4CeeD Uploader FAQ

What is this?
The 4CeeD uploader is a light weight web tool used to upload scientific data files and metadata descriptors to a local repository.

Why use this?
The 4CeeD uploader and curator replace outdated and inefficient methodologies used in many laboratories for data capture and storage.

How can the 4CeeD Uploader help me?

  • Data gets stored to local cloud storage.
  • Support for automating repetitive tasks.
  • Use templates for reliable user defined meta data entry.

How can the 4CeeD Curator help me?

  • All accessible data can be downloaded with its data-model hierarchy preserved.
  • Extractors pull descriptive metadata out of files and instrument logs for analysis and discovery.
  • Get reliable calibration data and how to reference it.
  • Share your data and use powerful free-text and faceted search for comparisons.
  • Broad set of customizable access control rules.
What’s a collection?
A collection is a term used to describe a group of datasets. Collections are often named after a sample, project, or process.
Create a new collection

1. Give your collection a name.
2. Give your collection a description.
3. Click the create collection button.

A new root level collection is created.

Select an existing collection

1. Select a root or sub collection
2. (Optional) Enter text to search for collections.
3. (Optional) Create a new sub collection by right clicking the parent.

A parent collection is selected or a new sub collection is created and selected.

What’s a dataset?
A dataset is a term used to describe a group of related files that have metadata.
Select an existing dataset
Create a basic dataset
Create a dataset from a template
Create a new template
Load a previous dataset
What file types can I upload?
All major file types are supported, but metadata extractors will only run on supported file types
For example, [.png, .dm3, .tif, .txt, .jpg, .ibw]
What are file extractors?
File extractors work by extracting key and value pairs from supported file types. This information is indexed, archived, and available for download and search.
How many files can I upload at one time?
There is no file size or quantity limit. It is recommended to upload smaller batches of files.
What extractors/instruments are currently supported?
We currently support SEM and TEM instruments, Optical Microscopes,
Atomic Force Microscopes, and Xray.
Uploading files

4CeeD Curator FAQ

What is this?
The 4CeeD Curator is a web tool used to organize and manage scientific data files and metadata.

Why use this?
The 4CeeD Curator replaces outdated and inefficient methodologies used in many laboratories for data capture, storage, and organization.

How can the 4CeeD Curator help me?

  • All accessible data can be downloaded with its data-model hierarchy preserved.
  • Extractors pull descriptive metadata out of files and instrument logs for analysis and discovery.
  • Get reliable calibration data and how to reference it.
  • Share and search your data and use powerful free-text and faceted search for comparisons.
  • Broad set of customizable access control rules.
What’s a space?
Spaces are used to share collections and datasets with other users.
Create a new space

1. Go to the create spaces page.

2. Choose a name for your space.
3. Give your space a description.
4. Click Create.

Add users to a space


1. Select manage users

2. Add user to a role by entering the NetID or start typing for auto suggestions.
3. Click submit to confirm addition.
4. Optionally invite a non 4CeeD user to create an account and access the space.

A user is added to a space and sent an email.
Add a dataset or collection to a space

1. Select a collection or dataset and then choose a space to add it to.

2. A new icon will show what has been shared. Click x to remove the collection/dataset from that space.

What’s a collection?
A collection is a term used to describe a group of datasets. Collections are often named after a sample, project, or process.
Create a collection

1. Click either link to create a new collection.

1. Give a name to your new collection.
3. Optionally give your collection a description.
4. Optionally share the new collection in an existing space.
5. Click create or reset.

A collection is created.

Create a child collection
From an existing collection.

1. Click the create child collection link.
2. View what parent collections the selected collection is in.

1. Give your child collection a name.
2. Provide a description.
3. Click create or reset.

View a collection

1. Select the My Collections tab from the dashboard to view latest collections.
2. View collections that you have created.
3. View collections that you are collaborating on.
4. View all collections.

1. View or update collection name.
2. View or update collection description.
3. Download all datasets and files in a collection.
4. Create a child collection.
5. View spaces that the collection belongs to.
6. View what parent collections this collection belongs to.
7. View what datasets are in the collection.

What’s a dataset?
A dataset is a term used to describe a group of related files that have metadata.
Create a dataset

1. Click either link to create a new dataset

2. Give your dataset a name.
3. Optionally give your dataset a description.
4. Optionally share the new dataset in an existing space.
5. Click create or reset.

A dataset is created.

View dataset

1. View latest datasets from the dashboard.
2. View datasets that you have created.
3. View datasets that you are collaborating on.
4. View all datasets.

Individual datasets

1. Add files to a dataset, download or delete a dataset, follow a dataset, or view who the collaborators are.
2. View thumbnail of files in dataset.
3. View the metadata entered by the user from a template.
4. Manage what collections the dataset is in.
5. Manage what space the dataset is in.
6. Create tags for the dataset for better search.
7. Download a file.

View dataset metadata

1. Select the Metadata tab to view all of the user defined metadata.
2. List of key values entered from a 4CeeD Uploader template.
3. Dataset files can be downloaded if the user is the creator or has been given permission.
3. 4CeeD uses the Library of Congress BagIt Spec which preserves the experiments hierarchy and provides the user all the original files, user defined metadata, and extracted metadata in its original file hierachy.

What file types can I upload?
All major file types are supported, but metadata extractors will only run on supported file types
For example, [.png, .dm3, .tif, .txt, .jpg, .ibw]
What are file extractors?
File extractors work by extracting key and value pairs from supported file types. This information is indexed, archived, and available for download and search.
How many files can I upload at one time?
There is no file size or quantity limit. It is recommended to upload smaller batches of files.
What extractors/instruments are currently supported?
We currently support SEM and TEM instruments, Optical Microscopes,
Atomic Force Microscopes, and Xray.
Uploading files

* If you are in a lab it's strongly suggested to use the streamlined 4CeeD Uploader. The 4CeeD Uploader supports metadata templates for quick and accurate metadata capture.

1. View information about the dataset that files are to be uploaded to.
2. Select or drag files to upload.
3. Start or cancel upload.

View file and metadata

1. View thumbnail preview of uploaded file.
2. Follow, Delete, or Download file/metadata.
3. Start or cancel upload.
4. Add tags to image.
5. View system generated metadata.
6. Creator metadata.

Tag file preview

1. Right click on the image where you want to add a tag or comment.

View extraction events

1. View extraction events.
2. Manually submit a file for extraction.
3. Post comments.
4. System generated metadata.

Manually submit file for extraction

1. View information about the dataset that files are to be uploaded to.
2. Extractor to run or rerun.
3. Optional parameter for extractor.
4. Submit file for extraction.

What’s a template?
Templates provide a set of key value pairs for accurately and quickly reporting user defined metadata.
Create a template

1. Optionally create your template from another one.
2. Give your template a name.
3. Optionally give your template tags for later search.
4. Add new fields to your template.
5. Click the box to share template within a space or globally.
6. Enter information for the template.(Name, Unit Type, Data Type, Value, Requirement). Optionally remove rows.

A template is created.

Update a template

1. Choose a template to update.
2. Optionally change template name.
3. Add or remove tags.
4. Add new fields.
5. Share template or revoke shared status.
6. Remove row or update name, type, or value fields.

Delete template

1. Select the template to delete
2. Click delete this template to remove.

Enable admin mode
In order to activate the 4CeeD admin mode, a system administrator must modify the 4CeeD Curator config file property named initialAdmins. User accounts in this list will have access to the admin menu.
View admin menu

1. Admin users have access to additional menu options.

Manage users

1. View all users and de-activate or promote users.
2. Click submit to commit changes.

Create and manage security roles/groups

1. Create a new security group.
2. Edit or delete existing security roles.

1. Create a new role to moderate access to a space.
2. Give the new role a name.
3. Optionally provide a description of the new role.
4.Choose from nearly 50 different security properties

Customize 4CeeD Curator theme

1. Customize the look of the curator, add google analytics tracking code, and update branding and other dynamic text.

Free text search
Curator dashboard

1. Select dashboard from menu.
2. Update profile, manage templates, or create new items.
3. View recent activity, tree view, followers, spaces, datasets, and collections.

Curator tree view

1. Select tree view to visualize project as a tree view. Each item is selectable.
2. Collections are represented as folder icons.
3. Datasets are represented with a glyph icon.

Sign up for an account

1. Enter a valid email.
2. Click create an account.

1. Check your email for instructions on how to finish the account creation.
2. Finish registration by filling out profile fields.

Sending an email request for help

1. Select contact support from the help menu.
2. Enter a subject for the email message.
3. Enter a body for the email message.
4. Complete reCAPTCHA validation.
5. Click button to send email.

Following users and other objects

1. Click on followers to view users that are following you.
2. View users, spaces, files, datasets, and collections logged in user is following.