The layout is the name for an FCS Express document. The layout contains and organizes plots, gates, quadrants, markers, statistics, text boxes, graphics, printer settings, export settings and more.

 

In FCS Express, multiple layouts can be open at the same time. Each layout opens in its own window. You can copy/paste and drag and drop objects (plots, data files, gates, etc.) from one layout to another.

 

TIP: While Transformations are running in one layout, a user can work in another layout (either a new layout or an existing layout), if either the latter, or the Startup screen, was already open at the time the transformation was started.

 

The layout organization in FCS Express is similar to that in a Microsoft PowerPoint® presentation. Like a presentation containing a series of slides with text and graphics, each FCS Express layout contains a page or series of pages with text boxes, plots, statistics, and other objects. Similar to a slide in PowerPoint, each page in an FCS Express layout can be modified, saved, printed, or exported. The layout itself can be set up with different background colors or images on each page. In addition, a saved layout can be used as a template for batch processing of selected files, or can be linked to specific data files. When a linked layout file is reopened, the data files and plots used to create it are displayed. This feature is useful in documenting clinical cases by providing an archival record of the analysis, or for recreating any kind of repetitive analysis.

 

Any object inserted into a layout, whether it is a plot, text box, statistics window, or graphic, can be manipulated in many different ways. Again, it is helpful to think of objects on a layout page as if they were objects inserted onto a slide in PowerPoint. Single or multiple objects can be selected, and once selected, the object(s) can be formatted, moved, resized, or aligned with one another.