New Tool to Help Manage Data: DataUp

Microsoft announced the release of a new open-source tool to help researchers "document, manage and archive" tabular data.  Best part is that it can be used as a web app or as an add-in for Microsoft Excel.

Per the release, whether you go for the Excel extension or the online app, DataUp can help you with four main tasks:

1. Perform a best-practices check to ensure good data organization
2. Guide users through creation of metadata for their Excel file
3. Help users obtain a unique identifier for their dataset
4. Connect users to a major repository, where their data can be deposited and shared with others

Read more about the tool and check it out for yourself here:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/msr_er/archive/2012/10/02/dataup-data-curation-for-the-long-tail-of-science.aspx

Databib: A Registry of Data Repositories

Thanks to funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Purdue University Libraries, there is now a tool to help you identify and locate online repositories for research data.

From the announcement:

Over 200 data repositories have been cataloged in Databib, with more being added every week. Users and bibliographers create and curate records that describe data repositories that can be browsed and searched.

• What repositories are appropriate for a researcher to submit his or her data to?
• How do users find appropriate data repositories and discover datasets to meet their needs?
• How can librarians help patrons locate and integrate data into their research or learning?

For more information or to check the listing out for yourself, go to: http://databib.org