which the distributor knows the data set.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Distribution Liability -- 6.3
statement of the liability assumed by the distributor.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Standard Order Process -- 6.4
the common ways in which the data set may be obtained or received, and related instructions and fee information. Compound.
Non-digital Form -- 6.4.1
the description of options for obtaining the data set on non-computer-compatible media.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Digital Form -- 6.4.2
the description of options for obtaining the data set on computer-compatible media. Compound.
Digital Transfer Information -- 6.4.2.1
description of the form of the data to be distributed. Compound.
Format Name -- 6.4.2.1.1
the name of the data transfer format.
Type: text
Domain: domain values from the table below; free text
"ARCE"
ARC/INFO Export format
"ARCG"
ARC/INFO Generate format
"ASCII"
ASCII file, formatted for text attributes, declared format
"BIL"
Imagery, band interleaved by line
"BIP"
Imagery, band interleaved by pixel
"BSQ"
Imagery, band interleaved sequential
"CDF"
Common Data Format
"CFF"
Cartographic Feature File (U.S. Forest Service)
"COORD"
User-created coordinate file, declared format
"DEM"
Digital Elevation Model format (U.S. Geological Survey)
"DFAD"
Digital Feature Analysis Data (Defense Mapping Agency)
"DGN"
Microstation format (Intergraph Corporation)
"DIGEST"
Digital Geographic Information Exchange Standard
"DLG"
Digital Line Graph (U.S. Geological Survey)
"DTED"
Digital Terrain Elevation Data (MIL-D-89020)
"DWG"
AutoCAD Drawing format
"DX90"
Data Exchange '90
"DXF"
AutoCAD Drawing Exchange Format
"ERDAS"
ERDAS image files (ERDAS Corporation)
"GRASS"
Geographic Resources Analysis Support System
"HDF"
Hierarchical Data Format
"IGDS"
Interactive Graphic Design System format (Intergraph Corporation)
"IGES"
Initial Graphics Exchange Standard
"MOSS"
Multiple Overlay Statistical System export file
"netCDF"
network Common Data Format
"NITF"
National Imagery Transfer Format
"RPF"
Raster Product Format (Defense Mapping Agency)
"RVC"
Raster Vector Converted format (MicroImages)
"RVF"
Raster Vector Format (MicroImages)
"SDTS"
Spatial Data Transfer Standard (Federal Information Processing Standard 173)
"SIF"
Standard Interchange Format (DOD Project 2851)
"SLF"
Standard Linear Format (Defense Mapping Agency)
"TIFF"
Tagged Image File Format
"TGRLN"
Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (TIGER) Line format (Bureau of the Census)
"VPF"
Vector Product Format (Defense Mapping Agency)
Format Version Number -- 6.4.2.1.2
version number of the format.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Format Version Date -- 6.4.2.1.3
date of the version of the format.
Type: date
Domain: free date
Format Specification -- 6.4.2.1.4
name of a subset, profile, or product specification of the format.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Format Information Content -- 6.4.2.1.5
description of the content of the data encoded in a format.
Type: text
Domain: free text
File Decompression Technique -- 6.4.2.1.6
recommendations of algorithms or processes (including means of obtaining these algorithms or processes) that can be applied to read or expand data sets to which data compression techniques have been applied.
Type: text
Domain: "No compression applied" free text
Transfer Size -- 6.4.2.1.7
the size, or estimated size, of the transferred data set in megabytes.
Type: real
Domain: Transfer Size > 0.0
Digital Transfer Option -- 6.4.2.2
the means and media by which a data set is obtained from the distributor. Compound.
Online Option -- 6.4.2.2.1
information required to directly obtain the data set electronically. Compound.
Computer Contact Information -- 6.4.2.2.1.1
instructions for establishing communications with the distribution computer. Compound.
Network Address -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.1
the electronic address from which the data set can be obtained from the distribution computer. Compound.
Network Resource Name -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.1.1
the name of the file or service from which the data set can be obtained.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Dialup Instructions -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.2
information required to access the distribution computer remotely through telephone lines. Compound.
Lowest BPS -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.2.1
lowest or only speed for the connection's communication, expressed in bits per second.
Type: integer
Domain: Lowest BPS >= 110
Highest BPS -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.2.2
highest speed for the connection's communication, expressed in bits per second. Used in cases when a range of rates are provided.
Type: integer
Domain: Highest BPS > Lowest BPS
Number DataBits -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.2.3
number of data bits in each character exchanged in the communication.
Type: integer
Domain: 7 <= Number DataBits <= 8
Number StopBits -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.2.4
number of stop bits in each character exchanged in the communication.
Type: integer
Domain: 1 <= Number StopBits <= 2
Parity -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.2.5
parity error checking used in each character exchanged in the communication.
Type: text
Domain: "None" "Odd" "Even" "Mark" "Space"
Compression Support -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.2.6
data compression available through the modem service to speed data transfer.
Type: text
Domain: "V.32" "V.32bis" "V.42" "V.42bis" free text
Dialup Telephone -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.2.7
the telephone number of the distribution computer.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Dialup File Name -- 6.4.2.2.1.1.2.8
the name of a file containing the data set on the distribution computer.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Access Instructions -- 6.4.2.2.1.2
instructions on the steps required to access the data set.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Online Computer and Operating System -- 6.4.2.2.1.3
the brand of distribution computer and its operating system.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Offline Option -- 6.4.2.2.2
information about media-specific options for receiving the data set. Compound.
Offline Media -- 6.4.2.2.2.1
name of the media on which the data set can be received.
Type: text
Domain:
"CD-ROM"
"3-1/2 inch floppy disk"
"5-1/4 inch floppy disk"
"9-track tape"
"4 mm cartridge tape"
"8 mm cartridge tape"
"1/4-inch cartridge tape"
free text
Recording Capacity -- 6.4.2.2.2.2
the density of information to which data are written. Used in cases where different recording capacities are possible. Compound.
Recording Density -- 6.4.2.2.2.2.1
the density in which the data set can be recorded.
Type: real
Domain: Recording Density > 0.0
Recording Density Units -- 6.4.2.2.2.2.2
the units of measure for the recording density.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Recording Format -- 6.4.2.2.2.3
the options available or method used to write the data set to the medium.
Type: text
Domain:
"cpio"
"tar"
"High Sierra"
"ISO 9660"
"ISO 9660 with Rock Ridge extensions"
"ISO 9660 with Apple HFS extensions"
free text
Compatibility Information -- 6.4.2.2.2.4
description of other limitations or requirements for using the medium.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Fees -- 6.4.3
the fees and terms for retrieving the data set.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Ordering Instructions -- 6.4.4
general instructions and advice about, and special terms and services provided for, the data set by the distributor.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Turnaround -- 6.4.5
typical turnaround time for the filling of an order.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Custom Order Process -- 6.5
description of custom distribution services available, and the terms and conditions for obtaining these services.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Technical Prerequisites -- 6.6
description of any technical capabilities that the consumer must have to use the data set in the form(s) provided by the distributor.
Type: text
Domain: free text
Available Time Period -- 6.7
the time period when the data set will be available from the distributor. Compound.
Time_Period_Information -- (9)
June 8, 1994