# Storing Information offline

Generally speaking, most data in Governance is stored off-chain, and is referenced by an on-chain url and hash. For more detailed information, please see [CIP-1694](https://www.1694.io/en)

Off-chain data can be stored in many places, such as IPFS, a web URL, or repo site like GitHub. The URL that references the data has to be publicly readable.

Here is an example of using GitHub for storing data for a Governance Action. Storing data for becoming a DRep is the same process.

1. Agree to store information and click "Continue<br>

   <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/8YBYb7Fxb528PKRnN4ol/1.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
2. Your information will be packaged up in a .jsonld file. Click on the button with the filename in it, and save it to your computer.<br>

   <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/apFIpDBiXLBkzmHBbFCp/2.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
3. If you don't have a github account, you will need to create one. Simply enter your email address and click "Sign up for GitHub.<br>

   <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/4yfLvUckHvg3a3oFIlMl/3.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
4. Click "Continue<br>

   <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/FMQzowd35pYrCI8NAtzX/4.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
5. Create a password, click "Continue"<br>

   <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/zoVwPY8AKmLFt0NE0PI3/5.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
6. Create a github user name (must be unique on github).<br>

   <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/Bvr9GqWK3qhPRLe80sjf/6.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
7. GitHub will send you a confirmation code to your email inbox. Find it and enter it here.<br>

   <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/PP0mhuQecuufco7XahHK/7.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
8. You now have a new GitHub account. You must create a repository, so in the screen below:&#x20;
   1. Create a name for your repository
   2. Make your repository public
   3. Click "Create Repository"<br>

      <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/r78YbdsQeqeeEKYNgLaX/8.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
9. Now you have a public GitHub repository of your own!. In the example below, the repository is called "Saver-saver". You will need to upload the data.jsonld file that you got from GovTool now. Click the link "uploading an existing file"<br>

   <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/0mECPmymJU6a91uiyqaR/9.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
10. Upload the "data.jsonld" file to GitHub by drag-and-dropping it or choosing it from your computer. Click the "Commit changes" button. This will add your file to GitHub and put it in your repository.<br>

    <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/3dFEwHuhCiIcTihYyVvJ/10.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
11. After the file uploads, you will see it's name in the list below. Click on the file name (it is a link)<br>

    <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/Vxgx3v4GoF6pVor8klCn/11.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
12. This will display the file contents. You now need to get a URL to paste into GovTool. To do this, click the "Raw" button above the code.<br>

    <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/IkrHkd3IKuAlPyIjL7cZ/12.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
13. From the "Raw" view, copy out the URL in the address bar:<br>

    <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/PcQsuShF1iMGCFZYNlmB/13.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
14. Return to GovTool, paste the URL into the URL field, and click "Submit"<br>

    <figure><img src="https://content.gitbook.com/content/qBJxNzoywC55SZXT5Tv2/blobs/ldp1IJjZWd4s6tPYy9ks/14.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
15. You have now submitted your data. It may take a few minutes or seconds for GovTool to process it.
