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This documentation relates to an old version of DSpace, version 5.x. Looking for another version? See all documentation.
Support for DSpace 5 ended on January 1, 2023. See Support for DSpace 5 and 6 is ending in 2023
DSpace has a set of command line tools for importing and exporting items in batches, using the DSpace Simple Archive Format. Apart from the offered functionality, these tools serve as a prime example for users who aim to implement their own item importer.
The basic concept behind the DSpace's Simple Archive Format is to create an archive, which is directory full of items, with a subdirectory per item. Each item directory contains a file for the item's descriptive metadata, and the files that make up the item.
archive_directory/ item_000/ dublin_core.xml -- qualified Dublin Core metadata for metadata fields belonging to the dc schema metadata_[prefix].xml -- metadata in another schema, the prefix is the name of the schema as registered with the metadata registry contents -- text file containing one line per filename collections -- text file that contains the handles of the collections the item will belong two. Optional. Each handle in a row. -- Collection in first line will be the owning collection file_1.doc -- files to be added as bitstreams to the item file_2.pdf item_001/ dublin_core.xml contents file_1.png ...
The dublin_core.xml
or metadata_[prefix].xml
file has the following format, where each metadata element has it's own entry within a <dcvalue>
tagset. There are currently three tag attributes available in the <dcvalue>
tagset:
<element>
- the Dublin Core element<qualifier>
- the element's qualifier<language>
- (optional)ISO language code for element
<dublin_core> <dcvalue element="title" qualifier="none">A Tale of Two Cities</dcvalue> <dcvalue element="date" qualifier="issued">1990</dcvalue> <dcvalue element="title" qualifier="alternative" language="fr">J'aime les Printemps</dcvalue> </dublin_core>
(Note the optional language tag attribute which notifies the system that the optional title is in French.)
Every metadata field used, must be registered via the metadata registry of the DSpace instance first, see Metadata and Bitstream Format Registries.
Recommended Metadata
It is recommended to minimally provide "dc.title" and, where applicable, "dc.date.issued". Obviously you can (and should) provide much more detailed metadata about the Item. For more information see: Metadata Recommendations.
The contents
file simply enumerates, one file per line, the bitstream file names. See the following example:
file_1.doc file_2.pdf license
Please notice that the license
is optional, and if you wish to have one included, you can place the file in the .../item_001/ directory, for example.
The bitstream name may optionally be followed by any of the following:
\tbundle:BUNDLENAME
\tpermissions:PERMISSIONS
\tdescription:DESCRIPTION
\tprimary:true
Where '\t' is the tab character.
'BUNDLENAME' is the name of the bundle to which the bitstream should be added. Without specifying the bundle, items will go into the default bundle, ORIGINAL.
'PERMISSIONS' is text with the following format: -[r|w] 'group name'
'DESCRIPTION' is text of the files description.
Primary is used to specify the primary bitstream.
metadata_[prefix].xml
for Different SchemaIt is possible to use other Schema such as EAD, VRA Core, etc. Make sure you have defined the new scheme in the DSpace Metada Schema Registry.
metadata_[prefix].xml
, where the [prefix]
is replaced with the schema's prefix.<dublin_core>
element include the attribute schema=[prefix]
.Here is an example for ETD metadata, which would be in the file metadata_etd.xml
:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <dublin_core schema="etd"> <dcvalue element="degree" qualifier="department">Computer Science</dcvalue> <dcvalue element="degree" qualifier="level">Masters</dcvalue> <dcvalue element="degree" qualifier="grantor">Texas A & M</dcvalue> </dublin_core>
Before running the item importer over items previously exported from a DSpace instance, please first refer to Transferring Items Between DSpace Instances.
Command used: |
|
Java class: |
|
Arguments short and (long) forms: | Description |
| Add items to DSpace ‡ |
| Replace items listed in mapfile ‡ |
| Delete items listed in mapfile ‡ |
| Source of the items (directory) |
| Destination Collection by their Handle or database ID |
| Where the mapfile for items can be found (name and directory) |
| Email of eperson doing the importing |
| Send submission through collection's workflow |
| Kicks off the email alerting of the item(s) has(have) been imported |
| Test run‚ do not actually import items |
| Apply the collection template |
| Resume a failed import (Used on Add only) |
| Command help |
| Name of zipfile |
‡ These are mutually exclusive.
The item importer is able to batch import unlimited numbers of items for a particular collection using a very simple CLI command and 'arguments'
To add items to a collection, you gather the following information:
[dspace]/bin/dspace import --add --eperson=joe@user.com --collection=CollectionID --source=items_dir --mapfile=mapfile
or by using the short form:
[dspace]/bin/dspace import -a -e joe@user.com -c CollectionID -s items_dir -m mapfile
The above command would cycle through the archive directory's items, import them, and then generate a map file which stores the mapping of item directories to item handles. SAVE THIS MAP FILE. Using the map file you can use it for replacing or deleting (unimporting) the file.
Testing. You can add --test
(or -t
) to the command to simulate the entire import process without actually doing the import. This is extremely useful for verifying your import files before doing the actual import.
To add items to a collection, you gather the following information:
[dspace]/bin/dspace import --add --eperson=joe@user.com --collection=CollectionID --source=items_dir --zip=filename.zip --mapfile=mapfile
or by using the short form:
[dspace]/bin/dspace import -a -e joe@user.com -c CollectionID -s items_dir -z filename.zip -m mapfile
The above command would unpack the zipfile, cycle through the archive directory's items, import them, and then generate a map file which stores the mapping of item directories to item handles. SAVE THIS MAP FILE. Using the map file you can use it for replacing or deleting (unimporting) the file.
Testing. You can add --test
(or -t
) to the command to simulate the entire import process without actually doing the import. This is extremely useful for verifying your import files before doing the actual import.
Replacing existing items is relatively easy. Remember that mapfile you were supposed to save? Now you will use it. The command (in short form):
[dspace]/bin/dspace import -r -e joe@user.com -c collectionID -s items_dir -m mapfile
Long form:
[dspace]/bin/dspace import --replace --eperson=joe@user.com --collection=collectionID --source=items_dire --mapfile=mapfile
You are able to unimport or delete items provided you have the mapfile. Remember that mapfile you were supposed to save? The command is (in short form):
[dspace]/bin/dspace import -e joe@user.com -d -m mapfile
In long form:
[dspace]/bin/dspace import --eperson=joe@user.com --delete --mapfile mapfile
--workflow
(-w
) argument will route the imported items through the workflow system.--template
(-p
) argument.--resume
(-R
) flag that you can try to resume the import where you left off after you fix the error.Importing (per item) into multiple collections from the command line administration tool
If you omit the -c flag, which normally is mandatory, the ItemImporter searches for a file named "collections" in each item directory. This file should contain a list of collections, one per line, specified either by their handle, or by their internal db id. The ItemImporter then will put the item in each of the specified collections. The owning collection is the collection specified in the first line of the collections file.
If both the -c flag is specified and the collections file exists in the item directory, the ItemImporter will ignore the collections file and will put the item in the collection specified on the command line.
Since the collections file can differ between item directories, you have more fine grained control of the process of batch adding items to collections.
Importing with BTE
The DSpaceOutputGenerator, that writes the metadata in DSpace Simple Archive Format, has been updated to produce the collections file, if a metadata field named collections (reserved word) exists in the original metadata. This is mainly applicable to the CSV input format which is more flexible, but could also be implemented with a Modifier that adds the collections field to each Record in the BTE pipeline.
Important note: an entry with key "collections" should be in the output map that is used by the DSpaceOutputGenerator.
Batch import can also take place via the Administrator’s UI. The steps to follow are:
A. Prepare the data
B. Import the records via the UI
Fill in the form that appears as follows:
Comments:
1) If you select an owning collection from this form, then, the “collections” file that may be included in the records will be ignored.
2) If you do not specify an owning collection, and for some items, there exist no “collections” file in the record folder, then the item will not be imported in DSpace
Finally, when you submit the form you will receive a message for the background execution of the process (since it may take long). At the end, you will receive a success or failure email informing you for the status of the import.
C. View past batch imports (that have be done via the UI)
Visit “My DSpace” page
The number of records that were finally imported
The number of records that the user tried to import
Moreover, the user can take the following actions:
Download the map file that was produced during the import. In this file, someone can see the records that were imported and the corresponding handle that was given to them by DSpace
Delete the imported records. Everything will be deleted (and the history folder in the “import” directory in the DSpace installation folder)
In case of failure, the user can “Resume” the import. He is transferred in the upload form again, but the system knows the initial import (and the map file) in order to resume the old import. There is a red label in the form that informs the user for the “Resume” form.
The item exporter can export a single item or a collection of items, and creates a DSpace simple archive according to the aforementioned format for each item to be exported. The items are exported in a sequential order in which they are retrieved from the database. As a consequence, the sequence numbers of the item subdirectories (item_000, item_001) are not related to DSpace handle or item id's.
Command used: |
|
Java class: | org.dspace.app.itemexport.ItemExport |
Arguments short and (long) forms: | Description |
| Type of export. COLLECTION will inform the program you want the whole collection. ITEM will be only the specific item. (You will actually key in the keywords in all caps. See examples below.) |
| The ID or Handle of the Collection or Item to export. |
| The destination of where you want the file of items to be placed. You place the path if necessary. |
| Sequence number to begin export the items with. Whatever number you give, this will be the name of the first directory created for your export. The layout of the export is the same as you would set your layout for an Import. |
| Export the item/collection for migration. This will remove the handle and metadata that will be re-created in the new instance of DSpace. |
| Brief Help. |
Exporting a Collection
To export a collection's items you type at the CLI:
[dspace]/bin/dspace export --type=COLLECTION --id=collID --dest=dest_dir --number=seq_num
Short form:
[dspace]/bin/dspace export -t COLLECTION -i [CollID or Handle] -d /path/to/destination -n Some_number
Exporting a Single Item
The keyword COLLECTION means that you intend to export an entire collection. The ID can either be the database ID or the handle. The exporter will begin numbering the simple archives with the sequence number that you supply. To export a single item use the keyword ITEM and give the item ID as an argument:
[dspace]/bin/dspace export --type=ITEM --id=itemID --dest=dest_dir --number=seq_num
Short form:
[dspace]/bin/dspace export -t ITEM -i [itemID or Handle] -d /path/to/destination -n some_number
Each exported item will have an additional file in its directory, named 'handle'. This will contain the handle that was assigned to the item, and this file will be read by the importer so that items exported and then imported to another machine will retain the item's original handle.
The -m
Argument
Using the -m
argument will export the item/collection and also perform the migration step. It will perform the same process that the next section Exchanging Content Between Repositories performs. We recommend that section to be read in conjunction with this flag being used.