Quanto user guide
Sample metadata extraction
Add Samples Extraction table - RegEx to AcqKey / Type / Dose.
When you Add samples, Quanto fills AcqKey, SmpKey, SampleType, Dose, and Dilution from a table of rules on the method. Open it with Add samples → Extraction table … (title: Sample metadata extraction).
What each row does
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Use | Off = skip this row |
| Order | Low first. First successful match per Target wins |
| Target | Add Samples column to fill: AcqKey, SmpKey, SampleType, Dose, Dilution |
| Source | Text to read: FileName, RelativePath, Data folder, Sample name, Dose, SampleType, Dilution, instrument fields, or the method AcqKey |
| RegEx | .NET regular expression (ignore case). Empty = copy Source, or use Value as a constant |
| Value | Template with $1, $2, … Empty = concatenate capturing groups |
A method with no rows yet gets copy-through defaults (AcqKey←AcqKey, SmpKey←RelativePath, SampleType←SampleType, Dose←Dose, Dilution←Dilution) using RegEx (.+).
Worked example
File names:
A1_CAL_002A1_A0001_001_1A1_BlankMP_1
| Target | Source | RegEx | Value | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AcqKey | FileName | ^.. |
(empty) | A1, A1, A1 |
| SmpKey | FileName | _(.+?)_ |
(empty) | CAL, A0001, BlankMP |
| SampleType | FileName | _CAL_ |
Calibration |
Calibration on A1_CAL_002 only |
Empty RegEx with a filled Value writes that constant when the row runs. Empty RegEx and empty Value copies the Source text as-is.
Buttons
| Button | Effect |
|---|---|
| Add row | Duplicate the current row (or last row) and bump Order |
| Append default | Turn Use off on existing rows; append the five copy-through defaults with Use on |
| Delete row | Remove the selected rows |
| Apply | Store the table on the method and run it on the current Add Samples list |
| Close | Close the dialog (layout is saved) |
You need a loaded or imported method first — the table lives on the method, not only on the batch.
Tips
- Prefer FileName or RelativePath when folders encode AcqKey / instrument.
- For SampleType, match a token (
_CAL_,_QC_,_Blank_) and set Value toCalibration,QC,Blank, orSample. - Fix leftovers on the Add Samples grid (or Samples grid after import) when a bottle is special.
- Regex help: the dialog links to the Microsoft .NET regular expression language reference.
Related
- Set up an analysis — Add samples in the full workflow
- Key Review — several AcqKeys or SmpKeys for the same bottle
- Grids — fill, sort, freeze on the extraction grid