Workflow Result Metadata tables

A Workflow Result Metadata table can be output as a record of the outputs generated by the workflow. There is a row describing each output, and each data element generated has an association to the relevant metadata table row.

Creating a Workflow Result Metadata table is enabled by default, as shown in figure 12.43.

Image metadata_save_workflow_result_metadata
Figure 12.43: The final step when launching a workflow includes an option to create a workflow result metdata table. This is enabled by default.

See Finding data elements based on metadata for information on finding and working with data associated with metadata rows.

Workflow Result Metadata tables from batch runs

Workflow Result Metadata tables can be useful when finding results of workflows run in Batch mode due to the large number of outputs that can be produced.

A single table is generated per batch run, containing information about all the results12.3.

A Batch identifier column is included for any outputs that were generated as part of a batch run. This includes outputs from workflows run in Batch mode, and also outputs from steps in an iteration loop, i.e. downstream of an Iterate control flow element (figure 12.44).

Where batch units are defined using metadata, the Workflow Result Metadata table includes original metadata information, where possible.

See Running workflows in batch mode for more information on launching workflows in batch mode.

See Control flow elements for details about control flow elements and Batching part of a workflow for more information on launching workflows containing control flow elements.

Image workflowresultmetadatatable
Figure 12.44: The Workflow Result Metadata table, top left, was generated from a run of the workflow on the right. Here, 4 RNA-Seq Anaylysis runs occurred within the iteration loop (between the Iterate and the Collect and Distribute elements). Those results were then supplied to Differential Expression in Two Groups, which was run once. There are thus 5 rows in the Workflow Metadata Result table. The RNA-Seq Analysis results each have a batch identifier, while the statistical comparison output does not.



Footnotes

... results12.3
There is one exception to this. Where batch units have been defined by the organization of the input data and the outputs are to be saved in the same folders as the inputs, one workflow result metadata table is generated per analysis.