Illustrative data by ftp

Eric Martz (emartz@microbio.umass.edu)
Fri, 23 Jul 1993 09:59:26 -0400 (EDT)

I'd like to know whether there is an anonymous ftp site from which one can
obtain sample flow cytometry data files illustrating diverse cytometers
and experimental results. I have in mind three immediate uses for such a
collection. (i) Some people would like to test drive free software such as
MFI and WinMDI to help them decide whether it is worthwhile setting up an
HP->PC data transfer capability. (ii) Those of us developing software such
as MFI and WinMDI need sample data files from diverse cytometers and
software so we can make the software able to digest all of them smoothly.
(iii) When training new users, it is useful to give them files illustrating
'good' results for the kind of application they wish to set up. Small
cytometry facilities (such as UMass/Amherst) do not yet have examples of
diverse applications on hand.

If there is an organized and cataloged collection of such data files
already available, I'd like to know where. If not, I'd like to start
building one at flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu, in which case I'll solicit
contributions, both in the form of ideas for how to make it most useful
and in the form of data files.

I envision requesting a standard list of information for each data file
in the collection, and providing both a list (by filename) of the standard
descriptions, and an index in the form of a text file one could search
with a word processor. I expect that it will be useful to divide the
files into subdirectories, but I'm not sure which way -- by cytometer,
by data format (list mode, 1 vs. 2 param histogram, FCS 1.0, FCS 2.0,
non-FCS), or by subject (surface receptors, kinetics, calcium, GSH,
DNA, ...). Maybe none of these are practical (too much work for too
little benefit). There's always the British Museum method (numbered
and filed in order of receipt).

/*- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Eric Martz emartz@microbio.umass.edu
Professor of Immunology Voice: 413-545-2325 FAX: 413-545-1578
Morrill IVN 203, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA 01003
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CD ROM Vol 2 was produced by staff at the Purdue University Cytometry Laboratories and distributed free of charge as an educational service to the cytometry community. If you have any comments please direct them to Dr. J. Paul Robinson, Professor & Director, PUCL, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907. Phone:(317) 494-0757; FAX (317) 494-0517; Web http://www.cyto.purdue.edu EMAIL robinson@flowcyt.cyto.purdue.edu