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Data Publication Service (DOIs)

CANFAR's Data Publication Service (DPS) provides permanent Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for research data packages, ensuring long-term accessibility and proper citation of datasets supporting astronomical publications.

🎯 DOI Service Overview

Essential data publication workflows:

  • DOI Registration: Reserve permanent identifiers through DataCite
  • Data Packaging: Organise and upload research datasets
  • Referee Access: Provide controlled access during peer review
  • Publication: Mint final DOIs with locked data directories
  • Long-term Preservation: Ensure data accessibility and citation

🚀 Service Purpose & Access

Data Publication Service Overview

The CANFAR Data Publication Service (DPS) creates permanent links between research papers and their supporting data packages. DPS provides:

  • Permanent Storage: Reliable hosting for research data packages
  • DOI Registration: Official Digital Object Identifiers through DataCite
  • Landing Pages: Professional presentation of datasets and metadata
  • Citation Support: Proper attribution for data reuse and collaboration

Access Points

Web Interface
CANFAR Science Portal → Data Publication
Direct Service
Data Publication Service
Account Requirements
First author requires a CADC account for DPS access and VOSpace data management.

📋 DOI Workflow Guide

Step 1: Request a DOI

Reserve Your DOI:

Step 2: Upload Data Package

Choose Upload Method Based on Data Size:

Small/Few Files:
Use the Web Storage UI for direct browser upload
Large/Many Files:
Use vos CLI tools for efficient bulk transfer

See Data Package Guidelines for content organization recommendations.

Step 3: Referee Access (Optional)

Peer Review Support:

CADC can create read-only accounts for editors/referees to access your data directory during the review process. The temporary account is disabled after review completion.

Step 4: Publish with DataCite

Final Publication:

Click Publish in the DPS interface to:

  • Complete DOI registration with DataCite
  • Lock the data directory (preventing further changes)
  • Make the landing page publicly accessible

Important: Publication Locks Data

After publishing, the data directory becomes read-only. Metadata changes require contacting CANFAR support.

🔧 Using the Data Publication Service

Managing Your DOIs

DOI Dashboard:
The DPS interface displays all your DOIs with status, title, landing page links, and data directory access.
Creating New DOIs:
Use New from the dashboard or go directly to the request page.

DOI Request Requirements

Required Information:

  • First Author: Primary researcher responsible for the data package
  • Title: Descriptive title for the dataset

Optional Information (editable later):

  • Additional Authors: Contributing researchers
  • Journal Reference: Journal name, volume, page numbers
  • Publication Details: Can be added after manuscript acceptance

DOI Management Interface

DOI Details Page (e.g., DOI.20.0016):

  • DOI reference number and dataset title
  • Author list and journal reference information
  • Current publication status
  • Direct links to landing page and data directory
  • Lock status indicator for published DOIs

Editing Capabilities:

  • Unpublished DOIs: Full editing access via Update button
  • Published DOIs: Changes require CANFAR support request

Landing Page Access:

DOI Lifecycle Management:

  • Unpublished: Can be edited or deleted by the author
  • Published: Permanent and locked, requires support for modifications

📦 Data Package Requirements

Storage Implementation

VOSpace Data Directory:
Each DOI receives a dedicated folder in the CANFAR Vault (VOSpace) with a data/ subdirectory under your control.
Example Structure:
Data Directory Example

Content Organization

Recommended Package Contents:

  • Primary Data: Core datasets supporting the research
  • Analysis Code: Scripts and software used in data processing
  • Documentation: README files describing structure and usage
  • Supplementary Materials: Figures, tables, additional analysis outputs

Best Practices:

  • Include a top-level README describing package layout and usage instructions
  • Organize files in logical subdirectories (e.g., raw_data/, processed/, scripts/, figures/)
  • Use descriptive filenames and provide metadata where appropriate

Upload Methods

Web Interface Upload:
Web Storage UI for small datasets and simple uploads
Command-Line Upload:
vcp and vos CLI tools for large datasets and automated transfers

Publication & Access Control

Pre-Publication (Referee Access):

  • Contact CANFAR support for read-only reviewer accounts
  • Temporary access provided during peer review process
  • Reviewers may request changes before publication approval

Post-Publication (Public Access):

  • Publish button mints the final DOI and locks data directory
  • Landing page becomes publicly discoverable through DataCite search
  • Minimal discovery metadata appears in DataCite registry

Final Publication Integration

Linking DOIs:

After manuscript acceptance, coordinate the connection between your data package DOI and journal publication DOI:

  1. Notify Journal: Provide your data package DOI for inclusion in the published paper
  2. Update Metadata: Email CANFAR support with:
  3. Publication DOI from the journal
  4. Updated reference details (journal, volume, pages)
  5. Any additional metadata corrections

Data Package Success

Plan your data package early in the research process to ensure all necessary files, documentation, and metadata are preserved and organized for publication.

Using the DPS

Listing current DOIs

DPS shows your DOIs (status, title, landing page, data directory). From here, you can request, view, edit, or publish depending on status.

Requesting a new DOI

Use New from the list or go to the request page.

Required

  • First Author
  • Title

Optional (can be edited later)

  • Journal reference (journal, volume, page)
  • Additional Authors

After submission, a DOI Reference number is assigned and displayed.

DOI Details

On the details page (e.g., DOI.20.0016) you'll find:

  • DOI number / Title
  • Authors / Journal reference
  • DOI status
  • Landing page link
  • Data Directory link (shows 🔒 when frozen)

Editing details

  • Unpublished DOIs can be edited by authenticated users; click Update.
  • Published DOIs require a request to CANFAR support.

Viewing the landing page

Published landing pages are publicly accessible.

Publishing a DOI

If not yet published, a Publish button appears at the top right. Publishing:

  • Completes registration with DataCite
  • Locks the Data Directory

Related publication info can be added later via support.

Deleting unpublished DOIs

Unpublished records can be deleted via Delete on the request page. Published DOIs cannot be deleted.

DOI Data Package

DPS hosts a Data Directory in the Vault (VOSpace) implementation for each DOI. A folder named data/ is created under the DOI root; you control the structure beneath it.

Example: Data Directory

Locked after publish

After publishing, the directory is locked. To modify contents or metadata, contact CANFAR support.

Contents

You decide what to include: data, figures, software, etc. We recommend a top‑level README describing layout and usage.

Uploading

Refereeing access

Contact support to obtain a read‑only account and share with the editor/referee. They may request changes prior to publication.

Publish & discoverability

After acceptance, click Publish to mint the DOI. The directory and metadata freeze; minimal discovery metadata will appear in DataCite search.

Final linking

Finally, link the data package DOI to the journal DOI (currently manual):

  • Email support with the publication DOI and updated reference details.
  • Provide the data package DOI to the journal so it appears in the paper.