IQSS / IQSS/dataverse

Feature Request: Support for direct file download URLs including filenames

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Type: Feature
Dominant language
Java
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Forks
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Merged PRs (30d)
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Description

Description

It would be useful if Dataverse could provide direct file download URLs that include the filename in the URL path.

Platforms like Zenodo already implement this feature — for example:
https://zenodo.org/records/17926568/files/Batteries%20as%20Networked%20Fractal%20Energy%20Systems.pdf?download=1

This makes it possible to link to files in a user-friendly way, showing the actual filename in the link.

Current Behavior

Currently, Dataverse provides file access links using only the persistent identifier (PID), as described in the documentation:
https://guides.dataverse.org/en/6.4/api/dataaccess.html#basic-file-access

This results in URLs that do not expose the filename, such as:
https://dataverse.example.org/api/access/datafile/:persistentId/?persistentId=doi:10.xxxx/FK2/XXXXX

Proposed Enhancement

Add an option (or endpoint) that allows direct download links that include the filename in the URL, e.g.:
https://dataverse.example.org/api/access/datafile/${dataverse_id}/Filename.pdf

Use Case / Motivation
  • Improves human readability of links shared outside Dataverse.
  • Makes it easier to integrate Dataverse files with other systems or websites that expect descriptive file URLs.
  • Aligns Dataverse with other repositories such as Zenodo that already offer this feature.

Thanks,
Alfredo Cosco

p.s. Original discussion: https://groups.google.com/g/dataverse-community/c/MFh2ugMUHxU/m/Kl9dk0p0CAAJ

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with the documented Basic File Access endpoint at guides.dataverse.org/en/6.4/api/dataaccess.html#basic-file-access and compare its PID-only URL with the proposed filename-based endpoint. Determine the URL shape and filename-handling behavior, then document and verify that direct downloads remain accessible through the new form.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
java
Domain
api, backend
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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