PREMIS metadata: original files

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Main Page > Development > Development documentation > Metadata elements > PREMIS metadata for original file


This table is a template for metadata elements for the original file. Please note the following:

  • The format semantic unit would be repeated as needed if FITS identified several possible formats for the file
  • The eventOutcomeDetail semantic unit would be repeated as needed to capture detailed information generated by an event
  • This table includes one event as an example (normalization); a real PREMIS file would contain information about numerous events (see PREMIS event metadata)
  • This table includes two agent entities: an organization (City of Vancouver Archives) and a software program (Archivematica). The organization is the agent for manual events such as reviewing the SIP, while Archivematica is the agent for automated events such as normalization. Further agents may be included (such as individuals, workstations etc) but the two agents specified in this table would be a minimum.


PREMIS entity Semantic unit Semantic component Sample value(s) Notes
object objectIdentifier objectIdentifierType UUID mandatory unit and component
object objectIdentifier objectIdentifierValue 0db50321-6d7b-4291-89ec-a8b0adc1ff96 mandatory unit and component
object objectCategory none file mandatory unit and component
object objectCharacteristics compositionLevel 0 mandatory unit and component
object objectCharacteristics/fixity messageDigestAlgorithm MD5
object objectCharacteristics/fixity messageDigest e479688508922354bdab09bca60d8d0e
object objectCharacteristics/fixity messageDigestOriginator City of Vancouver Archives
object objectCharacteristics size 787510
object objectCharacteristics/format/formatDesignation formatName Windows Bitmap format is a mandatory unit; must use either formatDesignation or formatRegistry
object objectCharacteristics/format/formatDesignation formatVersion 3.0 format is a mandatory unit; must use either formatDesignation or formatRegistry
object objectCharacteristics/format/formatRegistry formatRegistryName PRONOM format is a mandatory unit; must use either formatDesignation or formatRegistry
object objectCharacteristics/format/formatRegistry formatRegistryKey fmt/116 format is a mandatory unit; must use either formatDesignation or formatRegistry
object objectCharacteristics objectCharacteristicsExtension

<fits xsi:schemaLocation="http://hul.harvard.edu/ois/xml/ns/fits/fits_output http://hul.harvard.edu/ois/xml/xsd/fits/fits_output.xsd" version="0.3.2" timestamp="8/10/10 7:28 PM"> + selected FITS output

objectCharacteristicsExtension is used for additional object characteristics not covered by PREMIS, for instance format specific metadata that is defined externally.
object originalName none /SAE Project files/newsletters/20100223/cover image.bmp
object relationship relationshipType derivation
object relationship relationshipSubType is source of
object relationship/relatedObjectIdentification relatedObjectIdentifierType UUID mandatory unit and component if there is a related object
object relationship/relatedObjectIdentification relatedObjectIdentifierValue 270bd067-0483-4c5f-bdec-f2cbd6e651aa mandatory unit and component if there is a related object
object relationship/relatedEventIdentification relatedEventIdentifierType Archivematica ID "For derivative relationships between objects relatedEventIdentification must be recorded."
object relationship/relatedEventIdentification relatedEventIdentifierValue [alphanumeric code] "For derivative relationships between objects relatedEventIdentification must be recorded."
event eventIdentifier eventIdentifierType UUID mandatory unit and component
event eventIdentifier eventIdentifierValue 8jb50321-6d7b-4291-89ag-a8b0fhc1f276 mandatory unit and component
event eventType none normalization mandatory unit and component
event eventDateTime none 2009-12-01T09:09:00-02:00 mandatory unit and component
event eventDetail none program="ImageMagick"; version="6.6.4.0"; command="%convertPath% %fileFullName% +compress %preservationFileDirectory%%fileTitle%.%preservationFormat%" This element can be used to record information about software used and eliminates the need to have agent entities for software programs
event eventOutcomeInformation eventOutcome {normalized; not normalized}
event eventOutcomeDetail eventOutcomeDetailNote
  • Normalization failed
  • Already in preservation format. No need to normalize
Repeatable container
event eventOutcomeDetail eventOutcomeDetailNote cover_image.tiff Repeatable container
event linkingAgentIdentifier linkingAgentIdentifierType preservation system used to link an agent to an event; not mandatory but recommended
event linkingAgentIdentifier linkingAgentIdentifierValue Archivematica-0.7 used to link an agent to an event; not mandatory but recommended
agent agentIdentifier agentIdentifierType repository code mandatory unit and component
agent agentIdentifier agentIdentifierValue CVA mandatory unit and component
agent agentName none City of Vancouver Archives
agent agentType none organization
agent agentIdentifier agentIdentifierType preservation system mandatory unit and component
agent agentIdentifier agentIdentifierValue Archivematica-0.7 mandatory unit and component
agent agentName none Archivematica
agent agentType none software