Topics in this newsletter:

• Major upgrade for the Atlantis environment of Naturalis
• New Release: 5.25.1
• Feature highlighted: import mapping
• Regeljerechten.nl revamped: clearer and easier to use
• Follow DEVENTit on LinkedIn

Major upgrade for the Atlantis environment of Naturalis

Recently, an important update has been implemented in the collection management system of Naturalis Biodiversity Center Netherlands. This update, the result of a two-year project, now allows for a much more detailed recording of the context of the collections.

Registering when and how objects were acquired, which expeditions contributed, which individuals or organizations were involved, and the associated legal documents can now be carried out efficiently and systematically. These new types of records are then linked to the object records. Additionally, the addition of a taxonomic reference list enhances the management of the collection, making the system even better aligned with the research needs of Naturalis.

This update, which involved multiple departments within Naturalis and us from DEVENTit over the past two years, ensures that Naturalis now has a more robust and transparent system, benefiting research into biodiversity and the provenance of the collections.

New Release: 5.25.1

At the beginning of July, the rollout of a new release of Atlantis began. This update includes various adjustments and improvements. Below is an overview of some important topics from this release:

Crowdsourcing
Input is now only definitively saved after a reviewer has approved it, unless autocontrol approves it immediately. This prevents incomplete or incorrect data from entering the system prematurely. Reviewers can now also adjust the order of entered aggregations and relationships to correct discrepancies. This can be done both from the input overview and directly in the input screen.

Fullscreen PDF viewer
PDF files can now be viewed in full screen, significantly improving comparison and reading.

Improved rights management
In the Configuration Cockpit, clearer notifications are now visible if you do not have rights for certain components. These options will soon disappear completely from the menu. Additionally, the system now also takes into account security levels within user rights, including validity dates.

Revamped cookie notification
The old cookie bar has been replaced with a clear pop-up where users can choose between only necessary cookies or all cookies. The pop-up only appears if analytical services such as Google Analytics are active.

Feature highlighted: import mapping

When managing heritage collections, there is often a need to incorporate data from external sources into Atlantis. Think of files with object descriptions or information from external projects. Manual entry takes time and increases the chance of errors. For this, we have the import mapping feature.

With import mapping, you can automatically link data from, for example, an Excel or CSV file to the correct fields in Atlantis. You create a ‘mapping’: a translation in which you indicate for each column in your source file which field in Atlantis corresponds. This feature is intended for quickly and easily creating new, often simple records — without interrelationships.

Import mapping saves you a lot of time when entering basic data. Whether you are adding new object descriptions or importing data from an external project: with this feature, you do it quickly, controlled, and error-free. Since the entered records do not contain relationships, it is an accessible way to easily incorporate structured data into Atlantis.

You choose the type of description with which you import, and determine whether existing objects should be retained or overwritten. 

How does it work?

Preparing your source file
Ensure that the file is clearly structured, with clear column names and consistent data.

Starting an import mapping
In Atlantis, you select the appropriate type of description and indicate whether existing objects should be retained or may be overwritten.

Linking fields
You assign the columns from your source file to the corresponding fields in Atlantis, thereby establishing the mapping.
Elements from the example file are linked to columns from the data structure. This is done by filling in numbers in the text fields in the left tree. The numbers are automatically displayed on the right next to each element. This creates a clear and verifiable link between source data and Atlantis fields.

Checking
View a sample of the links to check if everything is set up correctly before starting the import.

Executing the import
Is everything satisfactory? Then you start the import and Atlantis processes the data automatically.

Saving and reusing mapping
Your mapping is saved, so you can easily reuse it for the next import.

This feature supports various data types, such as objects, locations, or people, as long as they are relationship-free, new records. For more complex imports with linked data or relationships, other methods are needed.

Regeljerechten.nl revamped: clearer and easier to use

If you work with heritage collections, you are likely to regularly deal with copyright issues. Whether it concerns publishing images, sharing documents, or making digital collections available — it is important to know what is and isn’t allowed.

Regeljerechten.nl, the platform of the Digital Heritage Network, has been specifically developed to support heritage professionals in this regard. Recently, the website has been thoroughly revamped: the information has been updated, the structure is clearer, and the step-by-step plan for managing rights is easier to follow. This makes it much easier to handle copyright responsibly and carefully.

You will find practical tools to determine, for example, whether a work is copyright protected, who the rights holders are, and how you can arrange permission if necessary. There are also handy examples and frequently asked questions included to help you make informed choices.

A valuable tool for anyone managing or publishing collections, and therefore also relevant for many Atlantis users.

Follow DEVENTit on LinkedIn

Through our LinkedIn page, you can easily stay updated on developments surrounding Atlantis. We regularly post updates about new releases, practical tips, and examples of how Atlantis is used in practice.

We also occasionally share news from the heritage field that may be relevant for collection managers and information professionals. A convenient way to stay connected without having to do anything.