Methods for Creating SAM Datasets and Projects

NOTE: The terms Dataset Definitions and Project Defintions are synonymous, as are the terms Datasets and Project Snapshots. These terms are used interchangeably in this document, and may be used interchangeably in the SAM commands.

A SAM project is a user-defined set of criteria that will be processed to produce a set of files and events. When the group or user feels a project is in the final state of definition, the project becomes an active analysis project and data delivery begins.

There are 3 states to a project.

  1. Project definition
  2. Project snapshot
  3. Project analysis
Project definition is the first draft of what the user may want the project to look like. The user will provide a description of the project in terms of the name, version, description and constraints. The project definition will be returned to the user a list of data files and their attributes that will be involved in the project based at the point in time and criteria provided. Modifying the criteria or rerunning at a later date when different data files maybe available can modify this list. Each time a new set of project files is created, a project snapshot is made.

Project snapshot is the frozen, or point in time view, of a project definition. A snapshot will have an associated set of data files that is static, irrelevant of whether additional data files may become available based on the project's definition.

A project analysis will process a project snapshot. When an analysis begins, the snapshot data is acted upon. The analysis will return project files for consumers registered with the project analysis. A valid person initiates a project analysis on a valid station.

There are various tools to manage the life cycle of a project. You may use any of these tools to perform the same functions. For details on the use of the tools, follow the links provided below.