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This functionality is an extension of that provided by Importing and Exporting Items via Simple Archive Format  so please read that section before continuing. It is underpinned by the Biblio Transformation Engine (https://github.com/EKT/Biblio-Transformation-Engine )

About the Biblio-Transformation-Engine (BTE)

The BTE is a Java framework developed by the Hellenic National Documentation Centre (EKT, www.ekt.gr ) and consists of programmatic APIs for filtering and modifying records that are retrieved from various types of data sources (eg. databases, files, legacy data sources) as well as for outputing them in appropriate standards formats (eg. database files, txt, xml, Excel). The framework includes independent abstract modules that are executed seperately, offering in many cases alternative choices to the user depending of the input data set, the transformation workflow that needs to be executed and the output format that needs to be generated. 

The basic idea behind the BTE is a standard workflow that consists of three steps, a data loading step, a processing step (record filtering and modification) and an output generation. A data loader provides the system with a set of Records, the processing step is responsible for filtering or modifying these records and the output generator outputs them in the appropriate format.

The standard BTE version offers several predefined Data Loaders as well as Output Generators for basic bibliographic formats. However, Spring Dependency Injection can be utilized to load custom data loaders, filters, modifiers and output generators. 

BTE in DSpace

The functionality of batch importing items in DSpace using the BTE has been incorporated in the "import" script already used in DSpace for years.

In the import script, there is a new option (option "-b") to import using the BTE and an option -i to declare the type of the input format. All the other options are the same apart from option "-s" that in this case points to a file (and not a directory as it used to) that is the file of the input data. However, in the case of batch BTE import, the option "-s" is not obligatory since you can configure the input from the Spring XML configuration file discussed later on. Keep in mind, that if option "-s" is defined, import will take that option into consideration instead of the one defined in the Spring XML configuration.
 
Thus, to import metadata from the various input formats use the following commands:

Keep in mind that the value of the "-e" option must be a valid email of a DSpace user and value of the "-c" option must be the target collection handle. Attached, you can find a .zip file (sample-files.zip) that includes examples of the file formats that are mentioned above.

BTE Configuration

The basic idea behind BTE is that the system holds the metadata in an internal format using a specific key for each metadata field. DataLoaders load the record using the aforementioned keys, while the output generator needs to map these keys to DSpace metadata fields.

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UI for administrators

Batch import of files can be done via the administrative UI. While logged in as administrator, visit "Administer" link and then, under the "Content" drop down menu, choose "Batch import metadata (BTE)"

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The whole procedure can take long time to complete, in case of large input files, so the whole procedure runs in the background in a separate thread. When the thread is completed (either successfully or erroneously), the user is informed via email for the status of the import. 

Case Studies

1) I have my data in a format different from the ones that are supported by this functionality. What can I do?

Either you try to easily transform your data to one of the supported formats or you need to create a new data loader. To do this, create a new Java class that implements the following Java interface from BTE:

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