The CellTracksColab format

Understanding Data Storage in CellTracksColab format

When tracking data is loaded into CellTracksColab, it is automatically compiled into the CellTracksColab format, which constitutes the core for most analyses in the notebook. The CellTracksColab format entails two data frames merged_tracks_df and merged_spots_df. These data frames ensure a standardized structure, facilitating consistent data access and manipulation throughout the platform.

Compiling the tracking data into CellTracksColab format removes all tracks that have less than two spots (=one spot only), and tracks that miss a unique identifier, the TrackID.

a. The merged_tracks_df DataFrame

• TRACK_ID: Unique identifier for each track (in each loaded file).
• File_name_raw: Source file name for the track data.
• Condition: Denotes the experimental condition.
• experiment_nb: Represents the experiment or repeat number.
• Repeat: A generated identifier for each condition's repeat.
• File_name: Unique file identifier formed by combining Condition + Repeat + File_name_raw.
• Unique_ID: The unique Track identifier formed by combining File_name and TRACK_ID.

b. The merged_spots_df DataFrame

• POSITION_X, POSITION_Y, POSITION_Z: Spatial coordinates of the tracked object.
• POSITION_T: The time or frame of the spot capture.
• TRACK_ID: Links the spot to its parent track (in each loaded file).
• File_name_raw: Source file name for the spot data.
• Condition: Denotes the experimental condition.
• experiment_nb: Represents the experiment or repeat number.
• Repeat: A generated identifier for each condition's repeat.
• File_name: Unique file identifier formed by combining Condition + Repeat + File_name_raw.
• Unique_ID: A unique identifier formed by combining File_name and TRACK_ID.