Saved Subsets

Core Feature

This feature is available in all Portrai Explorer deployments.

Saved Subsets allow you to save, name, and reuse subset configurations. This is useful for complex subsets you use repeatedly or for sharing subset settings across sessions.

What are Saved Subsets?

A saved subset stores:

• All subset conditions (column, lasso, brush, signature)
• Condition groups and their operators
• Subset mode settings

When you load a saved subset, it restores the exact subset configuration you saved.

Saving a Subset

Step 1: Configure Your Subset

First, set up the subset you want to save:

1. Open the Subset Panel
2. Add conditions as needed
3. Configure all settings
4. Verify the subset works as expected

Step 2: Save the Subset

1. Click the Save button in the Subset Panel
2. The subset is saved with an auto-generated name, and inline renaming starts automatically in the saved-subsets list
3. Type a descriptive name for your saved subset
4. Press Enter or click outside to confirm the name

Naming Tips

Use descriptive names that indicate:

• What the subset selects (e.g., "T cells in Region A")
• The purpose (e.g., "QC: High quality cells")
• Key criteria (e.g., "CD8+ high expression")

Loading a Saved Subset

Step 1: Open Saved Subsets List

1. In the Subset Panel, look for Saved Subsets section
2. Click to see available saved subsets

Step 2: Select and Load

1. Click on the saved subset you want to load
2. The subset configuration is restored
3. The subset applies to the current view
4. The saved subset name appears as a badge in the Subset Panel search bar, indicating which saved subset is currently active

Note: Loading a saved subset replaces the current subset configuration.

Managing Saved Subsets

Rename a Saved Subset

Each saved subset displays direct action buttons for quick access:

1. Find the saved subset in the list
2. Click the Rename button (pencil icon) next to the subset name
3. Enter the new name
4. Confirm the change

Delete a Saved Subset

1. Find the saved subset in the list
2. Click the Delete button (trash icon) next to the subset name
3. Confirm deletion

Warning: Deleted saved subsets cannot be recovered.

Update a Saved Subset

Once a saved subset is loaded, its name appears as a badge in the Subset Panel and two buttons are available:

• Save - Overwrites the currently loaded saved subset in place with your latest conditions.
• Save As - Creates a new saved subset (with an auto-generated name and inline rename) from the current conditions, leaving the original untouched.

To update an existing saved subset:

1. Load the saved subset
2. Modify the subset as needed
3. Click Save to overwrite it in place, or Save As to keep the original and store the changes as a new saved subset

Saved Subset Storage

Where Saved Subsets are Stored

Saved subsets are stored in your browser's local storage:

• Saved subsets persist across browser sessions
• Saved subsets are specific to each project
• Clearing browser data will remove saved subsets
• The subset you are working on is not stored until you save it: a page reload clears it, lasso and brush conditions included

Limitations

• Saved subsets are not automatically synced across devices
• Saved subsets do not transfer between browsers
• Large numbers of saved subsets may impact storage
• Every subset of a project shares one storage entry, and a brush region carries its strokes, so a painted subset is far larger than a column one. If the entry no longer fits, saving is refused with a message rather than failing silently; delete a saved subset and try again

Use Cases

Repeated Analysis

Save subsets for populations you analyze frequently:

• "All T cells"
• "Tumor region cells"
• "High quality subset"

Workflow Steps

Create saved subsets for each step in your analysis:

• "Step 1: Remove doublets"
• "Step 2: Filter low quality"
• "Step 3: Focus region"

Comparison Views

Save subsets to quickly switch between views:

• "Region A cells"
• "Region B cells"
• "Control vs Treatment"

Tips for Using Saved Subsets

Organize with Naming Conventions

Use consistent naming:

• Prefix by category: "QC: ...", "Analysis: ...", "Region: ..."
• Include key parameters: "CD8+ > 1.0"
• Add version numbers if iterating: "T cells v2"

Start with Simple Saved Subsets

Build a library of simple, reusable saved subsets:

• Single cell type subsets
• Common quality subsets
• Frequently used regions

Combine with Workflows

Document which saved subsets to use for specific analyses in your notes.

Troubleshooting

Saved Subset Won't Load

• Check if the saved subset uses columns that exist in current data
• Verify lasso and brush conditions reference available projections
• Some saved subsets may not work across different datasets

Saved Subset Lost Some Conditions

• A saved subset is checked as it loads, and any condition that cannot be rebuilt is dropped with a warning naming it. The usual causes are:
  • A signature whose variable set has been deleted
  • A brush region that cannot be read
  • A condition type written by a newer version of Explorer
• The rest of the subset still applies, so review the condition list after loading

Saved Subset List Empty

• Saved subsets may have been cleared with browser data
• Check if you're in the correct project
• Ensure saved subsets were saved successfully

Saved Subset Gives Unexpected Results

• Reload the saved subset to reset configuration
• Check if data has changed since saved subset was created
• Verify all conditions are still valid
• A lasso or brush condition whose projection is not present in the current dataset is ignored instead of failing, so the subset returns more points than it did when it was saved

Related Topics

• Subset - Subset configuration
• Lasso Selection - Creating spatial conditions
• Brush Selection - Painting a region into a condition