The Metadata element:

 

 

The meta data element is used for setting a value to a meta data key. The meta data keys can e.g. be used for specifying what kind of output(s) the incoming XML file should be converted to. You can assign a value to built in meta data keys and to user defined meta data keys.

 

It is good idea to state the name of the meta data as constant like below:

         

Normal way :

 

Normally you do not want this:

If you insert the reference like below, then the name of the meta data key is the contents of the referred meta data key, which you would normally not want..

 

You cannot refer to meta data elements directly in Xpath expressions, as you can do with variables. If you want to do that, you can first assign a variable to value of the meta data key, and the use the variable in the Xpath expression instead.

 

It is also possible to create and assign values to meta data element for testing in the designer via this icon:

 

 

Here you can create new meta data keys with values (also user defined meta data keys)  for testing only e.g. to verify how the template reacts to specific values of meta data element, which can e.g. be sent to the template from e.g. a data base or from the workflow. The values are stored on your PC (not in the template!) and are only used for the current result view and previews in the designer.

 

A fast way to get the 100% correct name of a meta data key is via the web interface. If you here view the workflow (Template selections), then you can just right click on the meta data key, and choose to copy the name of the meta data key into the clip board for use e.g. in the designer. The copy of the meta data key is described here.