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Create a Record Set dataset from a WACZ observation

Source: R/wacz_to_recordset_df.R
wacz_to_recordset_df.Rd

Converts a wacz_observation created with observe_wacz() into a semantically enriched dataset_df representing a Record Set.

The function preserves the original observations while attaching dataset-level metadata and lightweight Records in Contexts (RiC) semantics. Selected identifier columns may be declared as rico:Identifier values, allowing downstream workflows to distinguish identifiers intended to refer to Records or Record Parts without requiring a complete RiC-O implementation.

The function intentionally performs only lightweight semantic enrichment. It does not infer Records, Record Parts, Instantiations, or other archival entities, nor does it reconcile identities or build provenance graphs. Such interpretation is expected to occur in later human-guided curation or semantic stabilisation workflows.

Usage

wacz_to_recordset_df(
  wacz_observation,
  record_set_id = NULL,
  record_set_title = NULL,
  record_identifier = "resource_locator",
  record_part_identifier = NULL,
  person = utils::person("Jane", "Doe")
)

Arguments

wacz_observation

A wacz_observation object created with observe_wacz().

record_set_id

Optional identifier for the resulting Record Set. If NULL, the basename of the WACZ archive (without extension) is used.

record_set_title

Optional human-readable title for the Record Set. If omitted, a title is constructed automatically.

record_identifier

Name of the column whose values identify Records represented in the Record Set. The selected column is annotated as rico:Identifier using dataset::defined(). Set to NULL to skip annotation.

record_part_identifier

Optional name of a column whose values identify Record Parts. The selected column is annotated as rico:Identifier.

person

A utils::person() object describing the creator of the resulting dataset metadata.

Value

A dataset_df object enriched with:

  • Dublin Core dataset metadata;

  • a RiC Record Set subject;

  • optional semantic annotations for Record and Record Part identifiers;

  • the original datapackage and wacz attributes.

Details

This function occupies the boundary between observational data and semantic interpretation.

observe_wacz() records observations extracted from a WACZ archive. wacz_to_recordset_df() adds curatorial assertions describing how particular observed identifiers should be interpreted within a Record Set, while deliberately avoiding stronger ontological commitments such as identity reconciliation or Record construction.

The resulting object is intended for reproducible archival, curatorial, and semantic enrichment workflows.

References

International Council on Archives Expert Group on Archival Description (2023). Records in Contexts (RiC). https://www.ica.org/ica-network/expert-groups/egad/records-in-contexts-ric/

See also

observe_wacz(), dataset::dataset_df(), dataset::defined()