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Multi-quantitative tracks

In 2.1.0, we created the ability to have "Multi-quantitative tracks" which is a single track composed of multiple quantitative signals, which have their Y-scalebar synchronized. There are 5 rendering modes for the multi-quantitative tracks.

  • xyplot
  • multirowxyplot
  • multiline
  • multirowline
  • multidensity

You can interactively change these settings through the track menu.

Track menu for the multi-quantitative tracks showing different renderer types.
Figure: Track menu for the multi-quantitative tracks showing different renderer types.

With the "multi-row" settings (multirowxyplot, multirowline, multidensity) the track colors are not modified. For the overlapping (xyplot, multiline), the tracks will be autoassigned a color from the palette. You can manually customize the subtrack colors from the track menu as well.

The color/arrangement editor for multi-quantitative tracks let's you change individual subtrack colors, or their ordering in the row based layouts.
Figure: The color/arrangement editor for multi-quantitative tracks let's you change individual subtrack colors, or their ordering in the row based layouts.

Oftentimes, one of the outliers on one of the subtracks may affect the Y-scalebar too much, so it is often helpful to use the "Autoscale type->Local +/- 3SD" setting (3 standard deviations are displayed). Manually configuring the min or max scores is available via the track menu also.

Adding multi-quantitative tracks via the UI​

There are several ways to create multi-quantitative tracks from scratch.

  1. Using the add track panel to open up a list of URLs for bigwig files, or from several local tracks from your machine
  2. Using the track selector to add multiple tracks to your current selection, and then creating a multi-wiggle track from the tracks in your selection
  3. Hardcoding the multiwiggle track in your config file (see multi-quantitative track configuration for more info)
Using the add track widget, you can use the select dropdown to access alternative 'add track workflows' including the multi-wiggle add track workflow. In the multiwiggle add track workflow, you can paste a list of bigWig file URLs, or open up multiple bigwig files from your computer.
Figure: Using the add track widget, you can use the select dropdown to access alternative 'add track workflows' including the multi-wiggle add track workflow. In the multiwiggle add track workflow, you can paste a list of bigWig file URLs, or open up multiple bigwig files from your computer.
Using the track selector, you can add multiple tracks to your current selection. You can use the '...' dropdown menu to add a single track or a whole category of tracks to your selection. Then, the 'shopping cart' icon in the header of the add track widget let's you create a multi-wiggle track from your selection.
Figure: Using the track selector, you can add multiple tracks to your current selection. You can use the '...' dropdown menu to add a single track or a whole category of tracks to your selection. Then, the 'shopping cart' icon in the header of the add track widget let's you create a multi-wiggle track from your selection.