Obligation/Condition Clause Samples

Obligation/Condition. This is a descriptor indicating whether a metadata entity or metadata element shall always be documented in the metadata or sometimes be documented (i.e. contains value(s)). This descriptor may have the following values: M (mandatory), C (conditional), or O (optional). • Mandatory (M): The metadata entity or metadata element shall be documented. (C) Specifies an electronically manageable condition under which at least one metadata entity or a metadata element is mandatory. ‘Conditional’ is used for one of the three following possibilities: 1. Expressing a choice between two or more options. At least one option is mandatory and must be documented. 2. Documenting a metadata entity or a metadata element if another element has been documented. 3. Documenting a metadata element if a specific value for another metadata element has been documented. • Optional (O): The metadata entity or the metadata element may be documented or may not be documented. Optional metadata entities and optional metadata elements have been defined to provide a guide to those looking to fully document their data. (Use of this common set of defined elements will help promote interoperability among geographic data users and producers world-wide.) If an optional entity is not used, the elements contained within that entity (including mandatory elements) will also not be used. Optional entities may have mandatory elements; those elements only become mandatory if the optional entity is used.