Operations & workflows
Preserving originals in an FCS editing workflow
Keep the acquisition file, describe each operation and distinguish generated values from observations.
The original acquisition file is your reference. An edited working copy should have a separate filename and a record of the changes.
Document the operation
Record the tool and version, affected channels or events, parameters, purpose and output path. Retain any comparison needed to explain the result.
Be explicit about generated data
Adding generated events does not add new experimental acquisition. Synthetic or modified values must be identified and must not be presented as unmodified observations.
Review before saving
Inspect the resulting distributions and preserve the original. File-level editing is not a substitute for validating the scientific analysis or instrument workflow. Read the editing overview and public help.