Frequently asked questions
- Q: Can I create an account to access the data hub?
- Direct registrations are not possible for the BIOcean5D/TREC data hub at the moment. Please do not contact us directly to get a data hub account. Instead, your PI which is involved in BIOcean5D/TREC should request an account for you by emailing b5d-data@embl.de (or trec-data@embl.de in case of TREC hub) with the details required (your name, email address, partner organization).
- Q: How to use the DataHub? Is there a user guide available?
- A comprehensive user guide on using DataHub and its features is currently being developed. Some parts are ready to be studied, and an early access version of the guide is available here. Please note it’s a work in progress and far from finished. However, we encourage you to give us feedback (create an issue, write us an email, write a comment directly in the document), for example, to guide us in adding missing parts or to let us know if you think some parts need to be explained in more detail.
- Q: There are inconsistencies in the metadata or I see some errors - what can I do?
The metadata is currently undergoing active curation. While we are providing early access for your convenience, please be aware that the content will continue to evolve—improving in both quality and accuracy over time. Additional attributes may also be introduced as the curation process progresses.
If you'd like to support the community and contribute to this effort, we welcome your input. You can report any errors or inconsistencies via the metadata change requests document.
- Q: What is SDL?
Sampling Design Label (SDL) is a unique identifier used to track all samples and data originating from the same sampling location.
- Q: Can I request changes and new features in DataHub?
- Absolutely! We encourage feedback and feature requests, as DataHub is developed with the community in mind. Your input helps us improve and better tailor the platform to meet community needs. Visit help page to share your ideas or requests.
- Q: Can I upload a work-in-progress dataset and finish it later?
- Yes, you can. Work-in-progress datasets are saved in the Data upload section under the pre-submission stage. These drafts are linked to your account, allowing you to modify and complete them before final submission.
- Q: Since my last visit, the (meta)data changed - why?
- DataHub is an evolving platform designed to continuously improve and adapt. Changes in metadata may occur due to ongoing curation, the addition of new data, or updates introduced by other users or developers. Our goal is to enhance the user experience and ensure the platform remains dynamic and community-driven.
- Q: I am unable to filter metadata in a specific way I would need - what can I do?
- If the current filtering options do not meet your needs, you can export the metadata and apply custom filters using your preferred spreadsheet editor. Additionally, if you believe a new filtering feature would benefit the community, we encourage you to submit a feature request. Let’s collaborate to improve the platform!
- Q: How can I request the public release of sequencing data on ENA (managed by EMBL Heidelberg)?
Project partners who wish to make their sequencing data publicly available on ENA should contact trec-data@embl.de or b5d-data@embl.de by email, specifying the dataset or project they intend to release, the desired release date, and —if applicable— a final project description and study title (etc.) to accompany the submission.