Each file type used by a platform must be registered as a data file type. For example, CEL and CDF files are file types used by the Affymetrix platform. There are several purposes of a data file type:
Describe the file type and make it identifiable. Each file type must have a unique ID which makes it possible to find out if a specific file has been added to an item. For example, to find the CEL file of a raw bioassay.
Connect a specific file type with a generic file type. For example, the CEL file is used to store raw data for an experiment. Another platform may use a different file type. Both file types are of the generic type raw data. This makes it possible for client applications or plug-ins to find the raw data for an experiment without actually knowing which file types that are used on various platforms.
Make it possible to validate and extract metadata from attached files. This is done by plug-ins. A data file type may specify which plug-in to use for validation and metadata extraction. Currently, BASE ships with plug-ins for CEL and CDF files.
You can manage data file types by going to
→ → .The name of the file type.
An ID that is used to identify the file type. The ID must be unique and can't be changed once the file type has been created.
The type of item files of this file type can be attached to. This option can't be changed once the file type has been created.
The commonly used file extension for files of this type. Optional.
The generic type of data that files of this type contains. For example, CEL files contains raw data and CDF files contains a reporter map (in BASE terms).
The name of the Java class that can be used to
validate if a given file is a valid file of this type.
The class must implement the DataFileValidator
The name of the Java class that can be used to
extract metadata from a file of this type.
The class must implement the DataFileMetadataReader
A description of the file type.