FGDC Editor Missing?

Question

Hi,
I'm trying to use FGDC editor to edit metadata.  In ArcCatalog when I go to Tools and Options, the drop-down menu for Metadata Editor is completely empty!  How do I get ArcCatalog to recognize the editor, or is this editor separate from the ArcInfo package (9.3), and if so where can I get it?
Thanks

ShelleyNellis · Answer

You can change the default metadata editor in Catalog by going to the Tools menu, then Options. At the bottom of the Metadata tab is a pulldown menu.

This is exactly where the problem is, there is nothing available to select as the editor. Shouldn't this come standard with ArcCatalog? We've even tried reinstalling the software and it did not fix it. One problem is with ActiveX, you get several ActiveX errors during the installation, and then every time ArcMap is opened. Is it possible this is preventing the metadata editors from working?

ShelleyNellis · Answer

"You can change the default metadata editor in Catalog by going to the Tools menu, then Options. At the bottom of the Metadata tab is a pulldown menu."

This is exactly where the problem is, there is nothing available to select as the editor.  Shouldn't this come standard with ArcCatalog?  We've even tried reinstalling the software and it did not fix it.  One problem is with ActiveX, you get several ActiveX errors during the installation, and then every time ArcMap is opened.  Is it possible this is preventing the metadata editors from working?

TimSpivey · Answer

I access the metadata editor in 9.3.1 this way -

In ArcCatalog, find the shapefile/featureclass using the left-hand window in Catalog.
Select the file, and in the right-hand Catalog window, click the Metadata tab.
There is a metadata editor toolbar with icons for editing, importing, exporting metadata. The toolbar can be turned on by going to the View menu and selecting Toolbars and putting a check mark next to Metadata.
The toolbar also has a pulldown menu of style sheets, including FGDC.

You can change the default metadata editor in Catalog by going to the Tools menu, then Options. At the bottom of the Metadata tab is a pulldown menu.

There is an excellent editor for 9.3.1 called "Three Tab Editor 1.9" available free from the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, native Americans, online.