Tabular helps researchers turn familiar CSV and Excel files into documented, shareable research outputs. Its visual workflow brings column annotation, dataset metadata, RO-Crate packaging, and optional Coscine deposit into one place.
Download TabularRDM-1.1.0-x64-Portable.exe from the official
Tabular releases page
and open it. The portable application normally needs neither installation nor
administrator rights.
Install Node.js 18 or newer, then run:
npm install
npm run devOpen http://localhost:5173/.
The starting canvas already contains a complete basic workflow. Connections enter a node on the left and leave it on the right. Hover over an input handle to see which node types it accepts.
In Tabular file, choose Select tabular file and open a CSV or Excel file. Preview Tabular Data shows its headers and first rows.
Keep First row contains headers selected when row one contains column names. Clear it for headerless data.
In Column Descriptions, write a precise meaning for each field. For
example, describe air_temperature as “Ambient air temperature at the
sensor,” rather than repeating the header.
For reusable semantic annotations, drag a concept from Terminology Service into a description field.
Search Quantity Kinds for a measurement type, select it, and inspect the matching entries in Units. Drag the correct unit into the relevant column. Leave identifiers and genuinely unitless values empty.
Complete Metadata Form, including every required field, and choose Save. This metadata describes the dataset as a whole; column descriptions explain its individual fields.
The RO-Crate node combines the data and descriptions. When it reports loaded RDF triples, choose Download RO-Crate.
Tabular file ──┬──> Preview Tabular Data
├──> Column Descriptions ──┐
└───────────────────────────┼──> RO-Crate ZIP
Metadata Form ─────────────────────────────┘
The ZIP contains the tabular data, RDF metadata, and a standard RO-Crate catalogue. Keep it intact when sharing or archiving it.
Add a Coscine node and connect RO-Crate → Coscine. Tabular automatically connects the matching Metadata Form—or creates one when needed— so the selected Coscine resource can provide its metadata requirements.
Enter an API token, load and select a writable resource, complete and save the resulting form, then choose Upload RO-Crate. Nothing is uploaded before that final action.
Use the documentation guide to continue with short, task-focused pages:
- Why Tabular connects these services
- Describe columns with terminology, quantities, and units
- Prepare data and understand the RO-Crate
- Deposit an RO-Crate in Coscine
- Use the canvas, connections, and saved layouts
- Troubleshoot safely
- Develop and build Tabular
Each workflow node also has an i button with instructions for that step.
