Entering data into Ontology Fields

Note:  by default, autocompletion search settings will include Term names as well as synonyms.  If you would like to change these settings, read the Changing your Autocompletion Settings help page.

Step 1:  (optional) select an ontology

By default, the autocompletion feature will search on ALL ontologies specified for the field.  You can change this, and choose a specific ontology by selecting one from the drop-down list (the list is displayed when the small upside-down triangle is clicked):

 

Step 2:  begin typing...

As you start typing in an ontology field, a list of partial matches will show in a scrollable box below.  In this example, the phrase prot has several matches. 

Matches are listed in the following order within the box:

If you have selected to search in ALL ontologies, then the matches are listed in this order, in the order of the ontologies.  For example, you will find a matches to "kidney" in FMA before you will find them in GO.

 

Step 3: scroll down to find your matching term

You can navigate through these matches with the scrollbar on the right side of the box.  The more letters typed increases the specificity of the matches displayed. 

As you scroll down the list, either with arrow keys or the mouse, information about the term will be displayed in the Term Info window, which may help in your decision whether or not the term is appropriate for the current annotation.  In this example I have moused-over the term proteasomal ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process.  The term info window shows:

FAQ: what if i want a more specific term related to this?

FAQ: what if i can't find the term name i'm looking for?

 

Step 4: select the term to insert into the spreadsheet

Once you have found the correct term to use for your annotation, select it by clicking the left mouse button.  Selecting a term will trigger the drop-down box of matches to disappear, and your selected term to be displayed in the appropriate field in the spreadsheet:

Note:  if you do not click the mouse button on a term from the drop-down list, then your term will not be selected.  currently, even if you type the exact term name it will not be chosen before moving to the next field.

If, once you have selected a term, you want to change it, simply select another term from the same search or delete the current text and start typing something new.