I've just upgraded to Omeka 2.1 largely because I wanted to play with the API. I'm using an Omeka installation to organize primary sources for a personal research project, and I'd like to streamline the item entry process, which typically involved lots of copying and pasting from a boilerplate file into the web form.
What I have in mind is a Python script that could use the API client to take a file of notes that I have prepared and create items in my database using POST requests.
I would (ideally) use YAML to keep my notes on the items, and then use either the Python script or a snippet in my text editor to fill in all of the fields that stay largely the same across items. The script would convert the YAML to JSON for posting, too.
In theory I think I see how this will work, but since I'm new to the API, I'm curious how much information the POST request has to contain. You can see form an example idem in my site that I don't use very many of the DC fields:
http://wcaleb.rice.edu/omeka/items/show/70
What I don't know for sure is whether I would have to, for example, create the full elements_set and elements tree for each item, or just part of it. Any pointers to resources that would help would be appreciated.