Entry Sets

Often, researchers are only interested in a subset of the database and not the whole database. Of course, one could create a private database containing only the patterns or blocks of interest. But MacPattern offers a concept that is more convenient for this purpose: entry sets. Entry sets can be used with both pattern and block databases.

MacPattern allows you to create eight different entry sets. The settings are stored within the database index file.

If you use the indexing software for the first time on a pattern database it will, by default, create three different pattern sets. As from Release 8.0, PROSITE contains a CC line qualifier of the form /SKIP-FLAG=TRUE which identifies rather “unspecific” patterns; for more details see the PROSITE User Manual. MacPattern acknowledges this qualifier, and it will create one entry set called “Main Set”, in which all entries without this flag are selected, one set called “Skipped”, in which all entries with /SKIP-FLAG=TRUE are selected, and one set called “All Patterns”, in which all entries are selected.

For block databases MacPattern creates only one default set called “All Blocks”.

The currently active entry set is indicated in the small bar at the bottom of a database browser window.

Selecting an Entry Set

You can change the currently active set in two ways:

1) Use the menu command Select Set available from the Edit menu.

2) Hold down the mouse-button on the entry set bar in the browser window. A pop-up 
    menu will appear and show you the list of available entry sets.

Renaming an Entry Set

You can easily rename the currently active entry set:

Simply select the menu command Rename Set from the Edit menu and enter the new set name. Changes will only be stored permanently to disk if you use the Save Preferences menu command afterwards.

Modifying an Entry Set

Modifying an entry set is straightforward: just select or deselect any patterns or blocks from the list. Changes are only temporary for the current session. If you want to make them permanent, use the Save command from the File menu.

Save will store information about selected and deselected entries for each set, the names of the sets, and the name of the currently active set to disk (into the .inx file). So next time when you restart MacPattern you will get back to where you left.

(Technical information: The pattern set information is stored in a resource of type 'PSET').