Frequently Asked Questions¶
General¶
What is the CDE?
CDE stands for Common Data Elements — the ASAP CRN controlled vocabularies that define valid values for specific metadata columns. The current version is hosted as a Google Sheet.
What is an Enum column?
An Enum (enumeration) column only accepts values from a predefined list. The valid values are listed in row 5 of the template CSV and enforced during Step 5 validation.
Files and uploads¶
Do I need to validate all my tables before uploading?
Yes — run Steps 1–5 for each CSV file separately. The app handles one table at a time.
Why can't I click the sanitized CSV download button?
The .cde_compared.csv download is disabled if your table has any ❌ errors. Fix all errors and re-run the CDE comparison — the button will enable once validation passes cleanly.
My file uses semicolons / tabs instead of commas. What do I do?
The app will detect this in Step 4 and guide you through fixing the delimiter. Alternatively, re-save your file as a proper comma-separated CSV before uploading.
Excel is reformatting my date values — what should I do?
This is a known Excel issue with date-like strings (e.g. 2023-01-01). We recommend filling out your templates using a script (Python, R) or Google Sheets to avoid this. If this is not possible at this time, add a ' to the start of the value, like 'May1, this would keep the value as May1 not transform it to a date.
Validation results¶
What's the difference between an error and a warning?
Errors (❌) must be fixed — the sanitized CSV download will be blocked until they are resolved.
Warnings (⚠️) are recommended fixes but you can proceed without them if you have a valid reason (use the comment box to explain).
A column value is flagged as invalid but I believe it's correct. What do I do?
Use the free-text comment box next to that column to explain your reasoning to ASAP curators. Then download the TABLE_comments.md file and include it with your submission.
Getting help¶
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Email support@dnastack.com or open a GitHub issue. Include a screenshot of the error and, if possible, the log .md file downloaded from the app.