Prepare Your Runs Metadata File¶

• First, download the template linked here.
• After you've opened the template, you will provide values in the value column.
• At this point, if you haven't created a metadata file before, you should read through the Understanding the Nested Tabbed Format page to better understand how your file is formatted.
• You are only required to provide values for those properties which have TRUE in the required column.
  • Even if a property has TRUE in the required column, if its parent property does NOT have TRUE in the required column, then you are not required to fill in the (sub) property.

• If you want to see a completed Runs metadata file, you can download one here.

• Here are some specific instructions for filling out a Runs metadata file:

• For the Run property, the value will look something like this: EXR-AMILO1GASTCANC-RU.
  1. The ID will always start with EXR- (this stands for exRNA).
  2. Next, I wrote AMILO1 because my PI is Aleksandar MILOsavljevic (AMILO). The 1 indicates that he is the first PI with this particular ID. If you're not sure about your PI ID, feel free to contact the exRNA Team .
  3. Third, I wrote GASTCANC to give some information about my run. Here, my run is related to gastric cancer, so I wrote GASTCANC.
  4. Finally, the value ends with -RU to indicate that the file is a Runs file.

• For the - Status property, you can write either "Add" or "Protect".
  • Write "Add" if you want to add your files to the public Atlas immediately.
  • Write "Protect" if you want to keep your files in the consortium-only Atlas until the embargo period ends on your submission.

• For the - Experimental Design property, you should give a description of your experimental design.
  • Please do not leave this property blank or write "N/A" - you should write something!

• For the - Type property, you should write "qPCR".

• You don't need to write anything for the -- qPCR property, but don't delete it from your file!

• Preferably, you should fill out information about your qPCR Instrument under the --- qPCR Instrument property.
  • For example, you can list information under the ---- Model property, ---- Manufacturer property, ---- Software property, etc.

• If you didn't fill out a value for a property, then please delete the row containing that property from your file. Make sure that you actually remove the row entirely and don't leave a blank row!
  However, if the domain for the property is [valueless] and you filled out values for any subproperties, then don't delete the row.

• Finally, save your metadata file in tab-delimited format with a file name that ends in .metadata.tsv.
  • I recommend you name your metadata file after the value given for your Run property.
  • For example, I would name my metadata file EXR-AMILO1GASTCANC-RU.metadata.tsv.
  • If you need help saving your metadata file, we have instructions available here.