Getting Started

What you need to know before using Preassembly

In order to use Preassembly, you should have at least a basic level of familiarity with the Stanford Digital Repository. This includes knowledge of how to use Argo, the central application for registering and managing data in the SDR.

To request training on behalf of yourself or a group, please send an email to argo-feedback@lists.stanford.edu

For purposes of Preassembly, a baseline level of knowledge includes:

• How to view item pages in Argo
• Familiarity with the type of content you are depositing (image, book, file, etc.)
• If creating new items, how to register items in Argo

Permissions

Preassembly consists of two components:

• The web application where you will initiate each deposit
• The "staging" location (essentially, a shared drive) where you will place the files to be deposited

Permissions must be granted to both of these components prior to using Preassembly.

• In order to access the Preassembly web application, you'll need to be a member of the appropriate Stanford workgroup.

  • If you are not sure if you have access, please make sure that you are on the Stanford VPN and then load the application home page.
  • If your browser loads the Preassembly homepage, then you have already been authorized
  • If the page does not load, please contact the Repository Manager to request access.
  • Note: you will need to be on the Stanford Network (or VPN) to use Preassembly.

• In order to stage files, you will need to have permission to copy files to a staging location.

  • Which staging location to use depends on what works best for your workflow
  • All users with an active SUNet ID can use Globus to stage files
    • Globus is a file transfer application that can be connected to your laptop or Google Drive
  • Users with certain departmental affiliations can use their own departmental file shares
    • For example, Special Collections, Music, and members of the digitization labs have departmental shared storage that has been configured to work with Preassembly
    • This storage may already be mounted on your work machine(s), in which case no further permissions are needed
    • If you are a member of one of these departments and unsure about your access, please contact the Repository Manager
  • There is also a "general use" staging location available on the Preassembly server itself.
    • Detailed instructions on how to access the Preassembly server in order to upload files with SFTP or through the command-line are available on Consul

• If you need help, please use the #dlss-aaas Slack channel or contact the Repository Manager (via Slack or email)

• Communications about new features, upgrades, and system maintenance are managed through the sdr-accessioneers mailing list. If you are going to be adding materials to the Stanford Digital Repository through this application, please subscribe to the list here