---
title: "Service: /members/{member}/groups/{group}/metadata/{extension}/process [POST]"
source: https://dev.pageseeder.com/api/services/process-metadata_post.html
description: "This POST service processes files with a specified extension to load default metadata from PSML document templates or media templates and apply it to corresponding URIs. It starts an asynchronous process with options to overwrite existing metadata properties. Requires manager-level group permissions."
last_updated: 2026-09-08T13:59:40+10:00
document_type: api_endpoint
operation_id: developer-POST
resource_id: developer
path_template: /members/{member}/groups/{group}/metadata/{extension}/process
http_method: POST
api_category: developer
implementation_version: 6.2000
api_since: 5.9500
deprecated_since: null
obsolete_since: null
api_support: experimental
cache_control: N/A
generated_at: 2026-09-02
tokens: ~387
---

# /members/\{member\}/groups/\{group\}/metadata/\{extension\}/process \[POST\]

## Description

Process the files with the specified `extension` to load their default [metadata](../../reference/glossary/metadata.md) and set it on the corresponding [URI](../../reference/glossary/uri.md). This service starts an [Asynchronous process](../usage/asynchronous_process.md).

Default metadata is loaded using the corresponding [PSML document template](../../guide/configuration/psml/psml_document_template.md) for the `psml` extension or [media template](../../guide/configuration/media_types.md) for other files.

The overwrite parameter can be used to preserve existing [document metadata](../../reference/glossary/document_metadata.md) properties:

- if `false`, only new properties are added to the existing metadata.
- if `true`, all existing metadata properties are overwritten and for a non `psml` extension the document properties (title, docid, description, labels) are also overwritten.

## Parameters

| Name | Description | Required | Type | Default |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| document-type | The document type to process (required and only for the `psml` extension) | Maybe | string |  |
| overwrite | A flag to allow overwriting of existing metadata properties | no | boolean | `false` |

## Permission

This service requires manager or higher in the group.

## Response

XML output:

```xml
<metadata-process>
  <thread ... > ... </thread>
</metadata-process>
```

## Error Handling

No specific errors expected for this service.