Editing Keywords in the Workspace
When flow data is collected at the cytometer a data file is created in a specific format called FCS. Each FCS data file has two essential components, the description of the conditions at the time of collection, and the sets of numbers measured for each event. Whereas the cytometer formats all of the numerical data automatically, it is up to the operator to correctly specify the conditions. Keywords organize the non-numeric information in FCS files and each keyword is designated with a $three letter code.
The names of the reagents used to stain each tube of cells is very useful information to have when analyzing your data. In the case that the sample was not properly annotated during collection, some or all of this information may be missing or incorrect. It is very common that data will be collected with labels FL1, FL2, FL3, etc., but missing the staining reagent - making it difficult to understand the nature of the experiment. FlowJo also uses this information in the creation of groups, so it will be hindered in your attempts, for instance, to apply the same gates to all samples stained with CD3 & CD4.
To edit the keywords, you must first be displaying those keywords in the workspace.
FlowJo allows you to edit the keyword values of your FCS data (only in the current workspace, the actual FCS data does not get modified).
First, add your desired keyword into the workspace (this is best done once the FCS data is in the workspace): click Workspace menu, Edit columns. Choose keyword(s) from the list on the left and add them in.
Now that your keyword is in the workspace, click on any of the cells in the keyword column and type over the existing value.
First, add the keywords you wish to alter. In this example, the $p#n keywords were added.
Now, click the cell you wish to edit. Notice the value that is selected changes its background to white.
Type over the value to change it. Press enter to finalize the editing.
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)
