30 October 2023 Last month the OCFL Editors met in Chicago to review use cases related to the OCFL specification. During that meeting we refined and updated use cases and selected a list of potential use cases we might address in version 2.0 of the specification. Those use cases have been tagged as Proposed: In Scope in the OCFL use cases repository. Below is a list of the use cases:
We are now soliciting feedback on these use cases. You can provide feedback by reviewing each use case and its associated comment thread. We welcome continued feedback via the comments. You can also provide feedback via the poll added to each use case (see this poll as an example).
We will make space in the next two community meetings to discuss questions or feedback related to the use cases.
Neil Jefferies (Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)
Rosalyn Metz (Emory University)
Julian Morley (Stanford University)
Simeon Warner (Cornell University)
Andrew Woods (Harvard University)
1 August 2023
In July of 2020, version 1.0 of the OCFL specification was released followed by version 1.1 in October of 2022. We are now beginning to consider additional use cases and revisions that will lead to version 2.0 of the specification.
In addition to gathering feedback via issues and use cases, we would also like to gather feedback and new use cases from the community through conversation. To that end we will hold a series of listening sessions, we invite all individuals who have implemented or are interested in The Oxford Common File Layout to attend.
Below are the dates and times for the listening sessions:
We look forward to hearing from you during these sessions and please reach out if you have any questions.
Neil Jefferies (Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)
Rosalyn Metz (Emory University)
Julian Morley (Stanford University)
Simeon Warner (Cornell University)
Andrew Woods (Harvard University)
7 October 2022
The OCFL Editors are pleased to announce version 1.1 of the Oxford Common File Layout. The focus of this revision is correction and clarification based on implementation experience and community feedback. Version 1.1 is backwards compatible with version 1.0.
The OCFL website at https://ocfl.io, includes the most up to date version of the specification and the implementation notes as well as the latest editors draft.
The OCFL Specification v1.1 defines both OCFL Objects, a simple structure for content and
a JSON document (inventory.json) which provides a straightforward but comprehensive register for the object and
versions of its content, and an OCFL Storage Root, an arrangement for how OCFL Objects are laid out on physical storage.
It also contains examples illustrating the use of the OCFL, and explanations that ground decisions in prior experience.
The companion OCFL Implementation Notes v1.1 contains advice for implementing the specification including recommendations for digital preservation, storage handling, client behaviors, and best practices for dealing with OCFL Objects in motion.
The OCFL Editors are also releasing updated validation rules and additional fixture objects for testing OCFL implementations against the specification.
There is an accompanying Change Log that details the changes from version 1.0 to version 1.1. It is designed to assist implementers with updates to their implementations. We welcome your feedback, questions, use cases, and especially details of any implementations or experimentation with OCFL.
Neil Jefferies (Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)
Rosalyn Metz (Emory University)
Julian Morley (Stanford University)
Simeon Warner (Cornell University)
Andrew Woods (Harvard University)
07 July 2020
The OCFL Editors are pleased to announce version 1.0 of the Oxford Common File Layout, reflecting over 24 months of work by the OCFL Editors and the digital preservation and technology communities.
The initiative originated in September 2017 from informal discussions at a Fedora/Samvera camp in Oxford, UK. These discussions identified the need for a simple, non-proprietary, specified, open-standards approach to the layout of files for the purpose of preservation persistence. Subsequently, a kickoff community meeting attracted 47 attendees from 32 institutions, confirming the need and resulting in the establishment of the OCFL Editors team.
The OCFL describes an application-independent approach to the storage of digital information in a structured, transparent, and predictable manner. It is designed to promote long-term object management best practices within digital repositories. In addition, the OCFL’s standardized approach facilitates the migration or transfer of content between applications that utilize the specification.
The key design goals and benefits of using the OCFL are:
The OCFL website at https://ocfl.io, includes the most up to date version of the specification and the implementation notes as well as the latest editors draft.
The OCFL Specification defines both OCFL Objects, a simple structure for content and a JSON document (inventory.json) which provides a straightforward but comprehensive register for the object and versions of its content, and an OCFL Storage Root, an arrangement for how OCFL Objects are laid out on physical storage. It also contains examples illustrating the use of the OCFL, and explanations that ground decisions in prior experience.
The companion OCFL Implementation Notes contains advice for implementing the specification including recommendations for digital preservation, storage handling, client behaviors, and best practices for dealing with OCFL Objects in motion.
The OCFL Editors are also releasing validation rules and fixture objects for testing OCFL implementations against the specification. We welcome your feedback, questions, use cases, and especially details of any implementations or experimentation with OCFL.
The OCFL is managed through Github at https://github.com/OCFL and it is open for anyone to raise issues or add use cases. The OCFL Editors meet twice monthly with Community Meetings once a month detailing progress and giving the opportunity to discuss issues verbally. Details can be found on the OCFL wiki, https://github.com/OCFL/spec/wiki, which also contains links to the Slack channel and mailing lists.
Andrew Hankinson (Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)
Neil Jefferies (Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford)
Rosalyn Metz (Emory University)
Julian Morley (Stanford University)
Simeon Warner (Cornell University)
Andrew Woods (LYRASIS)