October 16, 2024

  • New

  • Users can now filter the gallery by item type, simplifying the browsing experience. This feature allows users to quickly find specific items by category, making it easier to view the available options.
  • Users can now filter files in the Files tab of Dataset Details, making it easier to discover and access specific file types
  • Images from related datasets within the same project are now displayed beneath the image viewer
  • Improved

  • The homepage has been reorganized, with 'What Can I Do with SPARC' now taking the place of 'SPARC by the Numbers
  • Datasets on the consortia pages now automatically cycle through, providing users with a dynamic browsing interaction

September 5, 2024

  • New

  • A new Funding Program facet has been added to the Data & Models faceted browsing options
  • Registered users can now create map annotations directly from their SPARC profile, while non-registered users can request access to this feature
  • The template_schema_version is now displayed in the metadata section under the Abstract tab for applicable datasets
  • Links that describe tools’ actions have been added to viewers, offering users guidance
  • Improved

  • The Cite section on the dataset details page has been updated to include instructions on citing materials and methods
  • Tools and resources are now more accessible, with clickable images for easier navigation
  • The search placeholder text has been updated to provide users with prompts and examples for search keywords
  • The AWS download information has been updated to include a list of the current per GB charges
  • The redundant “Go to oSPARC” button, which duplicated the function of the Run Simulation button, has been removed
  • The "How to Navigate Datasets" link has been moved for better visibility and is now positioned under the "Dataset Files" title within the "Files" tab

July 19, 2024

  • Improved

  • Our homepage has a revamped look! The updated design features:
    • Highlights of consortia supported by SPARC
    • Total contributions to SPARC
    • A new "Find by" section replacing "Find data by category"
  • Users can now view in-progress datasets within their respective workspaces on their SPARC profiles
  • All datasets associated with a project are now displayed on the project details page

June 12, 2024

  • New

  • Users can now request access to full datasets of an old version by clicking the request access button in the files tab of that version
  • The consortia supported by the portal now have landing pages accessible from the About section
  • Improved

  • Data submission forms have been updated to include the estimated size of the data to be submitted
  • A generic flatmap is now displayed in the map viewer when no anatomical entity is applicable to a dataset
  • A generic flatmap is now displayed in the gallery for species that do not have a specific flatmap
  • Projects are no longer housed in the Data&Models tab; they can now be found under the supported consortia in the About section

May 2, 2024

  • New

  • Front end frameworks have been migrated to Vue 3 and Nuxt 3, from Vue 2 and Nuxt 2
  • The "Map" category in the portal header has been updated to "SPARC Apps" which now houses features of the SPARC Ecosystem that all users of the SPARC Portal can utilize, including Maps and oSPARC. More SPARC Apps will be added before the end of 2024
  • The sitemap.xml is now accessible for interrogation by SEO robots, enhancing the portal visibility and search engine optimization efforts
  • Improved

  • Now, when users select a dataset and then navigate back using the back button, they are automatically returned to the filtered or sorted list they had applied to the dataset list, maintaining their browsing context and enhancing user experience
  • The Tools and Resources landing page now provides direct navigation to the Tools and Resources section, eliminating the need for an intermediate landing page and streamlining the user experience
  • The tombstone page now automatically displays the date when the dataset was removed

March 15, 2024

  • New

  • The SPARC user profile page now highlights the various workspaces accessible to users
  • Improved

  • Image viewers now feature on the file details page for all datasets containing images in the gallery
  • The social media description metadata tag has been revised to align with the updated SPARC phrase
  • The Re3Data badge in the portal footer has been updated to reflect the revised name with "re3data"

January 4, 2024

  • Improved

  • File Viewers are now present on the file details page when one is available
  • Datasets are now organized based on their last updated date rather than the publication date
  • Anatomical entities linked to "featured datasets" are now showcased in a way that avoids obstructing the standard dataset marker. Additionally, the presentation includes contextual details explaining why the star marker is visible

November 16, 2023

  • New

  • A new top-level navigation button has been added to enable users to submit to SPARC as an open repository
  • Forms have been updated to pre-fill with name, user-type, and email from previous submissions when users create another submission
  • Improved

  • Dataset details page and gallery design have been improved, enhancing the user experience during navigation through gallery items and dataset details
  • The gallery tooltip for flatmap entries has been enhanced to provide users with more details on the content they are viewing

October 4, 2023

  • New

  • Profiles now showcase datasets where users hold ownership or contributor roles
  • The portal now features a hierarchical anatomy facet, seamlessly linked to organ categories on the homepage
  • The dataset details page now includes an option to utilize the SDS Viewer for exploring datasets
  • Improved

  • The "Open 3D Map" button has been removed. Instead, you will find an "Open New Map" icon in the lower left corner. This icon allows you to replace the current map with another one (AC, FC, 3D) or prompts the split-screen view (Open Sync Map)
  • The map context card, represented by the 'information' icon, can now be found in the top right corner of the map. To access it, simply hide the sidebar
  • The new and events landing page no longer includes listings of past events
  • The 'oSPARC File Service' button has replaced the 'No services' option in the Files tab
  • An update has been made to the Data Use Agreement for requesting embargoed datasets

August 23, 2023

  • New

  • The portal now includes a notification mechanism designed to ensure that users receive important updates and information
  • Improved

  • The event logic has been enhanced to prioritize events that are currently in progress as the first ones displayed in the upcoming events list
  • The subject facet of the news page has been revised to encompass portal updates
  • While loading a scaffold, the prefilled DOI in the sidebar has been eliminated, allowing users to access other datasets associated with the scaffold
  • While viewing a 3D map, the region box is now deactivated until the map is completely loaded. This change aims to let users interact more efficiently with the select-deselect feature