Getting Started

Welcome! 👋 In this short tutorial, you’ll install Hei-DataHub, connect it to HeiBox, add your first dataset, and find it again like a pro.

No prior setup knowledge required. No spreadsheets harmed in the process.

Install

Hei-DataHub runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Go to the download page and grab the version that matches your system:

👉 Download Hei-DataHub

The download page provides:

Native installers or packages
Simple, step-by-step instructions
Automatic updates where supported

Once installed, launch the app:

hei-datahub

You can also start it from your system’s application menu (yes, even on Linux).

That’s it. No flags. No rituals.

First Launch (and Connecting HeiBox)

When you open Hei-DataHub for the first time, it sets up its workspace and opens the main interface.

To store and share datasets across devices and with your team, you need to connect Hei-DataHub to HeiBox. This is a one-time setup.

Step 1: Open Settings

From the main screen, press:

Ctrl + S

Step 2: Configure HeiBox

Follow the setup steps in the app:

WebDAV URL

https://heibox.uni-heidelberg.de/seafdav

Dataset location in HeiBox
```
csidlab
```
Username Your Uni-ID
WebDAV password

To get your WebDAV password:

Go to https://heibox.uni-heidelberg.de/profile/
Find WebDAV Password
Click Set Password
Copy it and paste it into the app

Step 3: Save

Save the configuration.

🎉 Done. Your dataset catalog now lives securely in HeiBox and syncs automatically.

Add Your First Dataset (5-Minute Walkthrough)

Let’s add your first dataset. This is the core workflow of Hei-DataHub.

Step 1: Open the Add Dataset Form

Press:

Ctrl + N

A form appears. This is where the magic happens.

Step 2: Fill in the Fields

Use this example (don’t overthink it):

Name: GHSL: Global population surfaces 1975-2030 (P2023A)
Description: This raster dataset depicts the spatial distribution of residential population, expressed as the absolute number of inhabitants of the cell. Residential population estimates between 1975 and 2020 in 5-year intervals and projections to 2025 and 2030 derived from CIESIN GPWv4.11 were disaggregated from census or administrative units to grid cells, informed by the distribution, volume, and classification of built-up area as mapped in the global GHSL built-up surface layers per epoch.
Source: Beijing Normal University (State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science)
Storage Location: https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/datasets/catalog/JRC_GHSL_P2023A_GHS_POP#citations
Access Method: GEE: ee.ImageCollection("JRC/GHSL/P2023A/GHS_POP")
Temporal Coverage: 1975 – 2030
Spatial Coverage: Global

What this means:

Source → who produced the dataset
Storage Location → where the files live
Temporal Coverage → when the data applies
Spatial Coverage → where it applies

You can always refine this later.

Step 3: Save

Press:

Ctrl + S

You’ll see a confirmation message and the form will close.

Step 4: Admire Your Work

Your dataset should now appear in the main list.

If it doesn’t (computers happen), press:

Ctrl + R

to refresh.

🎉 Congrats — you just created your first dataset entry.

Find It Again (The Fun Part)

Finding datasets is the reason Hei-DataHub exists.

Just start typing. No clicking required.

Try:

Population

or even:

Pop

You’ll instantly see all datasets related to population.

You can also search by:

tags
project name
source
description text

Best part: Results update instantly as you type.

Keyboard = Speed

Forget the mouse. Trust the keys.

Some useful ones:

j / k → move down / up
g g → jump to the first dataset
Shift + G → jump to the last dataset
Enter → open dataset details

You can even define your own keybindings later. See 👉 Keybindings

Next Steps

You now know the essentials.

From here, you can:

Learn Navigation in detail
Edit datasets as projects evolve
Use Advanced Search
Revisit Settings
Customize keybindings and behavior

But honestly? You already know enough to use Hei-DataHub productively.

Go add datasets. Your future self will thank you. 😄