In Aviary, an index is time-coded metadata (names, subjects, keywords, partial transcripts, locations, hyperlinks, etc.) that is attached to audiovisual media files, and references the places where they occur in the media file (timecode). In this way, an Aviary index is similar to an index typically found at the end of a book, which has similar references to the pages that such metadata can be found on. Rather than page number references, an Aviary Index includes timecode references.
The Data Model of an Index
Indexes can be either created in Aviary or imported into Aviary. No matter how they are created, all indexes are stored as data in two different database tables. Each index has a single database entry in the file_indexes table describing the index itself. Each index can have one-to-many time coded segments, with each stored as a separate entry in the file_index_points table.
Currently, an Aviary index can be very simple. It is only required that an index have a title, which is supplied during creation or import, and at least one segment with a supplied segment title.
In addition to title, Indexes contain can also include other metadata, including a descriptive note, language, access permissions, sort order compared to other indexes assigned to the same media file.
In addition to title, Index segments can also include other metadata, including start and end times, segment synopsis, partial transcript, GPS coordinates, GPS description, GPS zoom level, subjects, keywords, and hyperlinks.
How Indexes are created
Indexes can be created manually in the Aviary web interface. For more info see: . Indexes can be imported one-at-a-time by choosing the Upload Another Index from the three dot menu on the index tab of the resource detail screen. Uploaded indexes must meet either the WebVTT Web Video Text Tracks format (), or the the OHMS: Oral History Metadata Synchronizer schema (). For more information on the conceptual framework and theory of OHMS indexing, see: Indexing Interviews in OHMS: An Overview (). Indexes can be imported in bulk. For more information on bulk importing see: Aviary file_index_points table mapping