Loading Phenotypic Data (non-CIERA fieldbook)

• Loading Phenotypic Data (non-CIERA Fieldbook)
  • GIDs
  • Excel formatting
• Load Fieldbook
  • Study Details
  • Study Location Details
  • Define Variable
  • Add Variable
  • Choose a folder

Loading Phenotypic Data (non-CIERA Fieldbook)

You can load phenotypic data into CIERA through a simple excel sheet with variables along the top and data in the rows. Some phenotypic templates have been released to help get an understanding of what your excel sheet of data should be formatted like here:Phenotypic Templates.

GIDs

In order to load phenotypic data into CIERA, you need to look up or create a GID for every line in the dataset. GID stands for Global Identifier, and all pedigree, phenotypic and genotypic data points are linked throughout the system by a GID. You can use "Look up pedigree information" to look up the GIDs for each line manually, or you can create a germplasm list using the "Create/Edit list of lines" query.

Excel formatting

The only thing to be sure of prior to loading your dataset is to make sure the tab with the data is called "Observation" and that any extra blank rows or columns are deleted (sometimes when cutting & pasting data, extra rows are inserted and can cause some issues).

Load Fieldbook

Any excel sheet with data is called a Fieldbook in CIERA.

Load fieldbook screen

Click BROWSE to find your fieldbook and then click next.

Study Details

This screen allows you to fill in any study metadata (information about the test you know before hand) to help characterize the data in CIERA.

Study Details screen

Any fields with Red headings need to be filled out to continue. The green fields are optional. Click NEXT when done.

Study Location Details

This screen allows you to fill out any location metadata.

Study Location Details screen

Only the location name is required, the rest of the information on this screen is optional. Click NEXT when done.

Define Variable

If a column heading in the excel sheet is not recognized, you can define it here.

Define Variable screen

If you feel the variable should already be in CIERA, then search through the "Study Metadata variable" and "Measured variable in study" tree views, which list all the loaded variables in CIERA, along with their scale and method. If you feel the variable is a new variable, then select "New Variable".
Click OK to continue.

Add Variable

If you did not find the variable, you can add it as a new variable.

Add Variable screen

Fill in each of the fields:
1) Choose what kind of variable this is: Select whether this is a measured variable, a summary variable or a study metadata variable
2) Enter or choose a trait for the variable: ** Look through the Traits listed in CIERA. Enter a new Trait if you do not see one that describes your variable's trait.
3) Enter or choose a Scale for the variable: Look through the Scales listed in CIERA. Enter a new Scale if you do not see the one that describes the scale of your variable's scale.
4) Enter or choose a Scale Type: The scale can be Discrete (each value has meaning), or Continuous (a measure, i.e. weight).
5) Enter or choose a Method for the variable: Look through the Methods in CIERA. Enter a new method if you do not see one that describes how your data is measured.
6) Enter a Description for the method: ** Give a more in-depth explanation of how the data was captured or derived.
7) Choose Type of data stored by the variable: Numeric data - all data is numbers, Character - data is alpha-numeric, strings, or letters.

Click NEXT.

Choose a folder

You can either choose an existing folder within CIERA or enter the name of a new one.

Choose Folder screen

Click OK when done to start loading your data.