These snapshots are useful for catalogs of data but are difficult to maintain as the data migrates between systems or is involved in further processing. Software is either available or under development that permits both the viewing of the GIS data and associated information. In many respects, such software makes the filling in of blanks for many metadata elements redundant and raises issues of maintenance for data management systems. The use of forms containing those elements which are stored independently of the data should be discouraged. Documentation can then focus on providing information which is independent of systems and distribution issues.
Documentation can focus on information which is appropriate and important for the data.
This is consistent with the FGDC guidelines for implementation of the Content Standards . Several databases of metadata recognize the need to separate the documentation steps. For example, publication agency and distribution methods are identified only once for all GIS data of an organization. As tools continue to develop for the viewing of GIS data and associated tables, metadata for the components of GIS data can be presented and queried in a far more informative and intuitive manner than the review of a large text file. This information will be stored as part of the properties of the GIS data.