Practical governance tool

Build a useful starter data catalog without unnecessary complexity

Document datasets, tables, reports, APIs, models, and data products with ownership, classifications, lineage notes, quality status, access conditions, and review details.

No external data services.Results use deterministic rules and depend on user-supplied information. They do not replace governance, legal review, security validation, or data-quality testing.
Connected data catalogA central catalog record connected to ownership, quality, source, and access records.

How it works

Start with one important asset, assess completeness, then expand and export the local catalog.

1

Describe the asset

Capture identity, purpose, domain, location, owners, consumers, and operational context.

2

Review governance metadata

Record sensitivity, personal-data status, access, lineage, quality, retention, and assurance.

3

Prioritise and export

Use completeness and duplicate checks, then export CSV or JSON locally.

Catalog entry builder

Required fields are marked with an asterisk.

1. Identity and purpose
Stable business-facing name.
Explain contents, purpose, and decisions supported.
For example Finance, Sales, or Operations.
Teams, roles, or applications.
2. Accountability and location
Role or named accountable person.
Operational metadata or quality contact.
For example ERP, CRM, or warehouse.
Safe schema, path, route, or repository reference. Never enter secrets.
3. Classification and access
State approval route, restrictions, and secure handling.
For example 7 years after financial year close.
4. Operations, lineage, and quality
Summarise sources, transformations, and downstream uses.
For example available by 07:00 UTC.
Separate tags with commas.

Local multi-entry catalog

Add the current record, import local CSV, check duplicates, filter, and export. Records remain in this browser tab unless downloaded.

Use the exported headers. Maximum 100 records and 2 MB.
No local catalog records added.
Local catalog entries
AssetTypeDomainOwnerSensitivityQualityCompletenessDuplicateAction
No entries yet.

Methodology, limitations, and use

Treat the result as a structured metadata review, not proof that an asset is accurate, compliant, secure, or fit for every purpose.

Method

Fixed weights total 100 points. A valid, non-empty field receives its full weight. No hidden adjustment is used.

Limitations

The tool does not inspect systems, validate lineage, test data quality, assess legal obligations, or confirm access enforcement.

Practical use

Prioritise low-scoring and high-risk assets, assign owners, standardise descriptions, confirm classifications, document access, and schedule reviews.

Frequently asked questions

What is a data catalog starter?

A lightweight structure for documenting important assets before adopting or expanding a formal catalog.

Which asset types can I document?

Datasets, tables, reports, APIs, analytical models, and data products.

How is completeness calculated?

Fixed weights are applied to twenty metadata fields and totalled as a percentage.

Does the score measure data quality?

No. It measures metadata completeness.

Is entered information sent externally?

No external service or API is used.

Can I import existing records?

Yes. Download the CSV template and preserve its headers.

How are duplicate records identified?

Matching normalized asset name, type, and domain combinations are flagged.

What should I enter for location?

Use a safe schema, report path, API route, repository reference, or governed URL. Never include secrets.

What does certification status mean?

An internal assurance or lifecycle label governed by your process.

How often should entries be reviewed?

According to criticality, sensitivity, change rate, and policy.

Can this support implementation?

Yes. Exports can support metadata requirements, ownership remediation, migration, and onboarding.

Should every field be completed?

Not necessarily, but inapplicable fields should follow a documented convention.