Documentation & Annotation Tools
Proper documentation of research data and experimental procedures is essential for reproducibility, collaboration, and compliance with funder requirements. TUM provides several tools to help researchers document their work systematically.
TUM-Provided Tools
eLabFTW (Electronic Lab Notebook)
eLabFTW is the official Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) for TUM researchers. It replaces paper-based lab notebooks with a digital system that automatically captures timestamps, links datasets to experiments, and enables structured documentation of protocols.
Key features:
- Timestamped entries for audit trails
- Linking experiments to datasets and protocols
- Team collaboration with access controls
- Export for archiving and compliance
TUM DataTagger
TUM DataTagger is a web-based tool for structuring, versioning, and annotating research data collaboratively. It helps teams add descriptive metadata to datasets before sharing or archiving, with transparent rights management.
Key features:
- Collaborative annotation of datasets
- Version control for data changes
- Flexible access and editing rights
- DFG-compliant documentation
Choosing a Documentation Tool
| Use Case | Recommended Tool |
|---|---|
| Daily experimental documentation | eLabFTW |
| Collaborative data annotation | TUM DataTagger |
| Code and analysis documentation | Git + README files |
| Simple project documentation | README.txt in project folder |
Other ELN Options
If eLabFTW doesn't fit your specific workflow, explore alternatives using the ELN Finder from TU Darmstadt and ZB MED. This tool helps you compare electronic lab notebooks based on features, disciplines, and requirements.
Further information: TUM Research Data Hub — Store & Manage Data