This documentation was auto-translated from German by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Notes for Submitters¶
How should the data be prepared?¶
For optimal processing and provision of the data via OPARA, the following should be considered when preparing the data:
The number of files should be kept small and should not exceed ten files if possible. If there is a larger number of files, it is recommended to package them as a zip or tar archive.
The size of the files should not exceed a few hundred GB per file. If individual files are larger than 300-500 GB, it is recommended to split them into smaller packages.
In both cases, consideration should be given to how the files can be logically divided. The mentioned values are recommendations that can be exceeded in individual cases if necessary.
For large datasets, providing a representative sample dataset can be helpful, especially when publishing, to give an impression of the entire dataset without having to download and analyze it completely (e.g., as a separate zip or tar archive).
Additional detailed information for describing the dataset, which goes beyond the possibilities of the metadata fields in OPARA, can be provided in the form of a README file attached to the dataset (e.g., as a simple text file readme.txt).
Sample datasets as well as README files or similar files that describe the dataset in terms of content can be marked in OPARA as Data-Sample or Info-File and will be marked as such on the website.
How are research data archived or published in OPARA?¶
There are two different processes for archiving or publishing research data in OPARA. The web form for archiving and publishing is largely identical. However, when publishing, some components are added that are also relevant.
After logging in to the OPARA website, the corresponding process can be selected and started via 'New' -> 'Data Submission' in the left-hand menu ('Submit to Archive' or 'Submit to Publish'). Then, the overview page with all form fields and file upload (dialog window at the top of the page) opens. Once all necessary information has been entered, the submission can be completed and transferred to the review process at the end of the page.
If the data to be uploaded is too large for the upload on the website, it can be imported separately into OPARA. Details can be found on this page.
Started submissions are stored in the system and are only deleted when selected by the user. Incomplete or ongoing submissions and archived or published datasets can be found via the 'My Data' link in the user menu via the user profile button in the top right corner of the website.
Description of individual form components:¶
DOI & Citation Recommendation¶
(only for publication)
This form component is purely informative. It contains the DOI reserved for this submission. At the time of publication (i.e., after completion of the submission and review process and possibly after the expiration of an embargo), this DOI will be officially registered. However, it can already be used as a future reference to the dataset before the submission is completed, e.g., in a paper. If the submission is rejected before completion, the DOI will also be rejected.
Additionally, citation recommendations for the dataset can be generated. These will be updated based on the availability of relevant metadata (e.g., title, author) and can be generated for different citation styles.
Ownership and Access¶
Here, it is indicated which organizational unit the dataset belongs to and how access rights for the dataset are set.
The primary organizational unit to which the dataset belongs is pre-set with the affiliation of the submitting person and should only be changed in case of error or if no organizational unit is specified (e.g., for guest logins). All persons belonging to the specified organizational unit will have access to this dataset in the future.
Details on access options are described in this section.
Project Information¶
Specification of information about the research project in which the dataset was created. Typically, the project is a research project funded by third-party funds or an academic qualification work.
Fields: Title, Abstract, Website
Data Description¶
Here, the most important descriptive information about the dataset must be provided.
Fields: Author, Title, Abstract, Type of data (selection), Specification of disciplines (according to DFG classification)
Extended Data Description (optional)¶
Additional descriptive information can be added to describe the dataset more accurately and facilitate finding and reusing it.
Fields: Contributing persons (including type of contribution), References to related materials, Description of the data, Documentation of the data, Date of data creation, Underlying research objects, Software, Research instruments, Countries to which the data refer, Additional geographical or spatial references
Uploaded Files¶
Here, all files uploaded for this submission are displayed. For each file, further settings can be made via the 'Edit Bitstream' button. Each file can be provided with a brief description and classified in terms of content according to
1) normal data file,
2) descriptive file that describes the dataset in more detail (e.g., a README file), or
3) a sample file/sample dataset that is representative of the entire dataset. Especially for large datasets, adding a sample should be considered to give interested parties an impression of the entire dataset without having to download and analyze it completely.
Creative Commons License¶
(only for publication)
To enable reuse, a published dataset must be licensed under a free Open-Access license. A variation of the Creative Commons license can be selected for this purpose. For optimal reuse, the least restrictive CC-BY-4.0 license is recommended, without the further restrictive modules Share-Alike (SA), Non-Commercial (NC), or Non-Derivatives (ND). For more information, see: https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/
Open Access Publication¶
(only for publication)
By default, datasets to be published are published directly after completion of the review process. Alternatively, an embargo can be set, i.e., the data will be published at a certain later point in time.
Reviewer Assignment¶
A scientist should be specified who will assess the data in terms of its suitability for long-term archiving or publication. The person must have a login at one of the institutions connected to OPARA and will be specified by name and official email address. This can also be a guest login. Further details on the peer review process are described in the Notes for Reviewers.
Deposit License¶
This license allows the service provider to perform the necessary technical processing and storage of the data for long-term archiving and must be accepted before completing the data submission.