Authoring Finding Aids

Finding aids contributed to OASIS must be XML documents that follow the Harvard EAD (Encoded Archival Description). (To learn more, see What is EAD at the SAA site.) Local repositories can use an authoring tool of their choice to create and maintain EAD XML documents. Two Windows-based XML authoring tools are in use currently: Corel WordPerfect and XMetal.

To get help using the authoring tools, you should consult the OASIS user community or your local desktop support office.

Getting the EAD schema or DTD
Authoring tools

Getting the EAD schema or DTD

OIS compiles and makes available special Harvard versions of an EAD schema and DTD for use in finding aid authoring. The Harvard EAD schema and DTD files are available on the web:

EAD schema:
http://hul.harvard.edu/ois/xml/xsd/oasis/ead2002/ead.xsd

EAD DTD (ead.dtd) and supporting files:
http://hul.harvard.edu/ois/xml/xsd/oasis/ead2002/

WordPerfect 12 supports the DTD only. While XMetal can support either the schema or the DTD, XMetal users are instructed below on use of the schema only. To get these files, point a browser at the URL and copy the file(s) to the directory specified by your authoring software.

Both XMetal and WordPerfect use a local copy of these files. When OIS notifies OASIS staff users that the official schema/DTD has been updated, you will need to remember to refresh your local copy as well.

Authoring tools

WordPerfect 12:

• Available from the Corel Corporation.
• Installation and configuration, see Using WordPerfect 12 for XML Authoring [PDF].
  
  These instructions reference a separate Houghton template file [WPT file].

XMetal Author 4.x:

• Available from JustSystems.
• Installation instructions, see Installing XMetal.
• Help using XMetla, see the XMetal Tips page.