ARGOS is the open and collaborative platform developed by OpenAIRE to facilitate Research Data Management (RDM) activities related to the implementation of Data Management Plans. As Open Science progresses, ARGOS is constantly evolving to better accommodate the needs of researchers, students, funders, research communities and institutions.

This latest update is a landmark moment for the platform as it introduces new capabilities and features that were requested by the ARGOS community of researchers, administrators, and institutions.

 

Below you will find short descriptions of the new features added, and as always, the ARGOS team is open to all your feedback and/ or notes. Remember, ARGOS is designed, built and updated with the users’ needs and requirements in mind, so your input is always welcome.

• Multi-Tenancy Support for Branded Institutional Cloud Spaces
• In-App Notifications
• Effortless Collaboration: Review and Annotate DMPs with Ease
• Enhanced Prefilling for Dynamic Plan Templates
• Invite PLUS: Customize Your Plan Sharing Permissions
• Update Your Plan to a New Template with Seamless Content Sync

 

Multi-Tenancy Support for Branded Institutional Cloud Spaces

ARGOS has introduced a powerful multitenancy mechanism that enables institutions to create dedicated, customized cloud environments within the argos.openaire.eu platform. This feature empowers institutional administrators, known as Tenant Admins, to establish a space uniquely tailored to their organization's requirements, effectively functioning as a private cloud. Here’s how this functionality benefits institutions and what it offers in detail:

• Custom Branding: Tenant Admins can personalize their institutional space with their organization’s visual identity. This includes applying specific color palettes, logos, and other branding elements that align with the institution’s brand guidelines. This not only ensures a cohesive user experience but also reinforces the institution’s identity within the broader Argos ecosystem.

• Integrated Workflows: With the multitenancy feature, institutions can connect their existing workflows directly within Argos. This allows them to streamline research data management and open science workflows specific to their operations. It’s particularly beneficial for institutions that follow distinct processes for data handling, dissemination, and compliance with open science mandates.

• Local Service Configuration: Tenant Admins have the flexibility to configure their local systems and automate some steps in the DMP, such as:

  • Repositories: to link datasets and prefill content to DMPs as well as deposit the DMP for preservation
  • Current Research Information Systems (CRIS): to search and prefill information to DMPs ensuring it aligns with institutional requirements
  • Notebooks: to prefill content and link DMP to Jupyter Notebooks.

  These connections mean that the ARGOS platform can seamlessly integrate with an institution's existing research infrastructure, enabling easier data flow and unified access.

• Custom Collaboration: Institutions can invite specific user groups to collaborate in their dedicated space with customized access controls, enabling roles, permissions, and secure collaboration that reflects their organizational structure.

 

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In-App Notifications

The In-App Notifications mechanism in ARGOS was developed in response to user feedback, making it easier for users to stay informed about important updates without being overwhelmed by notifications. This feature allows users to prioritize which notifications they receive, focusing on relevant actions taken in their Plans by collaborators, such as updates, approvals, or comments.

Key Aspects of the In-App Notifications Mechanism

Customizable Notification Preferences: Users have the flexibility to decide how they receive notifications based on the types of updates that matter most to them. They can set preferences to receive alerts about specific actions, like changes in a plan’s status, invitations or comments from collaborators. This customization enables users to filter out less relevant notifications, focusing on those that impact their work directly.

Notification Delivery Options: ARGOS offers two notification delivery channels:

• Email Notifications: Users can opt to receive notifications via email, ensuring they stay informed even when not actively logged into the platform. This is useful for those who prefer external alerts and need updates immediately or on the go.
• In-App Notifications: Users can also choose to receive notifications directly within the ARGOS interface. These notifications are stored and accessible from the notification icon on the toolbar next to the “My Profile” section, providing a consolidated and easily accessible overview of updates. 

 

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Review and Annotate DMPs with Ease

This new functionality, developed in response to high demand from ARGOS users, enables both peer review of plans and personal note-keeping, enhancing collaboration and individual workflow management. Through the Description Editor, users can engage in group discussions or add private notes, all within the same interface.

Key Features

1. Peer Review and Collaborative Conversations: Users can facilitate a group conversation by selecting the “Visible” option in the Description editor. This makes their notes accessible to colleagues, allowing for real-time feedback, collaborative discussion, and group insights on specific plans. It’s particularly helpful for teams working on shared projects where input from multiple stakeholders is essential.
2. Private Note-Keeping: For personal reflections or reminders, users can switch to “Private” mode, which allows them to write notes that only they can see. This is useful for tracking personal thoughts, recording action items, or making preparatory notes before sharing a finalized version with others.
3. Versatile Note Management: Whether used for team discussions or personal notes, the Description editor’s dual functionality provides users with flexibility in how they document and manage information related to their plans.

 

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Enhanced Prefilling for Dynamic Templates

The latest improvement to the Prefilling feature in ARGOS offers Admins more control over template customization, making it easier to set up Plans that meet specific project or institutional requirements. This enhancement, accessible via the Blueprint Editor, allows for flexible content integration and increased efficiency in Plan creation.

Key Features

1. Expanded Source Integration: Admins can now draw from a wider range of sources to prefill templates, making it possible to combine multiple content sources to populate a Plan. This allows for comprehensive, tailored templates that better reflect institutional needs.
2. Section-Specific Prefilling: This update enables Admins to prefill each section of a Plan with different content, ensuring that the right information is provided in the appropriate context. This can streamline the planning process for users by ensuring each section has relevant, ready-to-use content.
3. Blueprint Editor for Customization: The Blueprint Editor provides a straightforward way for Admins to configure and apply these prefilling settings, helping to create more effective and consistent templates across projects.

To help users familiarize themselves with these updates, the ARGOS team has developed tutorials, which are available here. These resources offer step-by-step guidance on utilizing the new features effectively.

 

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Invite PLUS: Customize Your Plan Sharing Permissions

This enhanced feature in ARGOS builds on existing Plan-sharing capabilities, now offering a more granular approach to user permissions. With expanded rights and an updated Invite feature, users can now tailor access levels and assign specific roles, making collaboration on plans more flexible and securely managed.

Key Enhancements

1. Expanded Roles for Collaboration: Users can assign roles with varying levels of access and responsibility:
   • Owners: Full control over the plan, including editing, sharing, and permission management.
   • Viewers: Read-only access, allowing users to view the content without making changes.
   • Description Contributors: Limited editing rights, enabling specific users to contribute to descriptive sections without altering core plan elements.
   • Reviewers: Permissions to review and comment, supporting structured feedback without editing access.
2. Section-Specific Access: Admins can grant access to specific sections of a plan, rather than the entire document. This ensures that team members see only the information relevant to their role, safeguarding sensitive sections while promoting focused collaboration.
3. Customizable Permissions per User: Admins can tailor rights based on the needs of their institution, expanding and adjusting permissions case by case. This flexibility allows for a highly customized and secure collaboration experience.

 

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Update Your Plan to a New Template with Seamless Content Sync

The latest update to Argos Plans introduces a flexible content migration feature, allowing users to transfer the contents of an existing Plan into a newly restructured version. This feature is particularly beneficial for researchers who need to adapt to evolving project structures or requirements while retaining valuable content.

Key Features

1. Blueprint Change for Adaptability: Researchers can now modify the underlying structure or blueprint of a Plan, making it easier to align with updated project frameworks or institutional guidelines without starting from scratch.
2. Selective Content Transfer: Users have the option to select which Descriptions to move to the new version, ensuring that only relevant content is carried over. This allows for a more organized transition, with researchers able to decide precisely where each Description will appear within the restructured Plan.
3. Version Control: By creating a new version of a Plan, users can maintain a record of changes over time, which helps track project evolution and improves transparency in multi-stage or long-term research projects.