Open Science Framework (OSF; https://osf.io)
Summary from Vendor: Provided from the Center for Open Science, Open Science Framework (OSF) provides free and open source project management support for researchers across the entire research lifecycle. As a collaboration tool, OSF helps researchers work on projects privately with a limited number of collaborators and make parts of their projects public, or make all the project publicly accessible for broader dissemination. As a workflow system, OSF enables connections to the many services researchers already use to streamline their process and increase efficiency. As a flexible repository, it can store and archive research data, protocols, and materials. With OSF's workflow and storage integrations, you really can manage your entire project from one place.
Compare OSF to other options in the Electronic Lab Notebook Matrix.
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| Feature | Specifications |
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Search functions can search across file formats and beyond typos |
Able to search for documents within the platform, able to search beyond file formats, able to search beyond typographical errors, transparency of file structure |
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Ability to manipulate files and images |
Can manipulate text documents and spreadsheets, and can manipulate some elements of images and other data sets |
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Support for multiple open windows |
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Ability to link out |
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Hyperlink support |
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Metadata Creation Prompts |
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Rights Management (Licensing) |
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Protocol Integration |
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| Feature | Specification |
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Accounts/Permissions Levels |
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Internal Data Sharing |
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Adaptable to a Variety of Workflows |
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Compatibility with authoring tools |
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Windows Compatible |
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Macintosh Compatible |
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Linux Compatible |
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Android Compatible |
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iOS Compatible |
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| Feature | Specification |
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Cloud Storage |
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Local Storage |
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Hybrid (cloud/local) Storage |
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Versioning |
OSF supports version tracking, backup, and storage; allows users to see project changes, project contributors, and view historical file versions |
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File Redundancy |
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Creates stable URLs or persistent identifiers for entries |
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Can unregistered users access the data found at persistent links? |
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Storage Capacity - Users |
No limit |
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Storage Capacity - Max File Size |
For direct upload to OSF storage, the limit is 5 GB. If a user has larger files, they can connect them to OSF from another storage service like Amazon S3 and then move them to OSF storage once connected. |
| Feature | Specification |
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Cloud |
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Local |
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Hybrid |
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| Feature | Specification |
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Training |
Administrator, user, in-person |
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Documentation |
FAQs, support forum, video tutorials, instructions, troubleshooting information, "quick-start" instructions, webinars, email support |
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Data Migration from Other Systems (incoming migration) |
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Compatability with data repositories |
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Exit Strategies (outgoing migration) |
No information provided |
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Recovery Options |
Preservation through versioning. Recovery options for deleted data. |
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Single Sign-on (Institutional ID) |
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Number of Installations per institution |
No limit |
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Multiple client use |
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Number of registered Harvard/HMS users |
6 users with @hms.harvard.edu email; 269 users with @harvard.edu email; most people register with generic Gmail accounts. |
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Other higher-education users |
30+ institutions use single sign on, 400+ institutions world-wide, 60k+ users. |
| Feature | Specification |
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Security levels. |
Up to and including Level 2 |
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Backdoor accessibility. |
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| Feature | Specification |
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Open Science/Open Data Efforts |
OSF is an open source service of the Center for Open Science. They are aligning scientific practices with scientific values by improving openness, integrity and reproducibility of research. |
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Academically Oriented |
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Cost (per seat) |
Free |
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Academically Oriented |
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Dictation/voice input |
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Data Entry |
Drag and drop files from the desktop; create projects and components that are manipulable within the tool. |
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Tiers of Service |
The OSF is a free, open source service of the Center for Open Science; it is a 501(c)3 non-profit and is grant-funded. |
