Introduction
1. Preparing a DMP
2. Documenting and Organizing Data
3. Storing Data and Data Security
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Store Your Masterfile

To decide where to best store your master file, you should consider at what locations you work on your data. Do you have just one location from where you are working? Or do you have several copies of your datasets at different locations, like your PC at home and a laptop and a tablet at work? How do you keep track of what copy contains the most recent updates? When you choose the wrong file, it will take valuable time to merge both documents afterwards.

To avoid confusion, select one place where the master copies of your work are located (see Figure below). All other copies are temporary and should be placed back or synchronized with the master copy location, at regular intervals, fixed times, or after each edit. The master copy location is the standard source from which you get your files. It’s important that you do not work from the backup or temporary locations.