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Never lose your data by making sure it’s organised.
Choose data formats that are durable and non-proprietary or open, as this improves the chances of interoperability between different systems and re-use of the data in the future.
The National Archives of Australia (NAA) Open data and formats guide provides a list of durable open file formats that are suitable for long-term preservation of your data.
Use file and folder naming conventions to ensure your data is accessible to those working on the project. Choose descriptive, meaningful file names that can be clearly understood.
Name your files with a naming convention to provide a preview of the content, organize them in a logical way (by date yyyy-mm-dd), identify the responsible party and convey the work history. Document the convention chosen and ensure it is followed consistently.
File names could include information such as:
Set up a clear directory structure that includes information like the project title, a date, and some type of unique identifier.
Include a readme.txt file in the directory that explains the naming format and any abbreviations or code used.
Proposal (or Discovery & Planning)
Data collection
Data analysis
Publications
Archive
Manage the versions of your project's dataset to ensure the integrity and validity of your work. Document a system for tracking versions, updates, and changes made, and ensure it is followed consistently.
Version control can be as simple as appending a number to the end of a file after each major edit. For example:
Revision (or version) Control Software, provides access control, a collaborative work environment, synchronization between home/office/laptop computers, and a degree of data safety. You may consider this software when you are working with multiple researchers or make lots of edits and/or if simple version control becomes unmanageable.