Metadata Modifications Shortcuts

When creating the metadata for your collection, the information can be copied from an existing Access database that may have been used for the MBMG website; however, there may be capitalization problems such as being in all-caps or all lower-caps. How to fix this will be addressed in the next steps.

  1. First, locate your metadata sheet.
  2. Excel has a tool called 'flash fill' that detects patterns in your spreadsheet and will attempt to auto fill the rest of the column using data in surrounding columns. When dealing with the county files, it may be easiest to manually fill out the claim name column. The other columns should flash fill when beginning to type cell contents. If you start to type and see the flash fill appear, press Enter instead. You should be able to complete most other columns using flash fill such as the object id, filename, title, subject, and any other column that follows a pattern.

  3. If you do copy and paste information from the Access database that is in all-caps, the following steps offer a solution. First, in any empty column a few columns off to the side, paste the copied information.

    1. In a column just to the right of the pasted information, type =PROPER. A suggested option should pop up to the side and double-click the correct option. You will then select the cell directly left of the column you just entered the formula in, and then hit Enter.

    2. Then select the newly-created cell with proper capitalized text. Double-click the small square that appears in the bottom-right of the cell. This will auto-fill the remainder of the cells with the formula you entered.

    3. Now take the proper text and cut and paste it into its correct column. Once this is done, the formula will no longer work. So, select the corrected text column and cut it. Then in the place you want the corrected text, right-click and select the paste option of text-only.

    4. Now, delete the text you no longer need.