# Workflow

## Suggested Workflow for SA Metadata and mdEditor

The following is a suggested workflow for using mdEditor to create, publish, and save metadata records for SA projects and products.

### Step 1: Gather information needed for your metadata entries.

Have information about your contacts, projects, and products on hand before you begin creating metadata records. Key information to gather includes project proposals, funding agreements and amounts, project reports, product information, and contact information for individuals and organizations involved in the projects.

### Step 2: Open mdEditor.

The direct link to mdEditor is <https://go.mdeditor.org>. Choose the browser you plan to use for mdEditor and bookmark this link.

mdEditor can also be accessed from its homepage at <https://www.mdeditor.org/>. This site provides some background information and Frequently Asked Questions about mdEditor.

Always hit *refresh* in your browser before each work session (and periodically throughout the session) to ensure that you are using the most updated version of mdEditor.

### Step 3: Set the correct default [Settings](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/settings).

In mdEditor settings, set the SA-specific settings for importing from ScienceBase, Metadata Repositories, and Publishing (See Settings).

### Step 4: Create or import [Contacts](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/contacts).

Contacts must be created or uploaded before they can be added to project and product metadata records.

Use the "contacts seed file" that contains pre-filled information and standard naming conventions for all SA regions, common federal agencies, and the SA Network Data Steward. (link to contact seed file here)

### Step 5: Create or import [Projects](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/project-entry-guidance).

If you have an existing ScienceBase project record that has not been edited in mdEditor, import the ScienceBase record to create a new mdEditor record. [Workflow guidance](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/getting-started/sciencebase-first).

If you have no existing metadata for a project, create an mdEditor project record from scratch. [Workflow guidance](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/getting-started/from-scratch).

If you have already created an mdEditor record for the project, import the mdEditor file to continue editing. Import guidance.

### Step 6: Create or import [Products](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/product-entry-guidance).

If you have an existing ScienceBase product record that has not been edited in mdEditor, import the ScienceBase record to create a new mdEditor record.

If you have no existing metadata for a product, create an mdEditor product record from scratch.

If you have already created an mdEditor record for the product, import the mdEditor file to continue editing.

### Step 7: For applicable Products, create or import Data [Dictionaries](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/product-entry-guidance/dictionaries-tab-product).

### Step 8: Complete metadata.

Decide on your desired file management approach and complete your metadata accordingly. See the [File Management](https://github.com/tpatterson1996/lcc-metadata-manual/tree/287090b07635d0e76a714278ce1f6c4aac3594cc/data-management/file-management.md) section for options and instructions.

### Step 9: Create desired Associations between Projects and/or Products.

Associations can be either [associated from a project](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/project-entry-guidance/associating-records) or [associated from a product](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/product-entry-guidance/associating-records-products).

### Step 10: [Publish](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/publish) your records to ScienceBase.

### Step 11: [Export](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/data-management/export) your records and contacts for backup, transfer, or sharing.

You may want to export working backups before publishing depending on your situation, but archival exports should be done after publishing since publishing can alter records, like adding or changing a ScienceBase ID.

### Step 12: Review the resulting entries in the [SA Science Catalog](https://www.fws.gov/science/catalog/).

The Science Catalog updates overnight so you should review newly-published records the day after you publish to ScienceBase. This will be one of your best quality control checks.

### Step 13: Consult with the different QA/QC Resources.

See the [QA/QC Resources](https://tpatterson.gitbook.io/sametadatacreationguide/metadata-improvements/qaqc-fixes/dj-case-qaqc-list) page for the different tools available to check your metadata.