# openBIS 7.0.0 Early Access release **URL:** \ **Category:** Announcements\ **Created:** [3 July 2026 15:39 UTC](https://community.openbis.ch/t/openbis-7-0-0-early-access-release/662 "2026-07-03T15:39:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cbarillari](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/community.openbis.ch/cbarillari/32/10_2.png) [@cbarillari](https://community.openbis.ch/u/cbarillari)\ **Post date:** [3 July 2026 15:39 UTC](https://community.openbis.ch/t/openbis-7-0-0-early-access-release/662/1 "2026-07-03T15:39:54Z")
Dear openBIS users, We are happy to announce a new **Early Access** version release of openBIS, version **7.0.0**. We recommend this version for **new openBIS users**. Established openBIS users are strongly encouraged to: 1. **migrate** **to the latest 20.10** release available (currently 20.10.12.5) before upgrading to 7.0.0 2. **test** this release on a **staging server** before using it in production. A **General Availability** release will be made available later this year. A migration guide for 20.10.x will be made available shortly. **New features in openBIS 7.0.0** - **Changes to data modelling** : - **A new data store (AFS).** Data can be directly attached to Objects and Experiments/Collections and they are mutable (i.e. several versions of a file can be uploaded, names can be changed, new data can always be added). AFS supports large data upload via UI. - **openbis Drive**. This is a tool to sync data from a local storage to the openBIS storage, similar to Google Drive or a Synology Drive: - **Customization of ELN Toolbars in forms** : [https://openbis.readthedocs.io/en/7.x/user-documentation/general-admin-users/admins-documentation/customise-toolbar.html](https://openbis.readthedocs.io/en/7.x/user-documentation/general-admin-users/admins-documentation/customise-toolbar.html) - **UI support for chatbots**. [Enable chatbot — Python documentation](https://openbis.readthedocs.io/en/7.x/user-documentation/general-admin-users/admins-documentation/chatbot-ui.html) - **New imaging technology**. [Imaging technology — Python documentation](https://openbis.readthedocs.io/en/7.x/software-developer-documentation/as-server-side-extensions/as-imaging.html) - **Support for RO-Crate imports/exports**. This feature is available as early access, but it is subject to further development: An introductory video showing these new features will be made available in the upcoming weeks. **Decommissioned Features in openBIS 7.0.0** - **Core UI.** The core UI is no longer available. This has now been fully replaced by the ELN UI ([General Overview — Python documentation](https://openbis.readthedocs.io/en/7.x/user-documentation/general-users/general-overview.html#)) and admin UI ([Login — Python documentation](https://openbis.readthedocs.io/en/7.x/user-documentation/general-admin-users/admins-documentation/general-overview.html)). - **TSV imports in ELN UI.** This feature is now obsolete. XLSX imports have already been available for a long time in the ELN and are the only imports supported now. - **Material data type.** This data type has never been used in the ELN. The upcoming decommissioning of this feature was announced in 2022 and a migration script was provided. - I **nternal name spaces property codes no longer start with $**. Internal types are marked as such in the admin UI and in masterdata XLSX files. - **File**. Unused feature. - **Data set uploader app**. This is replaced by openBIS Drive and by the AFS. The change log of openBIS 7.0 Early Access release can be found here: > **[CHANGELOG.md · master · sispub / openbis · GitLab](https://sissource.ethz.ch/sispub/openbis/-/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md?ref_type=heads)** > > Gitlab instance of Scientific IT Services, ETH Zurich. This release can be downloaded from: > **[RELEASES.md · 7.x · sispub / openbis · GitLab](https://sissource.ethz.ch/sispub/openbis/-/blob/7.x/RELEASES.md)** > > Gitlab instance of Scientific IT Services, ETH Zurich.