U.S. Census Bureau TIGER shapefiles released with ISO metadata, can't read it in ArcGIS

[EdithKonopka]

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released shapefiles of the geography for the 2020 Decennial Census. The shapefiles come with ISO metadata in two files, one main file and and a separate file for the Entity and Attribute information (fields.) Neither file is easily readable as-is in ArcCatalog and ArcGIS Pro; in the latter it will display as the raw xml as in a web browser. There appears to be no stylesheet for the specific xml as delivered.

Does anyone have a way to convert it to something Pro can deal with?

[TerriWaddell1]

 I also have this question. 

[EdithKonopka]

Hi Terri,

I have an open support case with Esri for this issue. I have been told that after investigating what is causing the problem, they may put in a bug for fix, or an enhancement request. Esri Case #02732165

[JoshGrail]

Hi @EdithKonopka, it looks like you were able to get the information needed but in case anyone else is seeing this issue with TIGER shapefile metadata please see this post. Unfortunately I can't offer a workflow to import this metadata, but hopefully this helps explain the situation. 

-Josh

[EdithKonopka]

@Josh-Cullen, yes, there is information about why it won't work, but no help making it work or creating a work-around. For an issue that has been in existence for over two years. 

Esri products should at least accommodate viewing correctly-configured iso 19115-2 metadata. 

[TerriWaddell1]

I agree - - I've spent hours today trying to fill in the metadata for the few 2020 census files now available and I haven't been able to complete a single one yet.  I finally had to give up and move on to other work.  Viewing it correctly would significantly help (and an import option would REALLY help!!!)

[JoshGrail]

I can understand the frustration, we've submitted a request to implement support for ISO 19115-2 metadata as ENH-000137591, this may be implemented in a future release. 

-JG