Spreadsheet To XML: Using The PACSCL Finding Aids Guide

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PHILADELPHIA AREA CONSORTIUM OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS LIBRARIES

Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL
Finding Aids Spreadsheet
Hidden Collections Processing Project
Holly Mengel
3/1/2012

PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

Table of Contents
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3
Familiarize Yourself with the Spreadsheet ......................................................................... 3
Instructions for using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet .......................................... 6

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PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

Introduction
The PACSCL Finding Aids spreadsheet is a tool designed to import container lists into the
Archivists’ Toolkit. This spreadsheet can be used for original data entry or for converting
electronic legacy finding aids to EAD finding aids. Regardless of the starting point, careful
attention to data entry is important.
This spreadsheet was designed and shared by Matt Herbison, an archivist at the Drexel
University College of Medicine Legacy Center. Technical expertise is not necessary to take
advantage of this tool, however, working knowledge of MS Excel and EAD is helpful. Access to
XML editing software, such as oXygen, XMetal or Dreamweaver, is also useful. XML editing
software enables users to “validate” and edit XML code prior to import into the Archivists’
Toolkit.
This guide demonstrates the mechanics of the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet and uses an
extremely basic example. Those employing this guide for legacy conversions will find that few
legacy finding aids are this simple or straightforward. For original data entry, follow instructions
from Step 4 (page 6).

Familiarize Yourself with the Spreadsheet
Before beginning, open both the Archivists’ Toolkit and a blank version of the spreadsheet
(available at public.herbison.org/ead). The illustrations on the following pages show how the
columns in the spreadsheet map directly to fields in the Archivists’ Toolkit.

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PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

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PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

Notice: A spreadsheet with the data keyed into the wrong fields may import into the
Archivists’ Toolkit. However, in order for the data to import into the proper fields and
display correctly, it is necessary for the data to be placed into the exact columns that
map to the fields in the Archivists’ Toolkit.
Notice: For instructions on proper data entry into Archivists’ Toolkit fields, please see
the PACSCL/CLIR Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012 Archivists’ Toolkit
Guide available at http://clir.pacscl.org/project-documentation/

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PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

Instructions for using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet
Step 1: When starting with an electronic, MS Word document, copy and paste
container list of an electronic finding aid into Notepad++. (If starting with an MS Excel
document, follow instructions from Step 3).
Notepad++ can be downloaded, free of charge, at http://notepad-plus-plus.org/download/
Original electronic finding aid:

Original electronic finding aid, after being pasted into Notepad ++: (The arrows below
represent tabs. The format of the original document pasted into Notepad++ will dictate
where tabs exist. Each new document pasted into Notepad++ will look different.)

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PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

Step 2: Separate folder titles, folder dates, box, box number, folder, and folder
number with tabs. This will create a text delimited file that can be read and saved by
most database and spreadsheet programs.

Notice: There are specific numbers of tabs between items, so that when pasting into the
spreadsheet, fields fall into specific columns. In this example, data before the first tab will
fall into the first column (title); data following one tab (shown with an arrow) will fall into
the second column (date expression), etc. In this example, there were no bulk dates in the
original finding aid, thus tabs for bulk dates are not included here, but will need to be
compensated for in step 4.
Take note that in Box 2 Folder 5, there is a tab between 1925 and 1935. In the original
finding aid, this is written 1925-1935, but because it is an “inclusive date” in the Archivists’
Toolkit, it will fall into two separate columns “date begin” and “date end” in the PACSCL
Finding Aids Spreadsheet.
Hint: Mistakes will be obvious after pasting into MS Excel. For example, if dates are in the
title field, go back to the Notepad ++ document and add tabs as necessary.

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PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

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Step 3: Copy and paste text de-limited document into MS Excel, correct spelling and
format titles and dates for DACS compliance (use regular expressions if you know
how!). If original finding aid is an MS Excel document, start with this step.

Notice: The
spreadsheet may
not format all data
correctly. Check
dates and box and
folder numbers.

PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

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Step 4: Copy columns into appropriate columns in the PACSCL Finding Aids
Spreadsheet.
Hint: Make sure
that data matches
up: do several
spot checks!

Hint: This is
where, in supplied
example, the
compensation for
bulk dates occurs,
Notice that
columns G and H
are empty.
Hint: Make sure
that instance
levels 1 and 2 are
next to each other.

Step 5: Add level (series, subseries, file) to create hierarchy, and instance type (text,
graphic material)
Notice: There are
3 levels of
hierarchy to work
with (see red
arrow): 1 is
series, 2 is
subseries, 3 is file.
All three levels
are not required,
but hierarchy is
needed for a
successful import.
Type the number
in column B and
the appropriate
level type
automatically
populates column
A.

PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

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Step 6: Once hierarchy, data entry, etc. are correct, click on the worksheet titled “EAD
Skeleton to Copy.” Fill in the pink box (in column A) with the name of the collection.
Click on Column D, copy, and then paste into a new Notepad++ document.

In Notepad ++, data will look like this:

Notice: The
collection title is
included.

Notice: There is a
place to paste the
container list.

PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

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Next, returning to the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, click on the worksheet entitled “EAD
Result to Copy” (pictured on the following page). Click on column A and copy. In Notepad++,
delete [[[PASTE CONTAINER LIST HERE]]], and then paste information from column A into that
space.
Hint: If the word
“REF” appears in
column A,
something has
gone wrong.
Frequently, this
can be fixed by
saving the data,
and opening a
clean version of
the PACSCL
Finding Aids
Spreadsheet.
Once the clean
version is opened,
paste the data
back into the
spreadsheet. If the
problem persists,
check data entry!

Notepad++ should look like this:

Notice: The
container list is
here.

PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

Finally, save your document as an xml.
Step 7: Prior to import into the Archivists’ Toolkit, open the XML document in an XML
editor (if there are issues with the XML code, the document will not import into
Archivists’ Toolkit). In the editing software, “validate” the XML code in order to
pinpoint issues in coding and make necessary edits.
Common problems to look for:
• Ampersands need to be coded as &
• If a “date expression” was placed within the first column of “inclusive
dates,” the finding aid will not validate.
• Diacritics may be an issue
• If the container list is very long, sometime the spreadsheet has
difficulty closing all the open tags. Check out the end of the finding
aid and  should be present almost at the bottom. If it is not,
close the tags (see below):

Notice: The
 tag is
present.

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PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

Step 8: After fixing any mistakes, save the file. Then open the Archivists’ Toolkit, click
on Resources, then click on Import on the menu bar along the top of the page, and
then, from the drop-down menu, click on Import EAD. See illustration on the
following page:

Depending upon the size of the finding aid, the import could take a few seconds or
several minutes. After the import is complete, double click on Resources so that the
new file loads. It will always be titled “Import of [name of the collection].”

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PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

Step 9: Add collection level information.
Change the following fields (remember to be DACs compliant):
Title
Date
Resource Identifier
Extent
Language of the collection (only if it is not English)

For a DACs compliant finding aid, add:
Abstract
Biographical/historical note
Scope and content note
Creator of the collection
If the original finding aid has these components, simply copy and paste them
into the appropriate fields in AT.

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PACSCL Hidden Collections Processing Project, 2009-2012
Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet, March 2012

Step 10: To get the collection into the PACSCL Finding Aids Site, export the EAD.
First save the xml file to the test web folder, and the next day, check for
accuracy on the test site (which is not publicly available to those
without the url).
Don’t forget to:
Spell check
Make certain that hierarchy is correct (it is more difficult to see
hierarchy mistakes in the spreadsheet than in the Archivists’
Toolkit)
If OCR was used to make the finding aid a searchable, electronic
document, plan to read the finding aid, word for word.
Make all corrections to the finding aid in the Archivists’ Toolkit. Re-export
the final version of the finding aid and save the xml file to the
production web folder. The next day, it should appear on the
PACSCL Findings Aids Site (findingaids.pacscl.org)

The container list of the finding should look like this:

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Title                           : Spreadsheet to XML: Using the PACSCL Finding Aids Spreadsheet
Author                          : Holly Mengel
Subject                         : Hidden Collections Processing Project
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Create Date                     : 2012:03:06 13:30:03
Modify Date                     : 2012:03:06 13:30:03
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