Merges several files. Multiple output format supported, depending on input format.

pot. predecessor tools	$\longrightarrow$ FileMerger $\longrightarrow$	pot. successor tools
any tool/instrument producing merge able files	$\longrightarrow$ FileMerger $\longrightarrow$	any tool operating merged files (e.g. XTandemAdapter)

The meta information that is valid for the whole experiment (e.g. MS instrument and sample) is taken from the first file.

The retention times for the individual scans are taken from either:

the input file meta data (e.g. mzML)
from the input file names (name must contain 'rt' directly followed by a number, e.g. 'myscan_rt3892.98_MS2.dta')
as a list (one RT for each file)
or are auto-generated (starting at 1 with 1 second increment).

The command line parameters of this tool are:

FileMerger -- Merges several MS files into one file.
Version: 2.4.0 Oct 29 2018, 15:52:19, Revision: 9690d06
To cite OpenMS:
  Rost HL, Sachsenberg T, Aiche S, Bielow C et al.. OpenMS: a flexible open-source software platform for mass spectrometry data analysis. Nat Meth. 2016; 13, 9: 741-748. doi:10.1038/nmeth.3959.

Usage:
  FileMerger <options>

Options (mandatory options marked with '*'):
  -in <files>*                  Input files separated by blank (valid formats: 'mzData', 'mzXML', 'mzML', 
                                'dta', 'dta2d', 'mgf', 'featureXML', 'consensusXML', 'fid', 'traML', 'FASTA')
  -in_type <type>               Input file type (default: determined from file extension or content) (valid: 
                                'mzData', 'mzXML', 'mzML', 'dta', 'dta2d', 'mgf', 'featureXML', 'consensusXML
                                ', 'fid', 'traML', 'FASTA')
  -out <file>*                  Output file (valid formats: 'mzML', 'featureXML', 'consensusXML', 'traML')
  -annotate_file_origin         Store the original filename in each feature using meta value "file_origin" 
                                (for featureXML and consensusXML only).

Options for concatenating files in the retention time (RT) dimension. The RT ranges of inputs are adjusted 
so they don't overlap in the merged file (traML input not supported):
  -rt_concat:gap <sec>          The amount of gap (in seconds) to insert between the RT ranges of different 
                                input files. RT concatenation is enabled if a value > 0 is set. (default:
                                '0')
  -rt_concat:trafo_out <files>  Output of retention time transformations that were applied to the input files
                                to produce non-overlapping RT ranges. If used, one output file per input
                                file is required. (valid formats: 'trafoXML')

Options for raw data input/output (primarily for DTA files):
  -raw:rt_auto                  Assign retention times automatically (integers starting at 1)
  -raw:rt_custom <rts>          List of custom retention times that are assigned to the files. The number of 
                                given retention times must be equal to the number of input files.
  -raw:rt_filename              Try to guess the retention time of a file based on the filename. This option 
                                is useful for merging DTA files, where filenames should contain the string
                                'rt' directly followed by a floating point number, e.g. 'my_spectrum_rt2795.1
                                5.dta'
  -raw:ms_level <num>           If 1 or higher, this number is assigned to spectra as the MS level. This opti
                                on is useful for DTA files which do not contain MS level information. (defaul
                                t: '0')

                                
Common TOPP options:
  -ini <file>                   Use the given TOPP INI file
  -threads <n>                  Sets the number of threads allowed to be used by the TOPP tool (default: '1')
  -write_ini <file>             Writes the default configuration file
  --help                        Shows options
  --helphelp                    Shows all options (including advanced)

INI file documentation of this tool:

Legend:

required parameter

advanced parameter

+FileMergerMerges several MS files into one file.

version2.4.0 Version of the tool that generated this parameters file.

++1Instance '1' section for 'FileMerger'

in[] Input files separated by blankinput file*.mzData,*.mzXML,*.mzML,*.dta,*.dta2d,*.mgf,*.featureXML,*.consensusXML,*.fid,*.traML,*.FASTA

in_type Input file type (default: determined from file extension or content)mzData,mzXML,mzML,dta,dta2d,mgf,featureXML,consensusXML,fid,traML,FASTA

out Output fileoutput file*.mzML,*.featureXML,*.consensusXML,*.traML

annotate_file_originfalse Store the original filename in each feature using meta value "file_origin" (for featureXML and consensusXML only).true,false

log Name of log file (created only when specified)

debug0 Sets the debug level

threads1 Sets the number of threads allowed to be used by the TOPP tool

no_progressfalse Disables progress logging to command linetrue,false

forcefalse Overwrite tool specific checks.true,false

testfalse Enables the test mode (needed for internal use only)true,false

+++rt_concatOptions for concatenating files in the retention time (RT) dimension. The RT ranges of inputs are adjusted so they don't overlap in the merged file (traML input not supported)

gap0 The amount of gap (in seconds) to insert between the RT ranges of different input files. RT concatenation is enabled if a value > 0 is set.

trafo_out[] Output of retention time transformations that were applied to the input files to produce non-overlapping RT ranges. If used, one output file per input file is required.output file*.trafoXML

+++rawOptions for raw data input/output (primarily for DTA files)

rt_autofalse Assign retention times automatically (integers starting at 1)true,false

rt_custom[] List of custom retention times that are assigned to the files. The number of given retention times must be equal to the number of input files.

rt_filenamefalse Try to guess the retention time of a file based on the filename. This option is useful for merging DTA files, where filenames should contain the string 'rt' directly followed by a floating point number, e.g. 'my_spectrum_rt2795.15.dta'true,false

ms_level0 If 1 or higher, this number is assigned to spectra as the MS level. This option is useful for DTA files which do not contain MS level information.