Uploading Data

There are 3 types of bulk uploads: Sample, Chemical Analysis, and Images. These must be done from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet (.xls file). Only the first worksheet in a .xls workbook file (first tab at bottom left) will be uploaded, so be certain that the first sheet contains the data you want uploaded for the correct type of upload.

All uploaded data will initially be private. They may then be published once they are in My Samples. You are encouraged to check your uploaded data before making publishing it, as once it is published it cannot be edited or deleted, except by the system administrator.

1. Upload your samples

First you need to prepare a sample upload spreadsheet in .xls format. Example

• Be sure your data follows the requirements for samples
• Detailed description of sample attributes
• List of accepted headers

Now you can upload the spreadsheet.

1. Log in to MetPetDB.
2. Navigate to My Samples.
3. Click Upload Data (top-right of the page).
4. Select the Samples radio button.
5. Choose your spreadsheet.
6. Click Upload. This will tell you if there are errors with your data, and how many samples will be added to MetPetDB. If you have an error, edit and save your spreadsheet, and re-upload.
7. Once you have no errors, you are ready to submit your data to MetPetDB. Click Submit Data.
8. Navigate to My Samples to see that your samples have uploaded.

2. Upload your images

Image upload is performed by compressing a folder containing the images plus a metadata spreadsheet. Images are referenced to a sample number and a subsample, which are required. Note: The sample and subsample must be uploaded/added first, before images can be uploaded.

Prepare Images Spreadsheet

The image upload spreadsheet must be titled “image_upload.xls”. Be sure the image data are on the first worksheet of the upload spreadsheet. An upload spreadsheet contains data arranged in columns, each with an appropriate header. The first row is reserved for the column headers. Each additional row should contain data for each image to be uploaded. Only some fields are required in order to upload your images, as indicated below, but we encourage you to be thorough to maintain a database that is as versatile as possible. For an example see this Example Spreadsheet.

• Be sure your data follows the requirements for images.
• Detailed description of image attributes
• List of accepted headers

Prepare Zip Folder

• The compressed folder must not contain subdirectories.
• All image files must have unique file names that are also unique to their respective subsample’s list of image files.
• Filenames should be cataloged in the accompanying image upload spreadsheet.
• Acceptable image formats are: .jpg , .gif , .tif , and .png.
• The current size limit is 50 megabytes per image.

Note that the Image Upload Spreadsheet (image_upload.xls file) must be in the .zip folder''

Upload Zip Folder

1. Log in to MetPetDB.
2. Navigate to My Samples.
3. Click Upload Data (top-right of the page).
4. Select the Images radio button.
5. Choose your zip folder.
6. Click Upload. This will tell you if there are errors with your data, and how many images will be added to MetPetDB. If you have an error, edit and save your spreadsheet, and re-upload.
7. Once you have no errors, you are ready to submit your data to MetPetDB. Click Submit Data.
8. Navigate to My Samples to see that your images have uploaded.

3. Upload your chemical analyses

Example Spreadsheets