The Global Change Master Directory (GCMD)'s Version 9.8.1 software, just released, now offers:

1. A web based interface for staff to easily track broken links, a cached version of the old link to help locate the new link, along with the ability to globally update links in the GCMD system.  The Link Checker Tool is also integrated into the GCMD database validation to ensure that links are also checked at load time.
2. Improved NASA Data portal, including a more dynamic layout using disclosure sections for each Data Center.
3. A Web 2.0 Platform/Instruments user interface providing a dynamic list of
   platforms and instruments, which allows users to easily sort, filter, and link directly to associated NASA data sets.
4. New functionality to define private portals. The content can be exclusive to only to a private portal (and not available for display in any other portal).
5. Added support for building custom email responses for metadata submissions. This allows us to define specific responses on a portal-basis, where a template can be defined for the content that will be included.
6. A new Climate Diagnostics Portal, providing users direct links to visualization data was developed by the CEOS IDN and is based on the GCMD’s Directory Interchange Format (DIF).  Its development required: 1) Schema Extension to the DIF, providing support for several new CD-specific fields;  2) Highly customized authoring tool for building Climate Diagnostics records; 3) Full database support for maintaining this new document type; and 4) Highly customized search interface including keyword searching, full text search capabilities, spatial searching, as well as direct links to visualizations.