Getting Started

Introduction

Using EPE predominantly involves using 2 views - the Map Repositiory View and the Editor View. When you first run EPE you should see the following screen appear:

The screen consists of views and editors.
The Map Repository View contains a preinstalled datasource with many example pathways to explore. You can explore the database by expanding the datasource:

Double click on a map and it will open in the editor window:

As well as the default views that open with EPE you can access other views as well. Other views can be accessed from :
Window->Show View ->Other, for example

To save any changes you make in a map you click
File->Save
Changes are saved internally in the datasource.

To export a datasource, for example to share, click File->Export. More information is provided here.

Datasource contents

The datasource supplied with the EPE distribution contains example maps for several different notations, such as STKE, Kegg, Edinburgh Pathway Notation and Kitano, as well as EPE's own EMP notation for metabolic pathways.

Browsing the repository should give you ideas and templates for how to go about drawing your own maps. If you have the Properties view enabled and right-clicking on a folder name you can see the number of maps inside. To access the properties view
Window->Show View->Other->Properties.