All data deposited with the ADS must be accompanied by file-level metadata.

File-level metadata is the information required for ADS to archive and disseminate files within a larger dataset. This type of metadata will commonly include notes on the software used, lists of file names, and contextual information. Required file-level metadata will differ dependent on the data type.

The ADS provides file-level metadata templates for the most common data types which can be found in our data type requirements table. However, in certain circumstances we can also accept file-level metadata in other formats if all the essential file-level information is provided. Contact the Collections Team if you wish to discuss depositing file-level metadata in a format other than the ADS file-level metadata or if your file format is not listed in the data requirements table.