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Versioning

Versioning is important for long-term research data management where metadata and/or files are updated over time. It is used to track any metadata or file changes (e.g., by uploading a new file, changing file metadata, adding or editing metadata) once you have published your dataset.

The version number follows the format X.Y:

  • Y (last digit) increases for minor changes (e.g., correcting metadata typos, fixing broken file links).
  • X (first digit) increases for major changes (e.g., significantly restructuring the dataset, replacing files, or modifying the data format).
Figure 1: versioning logic


Original documentation from the Dataverse project here


⚠️ Important information on versioning
  • When making changes to a dataset, remember that you must click "Submit for Review" again to update the version. However, the update must be reviewed by your Department's Dataverse steward. Be sure to send an email to your Dataverse Steward informing them of the changes made.
  • Additionally, the permalink remains the same even after a version update, so you can continue using the same persistent link for referencing the dataset.