topic Re: Metadata: ArcGIS format vs. Item Description style in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Metadata: ArcGIS format vs. Item Description style

Craig_Eissler_Iceman — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 20:54:58 GMT

I'm reading through ArcGIS Help docs about Metadata. In some instances it refers to an "ArcGIS format", and in other instances it refers to the "Item Description style".

Are these terms interchangeable or is there is technical difference?

Re: Metadata: ArcGIS format vs. Item Description style

Robert_LeClair — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:07:35 GMT

So from the help - "ArcGIS format means - Only metadata in ArcGIS format is visible in catalog views, browse dialog boxes, item pop-ups, and map or layer properties. If you receive a stand-alone metadata document that contains standard-format metadata content, a message appears when you try to see its content in the details panel of a catalog view. The message indicates the format of the metadata document if it's recognized."

Looking at Item Description - the default - supports providing the information used by the ArcGIS Platform. So yes, I think the terms are interchangeable.

Re: Metadata: ArcGIS format vs. Item Description style

Craig_Eissler_Iceman — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:46:20 GMT

Thanks, but hmmm, I don't know...

If you convert another standard/style (say, FGDC) into the ArcGIS format so
that you can view/edit/publish it, is it now in the Item Description style,
OR is it still in FGDC style, but in ArcGIS format..?

Re: Metadata: ArcGIS format vs. Item Description style

JordanDuft — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 20:33:35 GMT

When you import FGDC (or any other metadata standard) into ArcGIS, the metadata is converted into the ArcGIS metadata format, which is Esri’s internal storage format for metadata. The ArcGIS metadata XML is the underlying storage format—it is not a metadata standard.

The ArcGIS metadata format is a superset that can store all metadata elements from the standards Esri supports, including FGDC, ISO, NAP, INSPIRE. This design is what allows ArcGIS to support multiple metadata standards and enables organizations to work with more than one standard at the same time without losing information. Metadata styles determine how that stored content is viewed, edited, and exported to support specific standards.

The Item Description metadata style is not standards‑based, but its content is still stored in the ArcGIS metadata XML. This style presents the primary metadata elements used for the ArcGIS to describe and find items. This style is only available in ArcGIS Pro when using the classic metadata editor.

Dublin Core+, which is based on the Dublin Core standard, is the new unified metadata style across ArcGIS. It is designed to help users focus on the priority metadata needed for reuse, search and discovery, and AI readiness, while remaining consistent across ArcGIS Online, Enterprise, and Pro.