Nathan,

We are using XMLSpy as EAD-XML editor en X-Hive as native XML database. X-
Hive is now available as EMC Documentum xDB. These two programs, in
combination with WebDAV are installed as our EAD Management System. As all
databases, we had to customize these programs and to build some
applications, like user interfaces, needed for our purposes.

The EADMS provides features as versioning, check in/check out with locking,
searching with XQuery, automated and scheduled jobs, like export and upload
to our website of new and changed EAD instances, conversion into PDF-files
of new and changed EAD instances, adding and registration of permanent
identifiers (handles), some inconsistency checks, and the normal database
functions as back up, synchronization and indexing.

Before 2012 we had to cope with flat files in a normal directory system.
With 6500 EAD files, this was awful. We have lost a few EAD instances as a
result of unfortunate actions of a colleague (or myself).

We have chosen for a native XML database, because a normal RDBMS is too
rigid for the enormous variety in our finding aids. These finding aids are
created in the last two centuries. The oldest dates from 1801, and believe
me, in those days they didn’t process archival material according to any
rule or standard ;-).

Henny van Schie
National Archives of the Netherlands
The Hague NL