Excel Process Validator

The purpose of the Excel Process Validator (EPV) software is to automatically check calibration and process control data stored in an Excel spreadsheet.

The software is generalized so that it can potentially read many different types of spreadsheets, but has mainly been set up for plate reader data calibrated with the iGEM fluorescence and OD protocols.

An introductory tutorial on plate reader fluorescence and OD measurement, calibration, and data interpretation can be found in the iGEM Fluorescence Tutorials.

Planned stages of automated processing:

1. Invoke with a URL and an email address
2. Retrieve spreadsheet from URL
3. Pull data from spreadseet, checking against template
4. Check results
5. Email results

Currently, however, it can be invoked only be hand.

Installation

• Dependencies:

  • If you are using Octave, EPV depends on the io package (recommended version 2.4.10)

    • This can typically be installed with octave --no-gui --quiet --eval "pkg install -forge io"

• Installation on Apple OSX or GNU/Linux using the shell:

  git clone https://github.com/TASBE/Excel_Process_Validator.git
  cd Excel_Process_Validator
  make install

  This will add the Excel_Process_Validator directory to the Matlab and/or GNU Octave searchpath. If both Matlab and GNU Octave are available on your machine, it will install Excel_Process_Validator for both.

• Installation on Windows (or manual installation on Mac/Linux):

  • Download the package from GitHub

  • Start Matlab or Octave

  • Go to the Excel_Process_Validator directory

  • Run the installation command by hand:

    epv_set_path(); savepath();
    

• Optional: If you want to run the test files, install MOxUnit.