Katalyst: Importing plate layouts from CSV/Excel into Katalyst fails or misplaces wells

Description

• Users import plate layouts (materials, well positions) from CSV/Excel files.
• After import:
  • Errors occur, or
  • Wells are populated incorrectly (e.g., shifted rows/columns, wrong wells).
• The CSV/Excel format may not exactly match Katalyst’s required structure.

Solution

• Check required file structure:
  • Review Katalyst documentation for plate import format:
    • Required columns (e.g., Well, Row, Column, Material ID, Amount).
    • Expected header names and ordering.
    • Allowed delimiters and encoding.
• Validate source file:
  • Ensure:
    • No extra header rows or footers.
    • Well naming matches Katalyst expectations (e.g., “A1”, “B01”, “1A” – whichever is supported).
    • There are no merged cells or hidden characters.
• Test with a simple subset:
  • Create a small CSV/Excel file with a few wells and known materials.
  • Import and confirm correct mapping, then scale up.
• Once confirmed:
  • Standardize a plate import template for your organization and use it for all imports.