MDAM FAQs
Below is a short list of commonly asked MDAM questions, answers, and basic troubleshooting steps for the system. For user access or additional assistance, please contact mdam-support@northwestern.edu. If your issue is urgent, please email MerlinOne’s 24/7 Technical Assistance at support@merlinone.com.Who can access MDAM?
- A complete list of schools/units that participate in can be found here. If interested in acquiring access, please contact mdam-support@northwestern.edu.
- Faculty and staff of the schools/units with active licenses can gain access to MDAM.
- Student workers or those working with faculty/staff that are part of the access list can obtain access on a case by-case basis.
What are the different usage rights for digital assets?
We have four different usage rights that are available to all digital assets:
- All-Inclusive assets are free, general use.
- All-University: Only for University-related media.
- Restricted is controlled by Asset Owner.
- Rights-Managed is controlled by Department.
Why can’t I download an asset?
Only assets that are marked “shared globally” are available for university-wide download. Typically, assets owned by another department/unit carry specific usage restrictions that prevent other MDAM users from downloading them. Once clearance is gained from those units/departments, then the assets will be available for use. Contact the asset owner for more details.
How do I log in?
Navigate to mdam.northwestern.edu and log in using your NetID and password.
How do I add a new user?
- To add or remove a user to the system, please send the following information to mdam-support@northwestern.edu.
- Add User: NetID, e-mail address, and user type
- Remove User: NetID
What are the user types available?
- Power User: Content creators who will have the ability to import assets and edit metadata in MDAM.
- Casual User: Users who will only be searching and downloading assets for which they have permissions in MDAM.
- Contractor User: Outside contractors (photographers, videographers, etc.) who may import assets into MDAM and assign metadata within the Upload form. No other rights will be assigned to contractors. Full-time contractors will usually be added as Power Users.
MDAM is not functioning properly, how can I fix this?
If MDAM does not seem to be functioning the way it should, it is always a good idea to clear your browser's cache. For more information on how to clear your cache, you may find instructions for your browser here.
How do I upload content?
- Click on the icon of the cloud with the arrow facing upwards to open the Upload form.
- Drag the photos you would like to upload into the white space on the right side of the form (under "Drop files here").
- Fill out the appropriate metadata fields to the left. Required fields appear in red.
What happened to my photos/videos after I uploaded them? My recent uploaded assets are missing.
Uploaded content may go through an approval process that takes up to 3 business days. After content is approved, it will be viewable in the gallery. As a best practice, please try to upload less than 2GB per session.
How do I download content?
- Select the file(s) that you would like to download.
- In the 'Download' pop-up box, select how you would like to download the file.
- Click Download.
How do I retrieve an Asset ID?
- Hover over the image you would like more info on. Click on the "i" to reveal the asset's metadata. The Asset ID will be listed towards the bottom.
How do I edit metadata?
- Select the files that you would like to edit.
- In the navigation, click on the Edit icon.
- Choose 'Turn Edit On' for a single asset edit, or 'Edit Multiple' if you are editing multiple assets in bulk.
- Edit the fields you would like to change. You must choose an Action on each of the fields.
- After choosing actions, click Apply.
Are my department’s assets viewable to anyone in the University?
When uploading content, you can select the Share Globally box. Checking this box will share the asset with all users in MDAM; this is the preferred checkbox to choose. You will not have to check by department if you Share Globally. All users must adhere to listed usage rights and notes.
Where can I find more resources in MDAM?
You may find additional resources under the 'Shared' drop down in the Collections panel. There is a collection called "MDAM Resources" with additional help documents and guides available.
How do I view the asset owner to obtain permission to use an asset?
To view all the asset’s metadata (and owner) you can double click on an image. The info should appear on the right side of your screen. If not, click on the blue arrows (>>) that appear to expand the info window.
Alternatively, you can click on the "i" icon and filter the metadata for the Asset owner.