FAQ DaKS

DaKS is maintained on Mondays between 8 and 10 am. Please do not start any submissions during this period.

  • Step 1: You submit your data record in DaKS (DaKS instructions).
  • Step 2: The data record is checked by us. Corrections or additions may be necessary, which will be made by you or by us after consultation.
  • Step 3: The dataset is accepted in DaKS. We register a DOI for the dataset, provided that either the entire dataset is publicly visible or the files are restricted but the metadata is publicly visible.

Approximately 3-5 working days, provided you respond quickly to our questions or requests for corrections. Please let us know if you are pressed for time and we will do our best to accommodate.

We check both the metadata and the files themselves, where possible. The check includes

  • Typing errors
  • Coherence (is the data entered in the right place?)
  • Completeness, including the description or abstract for the data set
  • Is the submitting person also one of the authors? If not, an author must confirm that the dataset may be published (informally by e-mail).
  • ORCID iDs
  • Affiliation: Is the University of Kassel named in the affiliation?
  • Does the dataset belong to a paper? We recommend indicating this in the title, e.g. by adding [ Dataset ] or [ Source code ].
  • Are the file formats suitable for storage for 10 years or longer? See "What are recommended file formats for submission to HeFDI repositories?"
  • Is the data and its creation sufficiently documented? For example, are the abbreviations used explained? We often recommend also uploading a simple text file called README.txt, which contains all the important information about the data.
  • Does it obviously contain personal data? Personal data may neither be stored with restricted access nor published in DaKS.
  • Has a suitable license been issued?

Members and affiliates of the University of Kassel as well as external collaborators may submit to DaKS. Anyone with a University of Kassel account can use the repository directly, without additional registration. Login is via Shibboleth with the university account. External collaborators can apply for a guest account, see information from the IT Service Center on the UniAccount.

Completed data sets can be submitted to DaKS. These are, for example, data from completed projects or theses, on a specific research question or on a paper that is no longer being actively worked on, i.e. that is no longer constantly changing. In contrast, active data that is still being worked on and is frequently changed or added to is better stored on a network drive for the time being.

  • Can personal data be stored in DaKS?
    No. Research data with personal references may only be stored in DaKS after prior anonymization. According to the user agreement, the data stored in DaKS may not contain any personal data (such as the research object) other than the personal data of the authors and submitters.
  • Which file formats are suitable?
    All data formats can be submitted. Open formats are recommended for the purpose of long-term archiving and reusability. The overview of suitable file formats (PDF) provides an initial orientation and further links.
    zip folders can be used. Please ensure lossless compression where possible. tar archives are a good alternative to zip folders and can usually be created with the same programs.
  • What is the maximum file size?
    If the individual files are larger than 40 GB, please do not upload your files via the online input mask, but contact daks[at]uni-kassel[dot]de so that we can offer you a more functional alternative.
  • When is KOBRA recommended rather than DaKS?
    Text-based publications of all kinds are published on KOBRA, the publication server of the University of Kassel. If your files are more likely to be texts, e.g. brochures, information material, preprints or similar, we recommend publishing on KOBRA. DaKS focuses on the usability of the data, which is why data in reusable formats (e.g. .csv instead of .pdf) tends to be stored or published there.

If you do not specify an access restriction, the data is publicly visible. You can set up an access restriction when you submit your data set. If you have any questions, please contact daks[at]uni-kassel.de.

The data is stored for at least 10 years in accordance with the DFG's recommendations on good scientific practice . This applies to both published and unpublished data (i.e. data stored with restricted access). There are currently no plans to delete or move the data after the guaranteed 10 years have expired.