A dataset link can identify an entire version family or one particular release. When a health article reports a calculation, the source note should let another reader find the release behind that calculation. An identifier alone is not a complete description of the working files.
DataCite’s versioning guidance distinguishes a resource representing multiple versions from its individual versions. It describes HasVersion and IsVersionOf links for that relationship, and IsNewVersionOf and IsPreviousVersionOf links between successive editions. Its guidance also permits minor updates to retain a DOI with changed metadata; resource stewards decide what counts as a major or minor change.
Make the citation describe the work performed
| Record field | Editorial purpose |
|---|---|
| DOI and landing-page title | Identify the cited resource without relying on a filename. |
| Version label and release date | Specify the edition the calculation used. |
| File name and retrieval date | Describe the local input and when it was obtained. |
| Version-family relationship | Separate discovery of other editions from identification of this input. |
These are suggested working fields, not a requirement imposed by every repository. Copy values from the actual record and file documentation. Leave an absent version label absent rather than inventing one.
Handle a newer release without silently changing the source
If a newer edition appears while an article is being edited, record that discovery separately. Decide whether to rerun the calculation, preserve the original edition with a clear date, or explain that a comparison remains pending. Changing only the citation while keeping old results would leave the evidence trail inconsistent.
A family identifier can help readers discover related releases, but the article should also name the version actually used where one is available. Check the landing page’s relationship labels rather than inferring version order from a DOI’s characters.
This is a citation workflow, not an assessment of any health dataset. No dataset was downloaded or analysed for this guide, and no newer edition is claimed to supersede a particular published result.
Official documentation read 21 October 2026. Suggested worksheets are editorial tools, not a study-quality score or verification of a named individual or dataset.
Source: Official service documentation. Related discussion: health information source quality.
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