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Files of any format can be deposited as part of an opaque container object.
Guidelines on Content Files
To the extent possible, care should be taken to only include in a single opaque container object zip file those files that logically make up an object.
Try to include within the same opaque container object's zip file, files that:
- Are related by derivative relationships (e.g. master and use copies)
- Have display or rendering dependencies (e.g. style sheets, scripts and images should be included in the same opaque container as web pages dependent on them)
- Require the same descriptive metadata (are part of the same work with the same bibliographic record)
Deposit in separate opaque container objects:
- Files which are not related or dependent on each other contextually or structurally
- Files that constitute several independent logical objects
- Omit from opaque container objects:
- Content not intended for long-term preservation
Although it is expected that the content of opaque container objects might not be fully appraised or processed prior to deposit into the DRS, to the extent possible depositors should perform an initial weeding out of unwanted material. This is especially important in the case of donated hard drives which may contain applications, system files, cached data, etc.
Examples of opaque container object designs | Assessment of design |
|---|---|
multiple files related to a single video game | Very good. If the DRS ever supports video game objects the files in this opaque object could be expanded into a fully supported object. |
multiple files related to a single database | Very good. Once the DRS supports database objects the files in this opaque object could be expanded into a fully supported object. |
An object containing one set of RAW camera image files | OK. If you can envision separating them in the future it would be better to only group the ones together that are related to each other. Also if there are other files related to these RAW files (derivative images, etc.) it may be better to group them together so that you don't have to combine them in the future. |
a set of word processing files | OK. Same reason as for the RAW camera image files. |
one audio file | Good. If there are other files related to this audio file (other derivative audio files, transcripts, etc.) it may be better to group them together so that you don't have to combine them in the future. |