Targeting Flags

In DR20, the formatting of the targeting information stored in the pipeline outputs is consistent with the targeting flat format used in DR19. These can be interpreted using the semaphore package. Semaphore can identify targets at the mapper, program, alternate program, and carton level, whose meanings are as follows:

• Mapper: Mapper or other purpose that the target is associated with.
• Program: General program of science that the target is associated with
• Alternate Program: Simplified form of program names
• Carton: Specific targeting “carton”, associated with a particular selection criterion.
• Alternate Carton: Simplified and unified form of carton names

Using the carton specification can sometimes be complicated. As the project has progressed, the selection criteria for targets has changed. In some cases, this change has led to different versions of the same carton name; these different versions are tracked as different semaphore flags. In other cases, the change has led to new carton names, which also are tracked as different semaphore flags.

While the flags are version controlled (with the option to swap the version within the semapore code), currently each set of flags is backwards compatible with the new version, just adding rows (or adjusting the associated alternative metadata for clarity). Therefore, the latest version can always be used.

Therefore, for users that need to know precisely the selection criteria for each target, this information is available through semaphore.

Many users will prefer the simplified “Alternate Carton” definitions, which is also available through semaphore. This unifies carton names and carton versions that are roughly similar target classes so they can easily be selected together.