FCS (.fcs, .lmd)

Import supports most popular variants of the FCS file format, including Versions 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1 with events stored as 8-, 16-, 24-, 32-, 64-, and 128-bit integers or 32- and 64-bit reals.
Export generates FCS3.1 files.

Background & Context

- FCS molecular biology format.
- Standard format for storing and exchanging flow cytometry data.
- Mixed ASCII/binary format.
- Stores signal intensities for cell events as an array.
- Metainformation about the data acquisition is stored in the file.

Import["file.fcs"] returns an array representing the cellular events stored in the file.
Export["file.fcs",{paramnames,events}] exports a list of parameter names and an array of events to the FCS format.
Export["file.fcs",{paramnames,paramreagents,events}] exports a list of parameter names, a list of parameter reagents, and an array of events to the FCS format.
Import["file.fcs",elem] imports the specified element from an FCS file.
Import["file.fcs",{{elem₁,elem₂,…}}] imports multiple elements.
The import format can be specified with Import["file","FCS"] or Import["file",{"FCS",elem,…}].
Export["file.fcs",{expr₁,expr₂,…},{{elem₁,elem₂,…}}] treats each expr_i as specifying the corresponding elem_i.
Export["file.fcs",expr,opt₁->val₁,…] exports expr with the specified option elements taken to have the specified values.
Export["file.fcs",{elem₁->expr₁,elem₂->expr₂,…},"Rules"] uses rules to specify the elements to be exported.
See the following reference pages for full general information:

	Import, Export	import from or export to a file
	CloudImport, CloudExport	import from or export to a cloud object
	ImportString, ExportString	import from or export to a string
	ImportByteArray, ExportByteArray	import from or export to a byte array

General Import elements:
"Elements" list of elements and options available in this file

"Summary" summary of the file

"Rules" list of rules for all available elements
File metadata:
"Header" raw file header given as a list of rules
Data representation elements:

	"Events"	cellular events as an array
	"ParameterName"	parameter names as a list of rules (import) or a list (export)
	"ParameterReagent"	parameter reagents as a list of rules (import) or a list (export)

Additional data elements:
"Data" cellular events as an array

"LabeledData" list of rules for data stored in the file
Import uses the "Events" element by default for the FCS format.
Export requires at least a list of parameter names and an array of events.
Export can optionally take a list of parameter reagents. All other optional keys must be specified via the "OptionalKeys" option.

Advanced Export options:
"DataType" Automatic data type used to encode events

"OptionalKeys" {} optional keys to include in the header, as a list of rules
The Wolfram Language attempts to identify the most compact format in which the events can be encoded. Automatic data type identification may be overridden via the "DataType" option.
Valid settings for "DataType" are:

	"UnsignedInteger8"	8-bit unsigned integer
	"UnsignedInteger16"	16-bit unsigned integer
	"UnsignedInteger24"	24-bit unsigned integer
	"UnsignedInteger32"	32-bit unsigned integer
	"Real32"	IEEE single-precision real number
	"Real64"	IEEE double-precision real number

The Wolfram Language will automatically overwrite certain protected keys (such as "$BEGINDATA" and "$BYTEORD") that are specified in "OptionalKeys". Thus, if you are re-exporting an imported FCS file, you may directly set "OptionalKeys" to the value of the "Header" element from the imported FCS file. Parameter reagents ("$PnS" keys) will be removed from "OptionalKeys" only if parameter reagents are provided in the main Export expression.