Specifications

9. Metadata
9.1 Metadata overview
What is metadata
In the Switch context, metadata is descriptive information about a job (file or job folder) in a
structured electronic form. Metadata is often used to store administrative information associated
with a job, and to exchange such information between systems. Metadata can be distinguished
from the job contents proper, even if it happens to be embedded in the job.
Historically, metadata has been stored in various proprietary or standard formats. TIFF, EXIF and
IPTC tags (often found in image files) are classic examples. More recently, the industry has moved
to store metadata as XML, building on the strengths of this ubiquitous format. JDF and Adobe
XMP, two XML-based formats, are often used in the publishing industry in addition to generic
XML.
Metadata categories
Switch recognizes three categories of metadata depending on the storage mechanism used to
convey the information, as described in the following table.
DescriptionCategory
Switch-specific information stored in the internal job ticket for each
job; for example hierarchy info and email info
Internal
Metadata that is embedded inside the job (as part of the file); for
example EXIF or IPTC tags, or an embedded Adobe XMP packet; see
Embedded metadata on page 311.
Embedded
Metadata that travels with the job but is stored as a distinct entity;
for example an XML or JDF file, or a standalone Adobe XMP packet
External
(possibly extracted from the job file); see External metadata on page
314.
Support for metadata
Switch supports working with metadata in various ways - depending on the product flavor - as
defined in the following table.
BenefitsFeature
Maintaining hierarchy info, email info and other internal
metadata used by the Switch tools
Internal job
ticket
118
Enfocus Switch 10