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Research Data Management (old April 2019): Version control

Guidance and support to staff, researchers and students at the University of Southampton

Version Control

Developers use version and revision control software to maintain current and historical versions of files such as source code, web pages, and documentation.

Git is a free and open source distributed version control system.  The University runs the University of Southampton Git Service: https://git.hub.soton.ac.uk/ You can use it to keep private versions of your data and files within the University. If you use Github, you files will be openly available.

The University also supports: 

Contact Serviceline or your iSolutions Business Relationship Manager for further details.

Including version information in filenames

This can be done in any of the following ways:

  • the date recorded in the file name or within the file, for example HealthTest-2008-04-06
  • version numbering in the file name, for example HealthTest-00-02 or HealthTest_v2
    Filename Description

    LiteratureReview_1.0

    Original document

    LiteratureReview_1.1

    Minor revisions made

    LiteratureReview_1.2

    Further minor revisions

    LiteratureReview_2.0

    Substantive changes
  • a file history, version control table or notes included within a file, where versions, dates, authors and details of changes to the file are recorded

For further information see:  Version control and authenticity - UK Data Service