If you have metadata created at ArcGIS 9.x, what must you do to make it editable?

To make metadata created in ArcGIS 9.x editable in a later version such as ArcGIS 10.x, upgrading the schema to 10.x is necessary. Metadata in GIS systems is structured according to specific schemas that govern how information is recorded and represented. ArcGIS 9.x utilized a different schema compared to 10.x, which introduced enhancements and changes to improve metadata management.

When you upgrade the schema, you are essentially transitioning the existing metadata to comply with the new standards set in the newer version. This upgrade can automatically adjust the structure and format of the metadata elements to ensure compatibility with ArcGIS 10.x tools and functions, allowing for better editing and functionality.

On the other hand, exporting the 9.x metadata to the 10.x format does not necessarily make it editable, and simply importing metadata from another feature class or creating new metadata from scratch does not utilize the existing metadata effectively. It is crucial to upgrade the schema to ensure all associated metadata information is maintained and editable in the updated environment.