LibStatGen: FASTQ

How to Use the fastQFile Library

• Library Name: libfqf.a
• Include Files: FastQFile.h, StringBasics.h (for String parameter)
• Class Name: FastQFile
  • Constructor Parameters:
    • int minReadLength - The minimum length that a base sequence must be for it to be valid.
    • int maxReportedErrors - The maximum number of errors that should be reported in detail before suppressing the errors.
• Open a FastQ File: openFile
  • Parameters:
    • String filename - fastq file to be opened.
    • BaseAsciiMap::SPACE_TYPE spaceType:
      • BASE_SPACE - Bases only (A,C,G,T,N)
      • COLOR_SPACE - Color space only (0,1,2,3,.)
      • UNKNOWN - Base Decision on the first Raw Sequence Character (Default).
  • Return Value
    • FastQStatus: FASTQ_SUCCESS if successfully opened, FASTQ_FAILURE if not.
• Close a FastQ File: closeFile
  • Parameters: NONE
  • Return Value
    • bool: FastQStatus - FASTQ_SUCCESS if successfully closed, FASTQ_FAILURE if not.
• Determine if a FastQ File is open Method: isOpen
  • Parameters: NONE
  • Return Value
    • bool: true if a file is open, false if not.
• Validate an entire FastQ File: validateFastQFile
  • Parameters:
    • String filename - fastq file to be validated.
    • BaseAsciiMap::SPACE_TYPE spaceType:
      • BASE_SPACE - Bases only;
      • COLOR_SPACE - Color space only;
      • UNKNOWN - Base Decision on the first Raw Sequence Character (Default).
  • Return Value
    • bool: true if there were no errors in the file, false otherwise.
  • Notes:
    • Invalid information is printed to cout until maxReportedErrors is hit.
• Read a FastQ Sequence From the File: readFastQSequence
  • Parameters: NONE
  • Return Value
    • int: FASTQ_SUCCESS if successfully read and valid, FASTQ_FAILURE if not successfully read, FASTQ_INVALID if the sequence was invalid.
  • Notes:
    • Invalid information is printed to cout until maxReportedErrors is hit.
• Get the Space Type for the File: getSpaceType
  • Parameters: NONE
  • Return Value
    • BaseAsciiMap::SPACETYPE:
      • COLOR_SPACE if the file is color space (0,1,2,3,.)
      • BASE_SPACE if the file is base space (A,C,G,T,N)
      • UNKNOWN if it has yet to be determined.
• Access last read Sequence Lines
  • Public String Variables to avoid having to copy the strings:
    • mySequenceIdLine
    • mySequenceIdentifier
    • myRawSequence
    • myPlusLine
    • myQualityString

Validation Criteria Used for Reporting Errors as a Sequence is Read

Sequence Identifier Line

Validation Criteria	Error Message
Line is at least 2 characters long ('@' and at least 1 for the sequence identifier)	ERROR on Line <current line #>: The sequence identifier line was too short.
Line starts with an '@'	ERROR on Line <current line #>: First line of a sequence does not begin wtih @
Line does not contain a space between the '@' and the first sequence identifier (which must be at least 1 character).	ERROR on Line <current line #>: No Sequence Identifier specified before the comment.
Every entry in the file should have a unique identifier.	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Repeated Sequence Identifier: <identifier> at Lines <previous line #> <current line #>

Raw Sequence Line

Validation Criteria	Error Message
A base sequence should have non-zero length.	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Raw Sequence is shorter than the min read length: 0 < <config min read length>
All characters in the base sequence must be in the allowable set specified via configuration. Base Only: A C T G N a c t g n Color Space Only: 0 1 2 3 .(period)	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Invalid character ('<invalid char>') in base sequence.
Reads should be of a configurable minimum length since many mappers will get into trouble with very short reads. If the raw sequence spans lines, the sum of the lengths of all lines are validated, not each individual line.	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Raw Sequence is shorter than the min read length: <read length> < <config min read length>
Each Line of a Raw Sequence should have at least 1 character (not be blank).	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Looking for continuation of Raw Sequence or '+' instead found a blank line, assuming it was part of Raw Sequence.

Plus Line

Validation Criteria	Error Message
Must exist for every sequence.	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Reached the end of the file without a '+' line.
If the optional sequence identifier is specified, it must equal the one on the Sequence Identifier Line.	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Sequence Identifier on '+' line does not equal the one on the '@' line.

Quality String Line

Validation Criteria	Error Message
A quality string should be present for every base sequence.	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Quality string length (<quality length>) does not equal raw sequence length (<raw sequence length>)
Paired quality and base sequences should be of the same length.	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Quality string length (<quality length>) does not equal raw sequence length (<raw sequence length>)
Valid quality values should all have ASCII codes > 32.	ERROR on Line <current line #>: Invalid character ('<invalid char>') in quality string.

Reading Sequence Assumptions

• The Sequence Identifier is separated by an optional comment by a " ".
• No validation is required on the optional comment field of the Sequence Identifier Line.
• The Sequence Identifier and the '+' Lines cannot wrap lines. The are each completely contained on one line.
• Raw Sequences and Quality Strings may wrap lines
• All lines are part of the Raw Sequence Line until a line that starts with a '+' is discovered.
• All lines are considered part of the quality string until at least the length of the associated raw sequence is hit (or the end of the file is reached). This is due to the fact that '@' is a valid quality character, so does not necessarily indicate the start of a Sequence Identifier Line.

Additional Features

• Consumes gzipped and uncompressed text files transparently.
• Prints error messages for errors up to the configurable maximum number of reportable errors.

Additional Wishlist - Not Implemented

• Add an option that would reject raw sequence and quality strings that wrap over multiple lines. It would only allow 1 line per raw sequence/quality string.
• Maybe report 2 types of information to the user: ERROR (critical failure) and WARNING (tolerable errors).