Upload¶
To upload new content, first log in with your CERN account by clicking the login button in the top-right corner of any page.
Tip
Only CERN and federated (EduGAIN) accounts can log in to CDS.
The easiest way to start a new upload is to first choose the community where you want to deposit the item. Read more about communities here.
You can view the communities you manage or search for other communities from the Communities menu in the top header:
Then click the green New upload button:
You will then see the deposit form:
Files¶
Click the Upload files button, or drag-and-drop one or more files onto the drop zone to start uploading. By default you can upload up to 100 files with a combined maximum size of 50 GB. If you need more, please contact us.
Warning
Make sure you have uploaded all your files before publishing. After publishing you cannot change the files.
File previewers¶
CDS can display many file types directly in the browser on the record's landing page, without requiring a download. The following formats are supported:
| Format | Examples |
|---|---|
| Images | JPG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, WebP |
| Documents | |
| Plain text and code | TXT, CSV, JSON, XML, Markdown |
| Notebooks | Jupyter (.ipynb) |
| 3D models | GLTF, GLB |
| Archives | ZIP, WARC, TAR |
Files that are not in a supported format will show a download button instead of a preview.
Tip
For 3D models, the previewer allows you to rotate, zoom, and pan the model directly in the browser. No additional software is required.
Embargo¶
You can apply an embargo to one or more files by selecting Apply an embargo and configuring the embargo policy:
Required metadata¶
The following fields are mandatory for each upload:
- Title: The title of your upload.
- Resource type: Choose one of the available resource types. If you are unsure which type to select, please contact us.
- Author/Creators: Add all authors or creators. Use the autocomplete field to search names; CDS synchronises with the ORCID and CERN user databases.
DOIs¶
If you need a DOI, select No, I need one and CDS will register a DOI automatically when the record is published. You can also reserve a DOI immediately using the Get a DOI now! button.
If you already have an external DOI, provide it in the DOI field:
Avoid registering multiple DOIs for the same upload; if an external DOI already exists, use that one.
Because metadata is submitted to DataCite when registering a DOI, you cannot request a DOI for uploads that are fully restricted.
Tip
When requesting a DOI, CDS will register two DOIs. Read more in the DOI versioning FAQ.
Related identifiers¶
If your record is related to another resource — for example, a preprint that has since been published in a journal, or a dataset associated with a paper — you should link them using Related identifiers in the deposit form. This improves discoverability and helps readers find all versions of a work.
Common relationships to declare:
| Situation | Relation type to use |
|---|---|
| This record is a preprint; a published version exists elsewhere | IsVersionOf (this record) → journal DOI |
| This record is the published version; a preprint exists | HasVersion (this record) → preprint DOI |
| A new version of this record exists | IsPreviousVersionOf → new version DOI |
| This record supersedes an older version | IsNewVersionOf → old version DOI |
| This record is a dataset used by a paper | IsSupplementTo → paper DOI |
To add a related identifier, open the deposit form, scroll to the Related works section, and enter the identifier (DOI, arXiv ID, handle, etc.) along with the appropriate relation type.
For a full list of supported relation types and detailed guidance, see the DataCite documentation on connecting related works.
Other metadata fields¶
The deposit form supports many additional metadata fields to help describe your upload. Common fields include:
- Licenses and Copyright: Specify license and copyright information for your upload.
- CERN fields: Add CERN-specific metadata such as experiment, accelerator, department, or project identifiers when applicable.
- Publishing: Publication details and related options.
Access¶
See the Access & Share page for details on changing access restrictions and sharing settings.
Preview, Save and Publish¶
You can preview or save your upload at any time using the Preview and Save buttons:
When you are ready, publish your upload by clicking the Publish button. You will be asked to agree to the CDS terms and conditions, content policy, and Operational Circular 6.
Tip
After publishing, you cannot change files, but you can update metadata at any time.