How to use this guide

This is a complete list of metadata fields for Subject Knowledge Maps.

You can use these tables to guide your data entry. We've listed fields in the order they appear in the editor. Each section in the editor has its own table. 

For certain fields, you have a restricted list of options called controlled vocabularies. We've listed the controlled vocabularies for those fields at the bottom of the page.

General Information

This section contains the identifier for the Knowledge Map, and lets you make the place private or public.

FieldDescriptionType
Subject IDA unique identifier assigned to the place. This can't be changed and helps you distinguish the place from others with the same name.short text (cannot be changed)
Public?Sets whether the place is visible to the public. You can check this box if you aren't ready to share the place.checkbox

Names

Names for the Knowledge Map. The name for a subject can change across languages or time: you can track those changes here. You can also list popular names for a subject. 

FieldDescriptionType

Subject

An alternate name for the subject.

short text
Name TypeThis field sets whether the name is official or popular.controlled vocabulary
LanguageThe language of the name. This field is independent of the 'writing system,' which you can learn more about below.controlled vocabulary
Writing SystemThe alphabet or symbol system used to represent the language. For example, English uses the Latin script. controlled vocabulary
EtymologyThe etymological origin of the alternate name.

long text

(WYSIWYG)

Primary for Popular Romanization View?Popular romanization is an easy-to-pronounce version of names in roman script, which is intended for audiences around the world.checkbox


Caption

A brief, "tweet-sized" description for the KMap. The caption appears in KMap previews throughout Mandala. It should be under 140 characters. Make sure it's general and clear enough to identify the feature from a list.

FieldDescriptionType

Language

The language of the caption. Each caption should only have one language. If you need to include a translation, add a new caption.controlled vocabulary
CaptionThe text of the caption. This field should be shorter than 140 characters. Make sure it's general and clear enough to identify the feature from a list.WYSIWYG
AuthorThe author of the caption. By default, this is set to your username. controlled vocabulary

Summaries

A summary of the important aspects of the subject. This should be less than 750 characters long. If you want to translate your summary into multiple languages, each language needs its own summary. You can add more than one summary.

FieldDescriptionType

Language

The language of the summary. Each summary should only have one language. If you need to include a translation, add a new summary.

controlled vocabulary
SummaryThe text of the summary. This should be shorter than 750 characters.WYSIWYG
AuthorThe author of the summary. By default, this is set to your username.controlled vocabulary

Illustration

A single image that is representative of the subject or place. It appears next to the summary on the main page for the Knowledge Map. Other images, including those that relate to the subject or place but do not illustrate it, can be added using Images in Mandala. Learn more about this feature with Add Illustrations to KMaps.

FieldDescriptionType

Picture Type

The type of source for the file. Unless you work for the Tibetan and Himalayan Library, this will always be "External."controlled vocabulary
URLThe URL of your image, which is the source for the file. Unless you work for the Tibetan and Himalayan Library, this will always be "External." If your image is on your computer, you can host it using Images in Mandala. You would then paste that image's URL in that field.short text
CaptionA short description of the image.short text
Place (Places Dictionary FID)A place associated with the image. This field uses Knowledge Maps.kmap
Is PrimaryIf this is checked, the image will show up before any other illustrations, including in Knowledge Map previews.checkbox

Subject Codes

You can add codes to identify the subject here. Every subject also has its own unique identifier in Knowledge Maps.

FieldDescriptionType
Subject Code Type

The type of code. We don't currently have a set list of code types for Subjects: email mandala@virginia.edu to request a type.

Example: The 'Library of Congress Subject Area' designates broad subject areas using a specific letter.

controlled vocabulary
ValueThe actual value of the code.

Example: For the subject 'Education' and a subject code type 'Library of Congress Classification', the value would be 'L'		short text


Subject Relations

You can assign related subjects here. This is also used to create child subjects. We've included some of the fields you'll need here. 

To create a child subject: 

  1. In the "Subject Relations" metadata section, click New Child
    • An editor for the new subject will open
  2. Fill out the form using the table below to guide you
  3. Click Create

To assign an existing related subject: 

  1. In the "Subject Relations" metadata section, click New Subject Relation
    • A list of subjects will appear
  2. Click Select next to the subject you want to connect to the original subject
    • New fields will open
  3. Fill out the form using the table below to guide you
  4. Click Create
FieldDescriptionType
SubjectThe name of the new subject (if you're creating a child subject.)short text
Name TypeThis sets whether the name is official or popular.controlled vocabulary
LanguageThe language of the name. This is independent of the 'writing system,' which you can learn more about below.controlled vocabulary 
Writing SystemThe alphabet or symbol system used to represent the language. For example, English uses the Latin script. controlled vocabulary
EtymologyThe etymological origin of the name. WYSIWYG
Primary for Popular Romanization View?Popular romanization is an easy-to-pronounce version of names in Roman script, which is intended for audiences around the world. checkbox
Subject Relation TypeThe type of relationship between the original subject and the related subject (whether new or existing).controlled vocabulary
PerspectiveYou can ignore this field, which applies only to Places. There is only one perspective for Subjects – "General." You can learn more about Perspectives if you're curious.controlled vocabulary


Homepage Texts

Homepage Texts are featured on the overview page for your subject. This lets you add longer content than summaries or captions. To add a homepage text, you'll first work in Mandala Texts: 

  1. Create your content in Mandala Texts: use this guide for help. You can also use an existing Mandala Text. 
  2. Tag your text with the subject: use this guide for help. For example, if I wanted the text to appear on the Architecture overview page, I would tag it with Architecture. 
  3. Return to the Subjects editorial interface to add your Homepage Text

In the Homepage Texts section: 

  1. Click New Homepage Text
  2. Choose your text
    1. If you don't see the text, make sure you tagged it with the appropriate subject (see above)
  3. Choose the language of the text
  4. Click Create

Controlled Vocabularies

Name Type

ValueDefinition
Official

The official name for a subject, as designated by the government.

Example: French cheese names are controlled by the French government. To call a cheese "Camembert de Normandie," it has to meet strict standards of production. "Camembert de Normandie" would be the "official" name for the cheese.

Popular

A popular name for the subject, used in speech or non-official documents.

Example: 'Camembert' is the popular name for "Camembert de Normandie," a cheese protected by the French government (see the example above.)

Language

  • Arabic

  • Burmese

  • Chinese

  • Dzongkha

  • English

  • French

  • German

  • Hindi

  • Italian

  • Japanese

  • Korean

  • Latin

  • Mongolian

  • Nepali

  • Pali

  • Polish

  • Prakrit

  • Russian

  • Sanskrit

  • Sinhalese

  • Spanish

  • Thai

  • Tibetan

  • Unknown

  • Urdu

  • Vietnamese

Writing System

  • Cyrillic
  • Devanagari Script
  • Latin Script
  • Simplified Chinese Characters
  • Tibetan Script
  • Traditional Chinese Characters

Picture Type

Unless you're part of the Tibetan and Himalayan Library, this should always be External. 

  • External 
  • MMS

Subject Relation Type

ValueDefinition

Is The Same As

A relationship in which the two subjects are the same.

Is An Instance Of

A relationship in which one subject (A) is an illustrative case, example, or concretization of another (more abstract) subject (B). A is an instance of B.


Is A Type Of

A relationship in which one subject (A) shares or exemplifies characteristics defined by another subject (B). Subject B is usually above the subject A hierarchically.

Example: A cat is a type of pet.

Is A Variation Of

A relationship in which two subjects share similar characteristics, but show deviations from each other. Unlike "is a type of", neither subject is above the other hierarchically.

Example: The Cesca chair designed by Marcel Breuer is in the public domain, so the design has been remade and remixed by several manufacturers. Each chair is a variation of the original.

Is Narrower ThanA relationship in which one subject (A) has a smaller scope than the other subject (B). A is narrower than B.
Is Related ToA generic relationship between two subjects; use this only if no other relationship applies.
Is The Opposite OfA relationship of opposition. This includes antonyms.