Once you've uploaded a dataset, you need to document each of the columns. Documenting columns helps users in the future to understand the data within each column, and to decode any coded values. To access the columns in a data set click "Table Metadata" in the view page toolbar.
tDAR includes five separate column types:
tDAR tries to identify the contents of columns for you if possible. This includes looking to see if the contents include text or numeric data. If they do, it will set defaults for you.
Chose a category from the drop down menus that best describes your data (Architecture, Ceramics, Provenience and Context, etc.).
Often it's helpful to other users to have a sentence long description of a column's contents.
If you've marked a column as including coded data, tDAR will allow you to select the coding sheet that contains that coded data. If you've already loaded the coding sheet, you can simply start typing the name of the coding sheet in the coding sheet section, otherwise click "add new"to create one. (note: you'll need to save this page and reload for tDAR to find it).
Not all columns need ontologies assigned. Ontologies allow you to organize data within a column hierarchically (eg: Furniture > Chairs > Rocking Chair ). This is often useful in data integration when comparing multiple data sets that different levels of specificity. If you've already loaded the ontology, you can simply start typing the name of the ontology in the ontology section, otherwise click on the link to the left to create one. (note: you'll need to save this page and reload for tDAR to find it).