Virtual Concat(enation) is a convenient functionality that allows you to concatenate files dynamically. Go to our tutorial to see the difference between virtual and permanent concatenation here.
You do not need to concatenate data prior to running any algorithms in OMIQ. This happens automatically, as needed, and the data is separated back out again for downstream analysis.
1. Virtual Concatenation in Gating
One example of when you may wish to perform virtual concatenation in Gating is for ease of viewing rare populations. That is not the case in the image above, but the process is the same. To do so, Open Settings → check the Concat Files checkbox. The file selector above your plot now says Concat Files, from here, use the dropdown to select which Files you want to concatenate.
Gates that are created while viewing Concat Files do not apply only to Concat Files.
Most dropdowns in OMIQ allow you to filter the list, just start typing. You can even filter by metadata. This is shown above with the metadata = Timepoint and the value = 0.
2. Virtual Concatenation in Figure
Virtual concatenation can be useful in Figure for comparing samples across metadata. To do so, make your plot and select it → click Settings → check the Concat Files checkbox and select your files in the Concat Files dropdown below.
If you have concatenated on metadata, as in the example above, you can view the relevant labels on your plot by scrolling down your plot settings to Plot Aesthetics & Labels.
3. Virtual Concatenation in Graph Viewer
To view virtually concatenated files in Graph Viewer, click Concatenate → choose how you want to concatenate your Files, in this example we will concatenate By Metadata → select the metadata dimension you want to concatenate and click Concatenate. In this example we chose Day - this will automatically concatenate on the difference Day metadata in the dataset. In the bottom image you can see concatenated Day: 90. The number in parenthesize indicates the number of concatenated files.
Virtual Concatenation in Graph Viewer is a unique situation where you are viewing double concatenated data. Consider that Graph Viewer is showing summarised information for a single data File (concatenated). When you group multiple files they are then double concatenated. Specifically for the indicated Measures, mean = average mean, count = sum counts, percent total = total no. events in node divided by the total no. events.
4. Virtual Concatenation in Clustered Heatmap
Clustered Heatmaps have their own concatenation settings. Watch our tutorial video to learn about about concatenation with Clustered Heatmaps.