Hi Melissa, Have you considered a database program and design to convert the finding aids into? Many people confuse single tables (such as those that would create in Excel) with databases. True, with small amounts of data that may work, but for efficient data handling, you would want to consider using relational databases, which contain two or more tables with relationships between them. I have used EndNotes which can produce XML reports and can import them as well. This is a program where you can customize each record. You can find more information on this product (though please do not take this as an advertisement: many in the library and archiving profession have used this program, and your institution may already have a license for you to download. I hope this is helpful. Sincerely, -- Arjun Sabharwal Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2006 14:53:04 -0500 From: Bishop O'Rourke Library <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Creating a database from XML/EAD finding aids This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_03AF_01C66877.F4AF8BA0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable I work in a special library and my parent organization is looking to = undertake a project to properly organize and index its archives (they = were sporadically cared for in the past and we have partial listings of = our holdings on paper). I am researching the options for carrying out = such a project (though we would hire an archivist to do the work). I = have been learning about XML/EAD finding aids, and have seen some = well-done databases from these finding aids which allow searching the = database and browsing by subject heading. I'm having difficulty = understanding how these databases are created from sets of XML finding = aids. Perhaps there is software that assists with this? Is there any = software that you would recommend (the more affordable the better)? Thanks in advance for your help. Melissa Martinez Librarian, Bishop O'Rourke Library St. John's Catholic Newman Center=20 Phone: (217) 255-6610 Email: [log in to unmask] Arjun Sabharwal, M.A., M.L.I.S. Remote Services Librarian Baker Center for Graduate & Online Studies Phone:(810) 766-4210 1116 W. Bristol Road Flint, MI 48507 Email: [log in to unmask] Online Library Web site: https://www.baker.edu/library/dlls/main.cfm A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>