# Publish a Collection

## 🔐 Step 1: Log In & Create a Draft

- {ref}`Log in <account-log-in-options>`.
- (Optional) Navigate to {doc}`a collection </user/dataverse-management>`.
- Click "Add Data" → "New Dataverse".

Note: If you don’t see the "Add Data" button, contact your repository support team.

## 📝 Step 2: Enter Basic Metadata & Settings

- Fill in the required {ref}`metadata <create-dataverse>` fields
- Select metadata settings.  
- Click "Create Dataverse" at the bottom to save your draft collection.

## 🚀 Step 3: Publish Your Collection

Note: once published, easy deletion of a collection is no longer possible.

- Click "Publish" (top right).

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## ✅ Choose Look & Feel (optional)

- Click "Edit" → "Theme \+ Widgets".  
- Select {ref}`theme settings <theme>`.
- Click "Save Changes".

## ✅ Set Permissions (optional)

- Click "Edit" → "Permissions".  
- Under "Permissions", click "Edit Access" to {ref}`set general permissions <dataverse-permissions>`.
- (Optional) Add users or groups with specific permissions under "Users/Groups" by clicking "Assign Roles to Users/Groups".

## ✅ Create Groups (optional)

- Click "Edit" → "Groups".  
- Click "Create Group".  
- Enter a Group Name and Group Identifier.  
- Add users to this group using autofill in "Users/Groups".  
- Click "Create Group".

## ✅ Set Dataset Templates (optional)

- Click "Edit" → "Dataset Templates".  
- Click {ref}`Create Dataset Template <dataset-templates>`.
- Enter a template name.  
- Add any template metadata in the metadata fields.  
- Click "Save \+ Add Terms".  
- {ref}`Choose a license <choosing-license>` from the dropdown or select {ref}`Custom Dataset Terms <custom-terms>`.
- Provide other relevant terms information  
- Click "Save Dataset Template"

## ✅ Set Dataset Guestbooks (optional)

- Click "Edit" → "Dataset Guestbooks".  
- Click {ref}`Create Dataset Guestbook <dataset-guestbooks>`.
- Enter a guestbook name.  
- Add information to collect.  
- Click "Create Dataset Guestbook".