Dataset + File Management¶

Tabular Data Files¶

Files in certain formats - Stata, SPSS, R, Excel(xlsx) and CSV - may be ingested as tabular data (see “Tabular Data Ingest” section for details). Tabular data files can be further explored and manipulated with TwoRavens - a statistical data exploration application integrated with Dataverse. It allows the user to run statistical models, view summary statistics, download subsets of variable vectors and more. To start, click on the “Explore” button, found next to each relevant tabular file (the application will be opened in a new window). To download subsets of variables click on the “Download” button found next to a relevant tabular file and select “Data Subset” in the dropdown menu. You will then be able to create your subset using the interface opened in a new window (this functionality is also provided by the TwoRavens project). See the TwoRavens documentation section for more information.

For example, the ingest functionality for tabular files in the Harvard Dataverse, a file can only be up to 2GB in size. To use the ingest functionality for RData files, a file can only be up to 1MB in size, however, to upload a RData file without using ingest, a file can be up to 2GB in size.

Additional download options available for tabular data (found in the same drop-down menu under the “Download” button):

• As tab-delimited data (with the variable names in the first row);
• The original file uploaded by the user;
• Saved as R data (if the original file was not in R format);
• Variable Metadata (as a DDI Codebook XML file);
• Data File Citation (currently in either RIS or EndNote XML format);
• All of the above, as a zipped bundle.

Geospatial¶

Geospatial shapefiles can be further explored and manipulated through our integration with WorldMap, a geospatial data visualization and analysis tool developed by the Center for Geographic Analysis at Harvard University. A shapefile is a set of files, often uploaded/transferred in .zip format. This set may contain up to 15 files. A minimum of 3 specific files (.shp, .shx, .dbf) are needed to be a valid shapefile and a 4th file (.prj) is required for WorldMap–or any type of meaningful visualization.

For ingest into Dataverse and connecting to WorldMap, these 4 files are the minimum required:

• .shp - shape format; the feature geometry itself
• .shx - shape index format; a positional index of the feature geometry to allow seeking forwards and backwards quickly
• .dbf - attribute format; columnar attributes for each shape, in dBase IV format
• .prj - projection format; the coordinate system and projection information, a plain text file describing the projection using well-known text format

For a zipped shapefile, we require 4 files with these extensions. Other files may be included within the zipped shapefile, but they are not required:

• .shp
• .shx
• .prj
• .dbf

For example, if these files were included within a .zip, the “Map Data” button would appear:

• subway_line.shp
• subway_line.shx
• subway_line.prj
• subway_line.dbf

Once you publish your dataset with your shape files, you will be able to use the “Map Data” button using GeoConnect to visualize and manipulate these files for users to Explore this geospatial data using the WorldMap interface. Please note: In order to map your data file, a copy will be sent to Harvard’s WorldMap platform. You have the ability to delete any maps, and associated data, from the Harvard WorldMap platform, at any time.

Astronomy (FITS)¶

Metadata found in the header section of Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) files are automatically extracted by Dataverse, aggregated and displayed in the Astronomy Domain-Specific Metadata of the Dataset that the file belongs to. This FITS file metadata, is therefore searchable and browsable (facets) at the Dataset-level.

Compressed Files¶

Compressed files in zip format are unpacked automatically. If it fails to unpack, for whatever reason, it will upload as is. If the number of files inside are more than a set limit (1,000), you will get an error message and the file will uploads as is.

Support for unpacking tar files will be added when this ticket is closed: https://github.com/IQSS/dataverse/issues/2195.

Advanced Options¶

There are several advanced options available for certain file types.

• Image files: jpgs, pngs, and tiff files are able to be selected as the default thumbnail for a dataset. The selected thumbnail will appear on the search result card for that dataset.
• SPSS files: SPSS files can be tagged with the language they were originally coded in. This is found by clicking on Advanced Options and selecting the language from the list provided.

Supported HTML Fields¶

We currently only support the following HTML tags for any of our textbox meatdata fields (i.e., Description) : <a>, <b>, <blockquote>, <br>, <code>, <del>, <dd>, <dl>, <dt>, <em>, <hr>, <h1>-<h3>, <i>, <img>, <kbd>, <li>, <ol>, <p>, <pre>, <s>, <sup>, <sub>, <strong>, <strike>, <ul>.

File Tags¶

The File Tags are comprised of custom, category (i.e. Documentation, Data, Code) and tabular data tags (i.e. Event, Genomics, Geospatial, Network, Panel, Survey, Time Series). Use the dropdown select menus as well as the custom file tag input to apply these tags to the selected files. There is also a Delete Tags feature that, if checked, will allow you to delete unused file tags within that dataset.

Upload New Files¶

To upload new files to a dataset, go to the dataset you want to update and click on the Upload Files button in the files tab. From there you will be brought to the Upload Files page for the dataset. Once you have uploaded files, you will be able to edit the file metadata, restrict, add tags, or delete them before saving.

CC0 Waiver + Dataset Terms of Use¶

Starting with Dataverse version 4.0, all new datasets will default to a CC0 public domain dedication . CC0 facilitates reuse and extensibility of research data. Our Community Norms as well as good scientific practices expect that proper credit is given via citation. If you are unable to give your datasets a CC0 waiver you may enter your own custom Terms of Use for your Datasets.

* Legal Disclaimer: these Community Norms are not a substitute for the CC0 waiver or custom terms and licenses applicable to each dataset. Please be advised that the Community Norms are not a binding contractual agreement, and that downloading datasets from Dataverse does not create a legal obligation to follow these policies.

Setting up Custom Terms of Use for Datasets¶

If you are unable to use a CC0 waiver for your datasets you are able to set your own custom terms of use. To do so, select “No, do not apply CC0 - “Public Domain Dedication” and a Terms of Use textbox will show up allowing you to enter your own custom terms of use for your dataset. To add more information about the Terms of Use, click on “Additional Information [+]”.

Here is an example of a Data Usage Agreement for datasets that have de-identified human subject data.

Restricted Files + Terms of Access¶

If you restrict any files in your dataset, you will be prompted by a pop-up to enter Terms of Access for the data. This can also be edited in the Terms tab or selecting Terms in the “Edit” dropdown button in the dataset. You may also allow users to request access for your restricted files by enabling “Request Access”. To add more information about the Terms of Access, click on “Additional Information [+]”.

Guestbook¶

This is where you will enable a particular Guestbook for your dataset, which is setup at the Dataverse-level. For specific instructions please visit the Dataset Guestbooks section of the Dataverse Management page.

Dataset-Level¶

Dataset permissions are located under Permissions in the Edit button on a dataset page. The dataset permissions page has two sections: Users/Groups and Roles.

To give someone access to view your unpublished dataset or edit your published or unpublished dataset, click on the Assign Roles to Users/Groups button in the Users/Groups section.

File-Level¶

If you have restricted specific files the file-level permissions is where you will need to go to grant users/groups access to specific restricted files. Dataset file permissions are located under Permissions in the Edit button on a dataset page. The file permissions page has two sections: Users/Groups and Files.

To give someone access to your restricted files, click on the Grant Access to Users/Groups button in the Users/Groups section.

Dataset Widget¶

The Dataset Widget allows the citation, metadata, files and terms of your dataset to be displayed on your website. When someone downloads a data file in the widget, it will download directly from the datasets on your website. If a file is restricted, they will be directed to your dataverse to log in, instead of logging in through the widget on your site.

To edit your dataset, you will need to return to the Dataverse repository where the dataset is stored. You can easily do this by clicking on the link that says “Data Stored in (Name) Dataverse” found in the bottom of the widget.

Dataset Citation Widget¶

The Dataset Citation Widget will provide a citation for your dataset on your personal or project website. Users can download the citation in various formats by using the Cite Data button. The persistent URL in the citation will direct users to the dataset in your dataverse.

Adding Widgets to an OpenScholar Website¶

1. Log in to your OpenScholar website
2. Either build a new page or navigate to the page you would like to use to show the Dataverse widgets.
3. Click on the Settings Cog and select Layout
4. At the top right, select Add New Widget and under Misc. you will see the Dataverse Dataset and the Dataverse Dataset Citation Widgets. Click on the widget you would like to add, fill out the form, and then drag it to where you would like it to display in the page.

To share an unpublished dataset using Private URL¶

Creating a Private URL for your dataset allows you to share your dataset (for viewing and downloading of files) before it is published to a wide group of individuals who may not have a user account on Dataverse. Anyone you send the Private URL to will not have to log into Dataverse to view the dataset.

1. Go to your unpublished dataset
2. Select the “Edit” button
3. Select “Private URL” in the dropdown menu
4. In the pop-up select “Create Private URL”
5. Copy the Private URL which has been created for this dataset and it can now be shared with anyone you wish to have access to view or download files in your unpublished dataset.

To disable a Private URL¶

If ever you had shared a Private URL to your dataset and wish to revoke access, follow the same steps as above until step #3 but in the pop-up select “Disable Private URL”.

Version Details¶

To view what has exactly changed starting from the originally published version to any subsequent published versions: click on the Versions tab on the dataset page to see all versions and changes made for that particular dataset. Once you have more than one version (can be version 1 and a draft), you can click the Show Details link in the Versions tab to learn more about the metadata fields and files that were either added or edited.

If you have more than two versions of a dataset, you can select any two versions to compare the differences between them. After selecting two versions, click on the “Show Differences” button to see the version differences details.