# Which files are required and optional when creating a GenomeStudio project?

**Required files for creating a GenomeStudio project:**

* Red and green intensity data (\*.idat) files for each sample; are contained in scan folders with barcode names.
* Manifest file (\*.bpm) containing Bead IDs and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) information for each marker on the array.
  * A commercial BeadChip manifest can be downloaded from the product-specific Illumina Support page under Product Files.
  * A consortium/custom BeadChip manifest can be downloaded from MyIllumina using a custom product file search.
* For methylation projects, the Sentrix Descriptor File (\*.sdf) inside the scan folder is required.

**Optional files for creating a GenomeStudio project:**

* Cluster file (\*.egt) containing expected cluster positions for each marker on the array.
  * A commercial BeadChip cluster file can be downloaded from the product-specific Illumina Support page under Product Files.
  * A consortium/custom BeadChip cluster file is not available on the website and must be generated using GenomeStudio.
* Sample sheet (\*.csv) containing user-specified sample information.
* A sample sheet template can be downloaded from the product-specific Illumina Support page under Support Files.
* For methylation projects, a cluster file is not used.

**Summary Table**

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th valign="top"></th><th valign="top"></th><th valign="top"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td valign="top">File type</td><td valign="top">Genotyping<br>GenomeStudio 2.0</td><td valign="top">Methylation<br>GenomeStudio 2011</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Intensity data files (<strong>*.idat</strong>)</td><td valign="top">Required</td><td valign="top">Required</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Manifest file (<strong>*.bpm</strong>)</td><td valign="top">Required</td><td valign="top">Required</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Cluster file (<strong>*.egt</strong>)</td><td valign="top">Optional</td><td valign="top">Not used</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Sample sheet (<strong>*.csv</strong>)</td><td valign="top">Optional</td><td valign="top">Optional</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Sentrix descriptor file (<strong>*.sdf</strong>)</td><td valign="top">Not used</td><td valign="top">Required</td></tr></tbody></table>

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| *For any feedback or questions regarding this article (Illumina Knowledge Article #2888), contact Illumina Technical Support* [*techsupport@illumina.com*](mailto:techsupport@illumina.com?subject=Question%2FFeedback%20Regarding%20Illumina%20Knowledge%20Article%20#000002888%20-%20Microarray%20\&body=Dear%20Illumina%20Technical%20Support,%0D%0A%0D%0A)*.* |


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