Editing Keywords in the Workspace

Cytometer Acqusition software can save flow data in a standardized format called FCS. FlowJo reads in FCS files. Each FCS data file has a meta data section at the top which includes keywords, and a data section containing the collected data arrays. Each FCS standard keyword is designated with a $three letter code.

The names of the reagents used to stain each tube of cells can be saved as keywords wtih your data acquisition software. However, it may happen that data was collected with labels FL1, FL2, FL3, ..., missing the staining reagent keywords. If this is the case, you may choose to edit or add the keywords in FlowJo to facilitate analysis.

To edit the keywords, you must first be displaying those keywords in the workspace.

Double click on the keyword you wish to edit (even if the box is blank). As in the figure below, you will see that the information is redrawn with a box around it, and a popup triangle to offer choices of existing values of the keyword.

At this point you may type in a new value for this keyword. Alternately, if you click on the triangle, a menu will appear containing all of the values used for that keyword in the current workspace. Select any of these choices to change the existing keyword. Choosing the item out of the list is the recommended method, because it guarantees that typographical errors will not cause problems.

Also, if you create a spreadsheet that has the same shape as your samples (rows) and keywords (columns), and copy that into your clipboard, then you can paste it into FlowJo:

1. make sure all samples' gates are collapsed (the disclosure triangles are not showing any gates)
2. double-click in the cell that is the top-left one, as though you were to hand-edit it.
3. paste. This will fill all values down- and right- of the top-left cell.

If you are adding new keywords, first add them from FlowJo - Worskpace Menu:Add Keyword, and then use the same paste trick.

Note that the changes you make to the keywords are only saved within the current FlowJo workspace. The FCS data file is never changed by FlowJo.

See the following topics for more information:

The Workspace Window
Changing workspace information display
Groups
Statistics
Batch analysis
Dragging and dropping nodes (copying gates, statistics or other analyses)

Manual for Macintosh

Related Links

Editing Keywords in the Workspace



Manual for Macintosh Overview Workspace Graphs Platforms Output Techniques Menus Preferences Related Links Windows Adding Samples Groups Statistics Node Names	Editing Keywords in the Workspace Cytometer Acqusition software can save flow data in a standardized format called FCS. FlowJo reads in FCS files. Each FCS data file has a meta data section at the top which includes keywords, and a data section containing the collected data arrays. Each FCS standard keyword is designated with a $three letter code. The names of the reagents used to stain each tube of cells can be saved as keywords wtih your data acquisition software. However, it may happen that data was collected with labels FL1, FL2, FL3, ..., missing the staining reagent keywords. If this is the case, you may choose to edit or add the keywords in FlowJo to facilitate analysis. To edit the keywords, you must first be displaying those keywords in the workspace. Double click on the keyword you wish to edit (even if the box is blank). As in the figure below, you will see that the information is redrawn with a box around it, and a popup triangle to offer choices of existing values of the keyword. At this point you may type in a new value for this keyword. Alternately, if you click on the triangle, a menu will appear containing all of the values used for that keyword in the current workspace. Select any of these choices to change the existing keyword. Choosing the item out of the list is the recommended method, because it guarantees that typographical errors will not cause problems. Also, if you create a spreadsheet that has the same shape as your samples (rows) and keywords (columns), and copy that into your clipboard, then you can paste it into FlowJo: 1. make sure all samples' gates are collapsed (the disclosure triangles are not showing any gates) 2. double-click in the cell that is the top-left one, as though you were to hand-edit it. 3. paste. This will fill all values down- and right- of the top-left cell. If you are adding new keywords, first add them from FlowJo - Worskpace Menu:Add Keyword, and then use the same paste trick. Note that the changes you make to the keywords are only saved within the current FlowJo workspace. The FCS data file is never changed by FlowJo. See the following topics for more information: The Workspace Window Changing workspace information display Groups Statistics Batch analysis Dragging and dropping nodes (copying gates, statistics or other analyses)

Contact Us \| Site Map \| Privacy Policy \| License Agreement \|