One of the first data sets you encounter as you begin to use JMP Genomics is the experimental design file (EDF) . The EDF provides JMP Genomics with important information about how an experiment is carried out. It defines experimental variables such as treatment conditions and covariates and provides the basis for organizing and analyzing your data.An EDF is required by many of the input engines for the construction of a SAS data set from the raw data files. In fact, the name and location of the EDF is frequently the first parameter that must be defined. An EDF also serves as a precursor to another file known as the Experimental Design Data Set (EDDS) that is typically required for analysis of tall SAS data sets.An additional advantage to using an EDF is that you can have all of the experimental variables collected in one table that can be reused or modified as needed. An EDF is an excellent way to consolidate, store, and share the critical factors in an experiment, rather than trying to attach them to the raw data later one-by-one or adding them into the names of the raw data files. Since an EDF can be used to record corresponding experimental factors of your genomics experiment, you might want to construct one during the initial planning of your experiments.