Systems and methods are disclosed for annotating a metadata catalog in a data intake and query system based on a query received by the data intake and query system. The metadata catalog can store information about datasets associated with the data intake and query system, including dataset configuration records of the datasets, which can be used to process queries for execution by the data intake and query system. The data intake and query system can receive a query identifying a set of data to be processed and a manner of processing the set of data. The data intake and query system can parse the query to identify datasets and/or data fields associated with the query. Based on the identified datasets and/or fields, the data intake and query system can generate one or more annotations, and use the annotations to update the metadata catalog.