MetaVox
Structured metadata for Nextcloud documents
An open-source Nextcloud app developed by the University of Amsterdam. Enrich your documents with contextual information without modifying the files themselves.
Core Functionality
MetaVox provides structured and machine-readable metadata that is non-intrusive - the file content remains unchanged.
- Metadata assignment to team folders and their contents
- Role-based access control
- Distinction between folder-level (read-only) and document-level (editable) metadata
- JSON import/export for metadata definitions
- Integration with Nextcloud's permission system
Field Types
Extensive choice of field types for every metadata need.
Basic Field Types
Advanced Field Types
URL
URL input field with validation and clickable external link button.
User Picker
Select from Nextcloud user database with avatar display.
File Link
Native Nextcloud file picker integration for document linking.
Multi-select
Like Select, but allows multiple selections for tags and related topics.
Team Folder Metadata
Manage metadata definitions at team folder level for consistent classification.
- Admin-only definition capabilities
- Folder-level metadata automatically inherited by documents
- Consistent classification for all files in a team folder
- Easy management via admin interface
Metadata Management
Configure metadata fields easily via the admin interface.
- Field name and label configuration
- Field type selection
- Description for users
- Required/optional setting
- Options for dropdown fields
Bulk Metadata Editor
Apply metadata to multiple files at once via the Bulk Metadata Editor in the Files app.
- Select multiple files with checkboxes or Ctrl/Cmd+click
- Overwrite existing values: replaces all existing values
- Only fill empty fields: only updates empty fields
- Clear All: removes all metadata
- Export CSV: download metadata with timestamp
Views
Save predefined combinations of columns, filters and sorting as tabs. Switch between views with one click.
- Save column, filter and sort configurations
- Quickly switch between views with tabs
- Share views with your team
- Filter by department, status, type or any metadata
AI Metadata Autofill
Let AI read your document content and suggest metadata values. Saves time when classifying large amounts of documents.
- AI reads file content and suggests metadata
- Works with any AI model in Nextcloud
- Easily accept or adjust suggestions
- Available for all field types
Workflow Integration
Nextcloud Flow
Automate actions based on metadata values with Nextcloud Flow integration.
Conditional Rules
Use operators like "is", "contains" and regex matching for flexible rules.
Access Restrictions
Automatically restrict access based on metadata classification.
Notifications
Send automatic notifications when metadata has certain values.
Download Blocking
Block downloads for confidential documents based on metadata.
Automation
Link actions to metadata changes for automated workflows.
Use Cases
Curriculum Tagging
Tag educational materials with curriculum codes, grade level and subject area.
Policy Classification
Classify policy documents with status, version and approval information.
Research Annotation
Annotate research documents with methodology, datasets and citations.
Contract Management
Track contract dates, parties, amounts and expiration dates.
Document Archiving
Retention policies and archiving metadata for legal requirements.
Project Documentation
Organize project documents with phase, owner and status.
Target Audiences
Universities
Manage research documents, publications and datasets with extensive metadata for findability and compliance.
Governments
Document classification, retention policies and archiving metadata for legal requirements.
Knowledge Workers
Organize project documents, contracts and reports with structured metadata for quick retrieval.
Legal Departments
Track contract dates, parties, amounts and expiration dates. Automatic notifications via workflows.
Import & Export
JSON Import/Export
Export and import metadata definitions as JSON for backup or migration.
CSV Export
Download metadata as CSV file with timestamp, including file path and name.
Metadata Definitions
Share metadata schemas between installations via JSON export.
IntraVox Integration
News Filtering
Filter IntraVox news widgets by MetaVox metadata for targeted content.
Page Metadata
Add structured metadata to IntraVox intranet pages.
Searchable
Search intranet content based on MetaVox metadata tags.
Roadmap
Retention Policies
Automatic document retention and deletion based on metadata.
Versioning
Metadata version history for audit trails.
Audit Logging
Detailed logging of metadata changes.
Advanced Search
Searchable and filterable metadata in Nextcloud search.
Installation
- Open Nextcloud as administrator
- Go to Apps → Office & text apps
- Search for
MetaVox - Click Download and enable
- Configure metadata fields via Admin Settings → MetaVox
- Assign metadata definitions to team folders
Requirements
- Nextcloud 28, 29, 30, 31 or 32
- PHP 8.1 or higher
- Database MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL or SQLite
- Team Folders App Recommended
Credits
MetaVox was originally developed by Sam Ditmeijer and Rik Dekker at the University of Amsterdam.
Licensing
MetaVox is open source under AGPL-3.0 and free to use — all features, no restrictions, with volume limits on the Free version. For organizations with a Nextcloud Enterprise contract, VoxCloud apps are available via Nextcloud.
Have a Nextcloud Enterprise contract? Ask your account manager about VoxCloud apps via Nextcloud, or contact us for the current status. Different situation? Email info@voxcloud.nl.