The Astronomical Data Center at Goddard Space Flight Center is an archive for a large number of astronomical data tables published in journals. The large increase in data flow from the journals becoming all electronic will require the development of a standardized way to exchange data between researchers, publishers, and archives.
We have selected a suitable markup language that can fully describe the large variety of astronomical information contained in ADC tables. The new eXtensible Markup Language XML is a powerful new Internet-ready storage format for data. It provides a precise and clear data description language that is both machine- and human-readable. It is fast becoming the standard format for business and information transactions on the Internet and it is an ideal common metadata exchange format.
By labelling, or ``marking up'', all elements of the information content of a document, XML creates a document that computers can easily parse (for efficient and focused searching/retrieval) and that humans can both read and create. Converting astronomical tables to XML will enable greatly expanded search capabilities.
We plan to use XML's expanded hyperlinking power to enhance connectivity among the ADC tables metadata. We will use XML's display language to develop scripts and protocols to best display astronomical table data and metadata, and allow enhanced forms of metadata visualization. We are also planning XML authoring tools that allow scientists to convert their data and metadata into XML and create conversion software to ingest journal tables into the ADC XML archive.
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