Experiments in the system are grouped together by projects. While entering a microarray hybridization request, if appropriate, you can create a new project and associate the experiment with it. Then, as you make additional related requests, you can also associate those requests with this new project and all of these related requests will be listed together in GNomEx.

To create a new project while you are entering a microarray hybridization request, do the following:

1. Begin during Step 4 in Submitting a Microarray Hybridization Request. See that topic for instructions that will take you up to the point where you are ready to add the new project.

2. Click on the New Project radio button next to question five on the Experiment setup tab.

The New Project window will open.

3. Enter a name for the new project and an appropriate description.

4. Select the appropriate Experiment Design characteristics and differentiating Factors from the lists on the window.

To select an element under Experiment Design (general intent) or Factors (difference between samples) that applies to your project, simply select the checkbox next to it. To add new elements or edit an existing element, click on the New/Edit… hyperlink beneath the appropriate list.

5. Click on the Save button in the lower right corner of the window.

The Project window will close and the new project will appear as the selected option in the part B of Step 2 on the Submit Microarray Request — Setup window. Unless you change this selected value, this means the new request you are submitting will be associated with the newly created project.

At any time you can click on the Cancel button in the bottom right corner of any of the window's three tabs to close the New Project window without adding a new project to the database. If you do this, any data entered on the New Project window will be lost.

The Add button on the Quality Control tab is grayed out — This button is inactive as long as no project name has been entered in part of A of the Project tab (A. Provide a project name). You cannot add a project without providing a project name since this is required for every project.