Tutorials

Introduction: Automated Imports

In an automated import, an archive’s works are imported into the Archive of Our Own (AO3) all at once. If the email address attached to an imported fanwork is already in use on the AO3, the fanwork is automatically added to that user’s account, and a notification email is sent to them.

If the email address used on the original archive is not in use on the AO3, we send a notification email that includes an invitation link, as well as a list of the stories that were imported.

These tutorials (a screencast for fans that enjoy video tutorials and a written tutorial, for fans that enjoy reading) were created to guide users through the story claiming process. This process is part of the procedure of archive imports that Open Doors manages at the archivists’ request. You can read more about Open Doors and its work importing archives to the AO3 in this FAQ.

Archive imports are announced twice in the AO3’s admin posts:

  1. At least one month before the import.
  2. Once when the importing process has finished.

If you’re not sure an archive to which you have posted in the past is being or has been imported to the Archive of our Own, you can read through the Open Doors tag in the AO3 admin posts or contact Open Doors to ask.

Claiming Stories After an Automated Open Doors Import: Video

Part 1 of this tutorial explains the general process of claiming stories that have been imported from pre-existing archives to the Archive of Our Own (AO3).








Part 2 of this tutorial demonstrates how to claim stories that have been imported from pre-existing archives into the AO3.

Claiming Stories After an Automated Open Doors Import: Written

Overview of Procedures

You have lost access to the email address under which the stories were originally posted

If you can no longer access the email address under which you posted the stories, then you won’t receive automatic access to your stories. To delete them, orphan them or claim them, please contact Open Doors with any information that might verify your identity, so that they can re-send the claiming email to your newer email account.

If you want to expedite the process, include any proof you can think of that the stories are actually yours. If there’s nothing you can think of offhand, don’t worry. Open Doors staff will guide you through the process.

The email address under which the stories were originally posted is associated with your Archive account

In this case, no claiming will be necessary from your part. You will get an email explaining the import and listing your stories, and they will be automatically associated to your Archive account.

You will be able to edit them, delete them, or orphan them. If you need more information about any of these choices, please read the Works and Drafts FAQ or the Orphaning FAQ. If you run into any problems, or have any questions about the AO3, please contact Support.

The email address under which the stories were originally posted is not associated with your Archive account, or you have no Archive account

You will receive an email as soon as your stories are imported to the Archive of Our Own. This email will contain:

The claiming link will guide you to a page in the Archive of our Own. It will look slightly different depending if you’re currently logged in into an account or not.

You have an account and want to use it to claim the stories

If you’re logged in, just press the button labeled ‘Add these stories to my currently-logged-in account’ located at the top of the list of stories.

If you’re not logged in, log in pressing the button labeled ‘Log in’ at the top right of the page, which you should reach with two tabs. Then press the button labeled ‘Add these stories to my currently-logged-in account’, located at the top of the list of stories.

You have an account, but you want to open a new one to claim your stories

If you’re logged in, just log out in the same page, pressing the button labelled ‘log out’ at the top right of the page, then press the button labeled ‘Sign me up and give me my stories! Yay!’, located at the top of the list of stories.

If you’re logged out, just press the button labeled ‘Sign me up and give me my stories! Yay!’, located at the top of the list of stories.

You don’t have an account, and you want to open a new one to claim your stories

Simply press the button labeled ‘Sign me up and give me my stories! Yay!’, located at the top of the list of stories.

You want to leave your imported stories in the Archive, as they currently are, without claiming them

Scroll down, and press the radio button next to the ‘Leave my stories as they are’ option. If you keep your claiming email, you can always come back later to claim.

Then, click the button labeled ‘Update’ at the bottom of the form.

You want to leave your imported stories in the Archive, deleting your email address and/or name from them and losing all future control over them

Scroll down, and press the radio button next to the ‘Orphan my stories and take my email address off them’ option. You can remove the name associated with them or not, by ticking or unticking the box next to the ‘Also remove my name’.

Before choosing this option, please read more about orphaning in the Orphaning FAQ.

Then, click the button labeled ‘Update’ at the bottom of the form.

You want to delete your stories from the Archive

Scroll down, and press the radio button next to the ‘Please remove my stories from the archive entirely’ option.

You can choose to also ask not to be emailed if stories associated with your email address are imported in the future. To do this, tick the box next to the ‘Do not email me in future when stories are imported with this email address’ label. Unless you also ask for the stories not to be imported, then please note that stories will still be imported if you choose this option.

You can also request that stories associated to your email address not to be imported in the future at all. To do it, tick the box next to the ‘Do not import stories with this email address in future at all’ label.

Then, click the button labeled ‘Update’ at the bottom of the form.