Folder Structure |
Like file naming, systems to organise folder and file directories require coherency and consistency.
A logical folder structure facilitates access to your files for you and others.
Using multiple folder and subfolders, creating a hierarchy, will make it easier to keep track of your research files. Some examples of data-related files you will want to organise are raw data, results, documentation, procedures, field notebooks, and others.
Here are some things to keep in mind when creating a folder structure:
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Structure of the folders should be agreed to and adopted by all participants. This makes sure that it is coherent and understandable to all. |
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Folder names should always be short and explicit. Users need to understand what files are within even without opening them. |
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Follow the same chosen file naming convention for folders as well |
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Keep all of the original data files in a folder to archive them. Make copies of these files to work with. Keep your working files in a separate folder from your original files. |
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In your working files folder keep track of different versions of your data. Save and archive versions any time you make significant changes to your data. |
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Create a folder for documentation. This documentation may include data dictionaries, lab or field notebooks, metadata, procedures, and anything else that would help you or others understand your research. [See more in the Documention guide] |
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Put your final results data in it's own folder. This allows easy access to the final data files used to support your research claims and to write your paper. |
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The hierarchy of your folders should be consistent and logical. Go from a general, high-level folder (starting with a single folder for the project, using its name or acronym) to more specific lower-level folders. |
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Think about your folder structure's hierarchy: does it work better for your research to have a deep folder structure (multiple subfolders under a limited number of main folders) or flat structure (many main folders, few subfolders)? |
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Your structure should not be too deep nor too shallow. In general, the advice is to put no more than three or four subfolders in a folder and no more than ten files in a folder. |
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Put all the relevant material for understanding your data, such as information about data collection and data processing, together in a folder. |
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If you have multiple independent data sets, it is recommended to create a separate folder for each data set. |
Examples of Folder Structure |
This example adapted from the UK Data Service presents one way your project folders could be structured:
Folders |
The first folder level is the project (ENBIOproject)
The second separates the data from the documentation
A further level is used to distinguish between different data types
The final level divides items based on the research activity
You could do it the other way around: research activities could be the second-level folder, in which case they would contain their own data and documentation folders.
The only requirement is that your structure is clear and coherent with the project. |
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ENOBIproject | ||||
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Data | ||||
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Example of a Folder Structure (adapted from Macalester College)
Knowledge Clip: Folder Structure |
From Knowledge clip: Keeping research data organized [Video], by UGent Open Science, 2021, Ghent University. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ogbkx74Ym8). CC BY NC ND.
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