Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is implemented in a repository which stores metadata relating to data stored in one or more databases. The repository includes a repository database in which the metadata is stored, one or more scanners each of which scans at least one database and obtains metadata therefrom, and one or more loaders each of which loads metadata obtained by at least one scanner into the repository database in accordance with the externalized reuse criteria. According to the invention, metadata stored in the repository is reused, for example, not replaced by identical metadata when the repository is updated or populated, and the criteria governing reuse is externalized, i.e., accessible and modifiable by a repository user. The reuse criteria accessible to repository users is stored separate from repository program code at a non-programming level such that the customer (user) can change the reuse procedures without an experienced programmer.