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Accessing data

Once you’ve found the dataset you’re interested in, you can access its contents in one of two ways, depending on the file type:

  • Preview the file directly in Dataverse (Figure 1-1).
  • Download the file(s) to your device (Figure 1-2).

No matter the option, you’ll first need to fill out a guestbook. This helps BSC track who is downloading files and their intended purpose. Below, you’ll find all the details you need to get started.

Figure 1: Different methods to access data

Preview data

For certain file types, you can view the file’s content directly in Dataverse without downloading it. This option is available only if a preview tool supports the file type. Look for the eye icon to see if previewing is enabled for a file (Figure 1-1).

If a preview is available, it will automatically load once you agree to the dataset’s terms or complete the guestbook, if required. Note: File previews are not available for restricted files, unless accessed via a special Preview URL.

Supported file types for previews include:

  • Text: TXT, Markdown
  • Documents: PDF
  • Tabular: CSV, Excel (see Tabular Data File Ingest)
  • Code: R, Python, etc.
  • Media: Images (PNG, GIF, JPG), Audio (MP3, WAV), Video (MP4, OGG)
  • Archives: Zip (with preview and extraction options)
  • Specialized formats: HTML, GeoJSON, GeoTIFF, Shapefile, NetCDF/HDF5

For a full list and technical details, refer to the Dataverse Project documentation on File Previews.

Download open access file

To download all files in a dataset, just click the Access Dataset dropdown on the dataset page and choose one of the download options (Figure 2). The files will be downloaded in a .zip format, keeping the folder structure set up by the dataset owner intact.

Figure 2: Different download options

If you only need to download a single file or a few files, go to the Files tab. From there, select the files you want and click the Download button above the file list to get them.

Figure 3: Different download options

Before downloading, you may be prompted to fill out a guestbook if it’s enabled for the dataset. The guestbook will ask for mandatory information like your name, affiliation, and purpose of use.

Figure 4: Guestbook example

You may also download a file from the Access File button on its file page or by “Downloading via URL” under the Metadata tab.

Figure 5: Example of a public file with a Download URL available

Test a download URL here! https://dataverse-test.bsc.es/api/access/datafile/582


⚠️ Some files don’t provide Download URLs for technical reasons, such as files with restrictions, specific terms of use, or those requiring guestbook entries.

Download restricted files - Requesting access

Restricted files are marked with a red lock icon (Figure 6). To access these files, you’ll need to request access and wait for approval.

Figure 6: Example of a restricted file

How to request access

1) Select the file(s) you wish to access.

2) Click the Request Access button (Figure 6)

3) Accept the Dataset Terms before submitting your request (Figure 7).

Figure 7: Example of Dataset Terms

Once approved, you’ll receive access to the file(s). You can then download them using the same steps outlined above for open-access files.