Provided by: circos_0.69-1_all 
NAME
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round is good
circos - generate circularly composited information graphics
SYNOPSIS
# guess location of configuration file
circos
# use specific configuration file
circos -conf circos.conf [-silent]
# diagnose required modules
circos -modules
# man page
circos -man
# detailed debugging for code components
# see http://www.circos.ca/documentation/tutorials/configuration/debugging
circos -debug_group GROUP1,[GROUP2,...]
# full debugging
circos -debug_group _all
# configuration dump of a block (or block tree) of
# any parameters that match REGEXP (optional)
circos -cdump [BLOCK1/[BLOCK2/...]]{:REGEXP}
# overriding configuration parameters
circos -param image/radius=2000p -param ideogram/show=no
# for fun - randomize all colors in the image except for
# COLOR1 and COLOR2
circos -randomcolor COLOR1,[COLOR2,...]
DESCRIPTION
Circos is for visualizing data in a circular layout, ideal for exploring relationships between objects or
positions. There are other reasons why a circular layout is advantageous, not the least being the fact
that it is attractive.
Circos is not a solution. It's a tool to solve visualization problems. For a given problem, you are not
guaranteed that it's appropriate.
You have fine control over how each data element is displayed, helping you to match salience to
pertinence.
CONFIGURATION
Settings are meant to be passed using a plain-text configuration file. This file can be created manually
or by another script, which allows Circos to be fully automated.
For full documentation, see
L<http://www.circos.ca/documentation/tutorials>
Syntax
Configuration is plain-text and composed of hierarchical blocks. Some blocks, such as "<ideogram"> are
mandatory, while others like "<backgrounds"> are optional.
To get started, refer to the quick guide tutorial.
L<http://www.circos.ca/documentation/tutorials/quick_guide>
A typical configuration file might look like this
# image size and format
<image>
...
</image>
# position and size of ideograms
<ideogram>
...
</ideogram>
# position, type and format of data tracks
<plots>
<plot>
...
</plot>
...
</plots>
# colors, fonts and fill patterns
<<include etc/colors_fonts_patterns.conf>>
# system parameters
<<include etc/housekeeping.conf>>
Modularity
The "<<include FILE">> directive imports one configuration file into another. This facility helps to keep
configuration files modular.
Parameter definitions that do not frequently change, such as color and font definitions, are
conventionally imported from files found in etc/ in the distribution.
In the tutorials, you'll find that the "<ideogram"> and "<ticks"> blocks are imported into the main
configuration file. Because these blocks can get quite large, the main configuration file is more legible
if they are relegated to separate files.
Overriding with *
To override a parameter that has been included from a file, use the "*" suffix. The suffix is required
because multiple definitions of a parameter are not allowed, except in cases where a parameter is may
have more than one value.
<image>
# included file defines 'radius'
<<include etc/image.conf>>
# this will override the radius value
radius* = 2500p
</image>
The "*" suffix can be repeated to specify which value takes precedence in a block.
radius = 1500p
radius* = 2500p
radius** = 3000p # this instance of radius will be used
Overriding with Command Line
Any configuration parameter in a unique block name can be specified on the command line using
-param PATH/PARAM=value
For example,
<ideogram>
show = no
...
</ideogram>
-param ideogram/show=no
and
<ideogram>
<spacing>
default = 0.01r
</spacing>
...
</ideogram>
-param ideogram/spacing/default=0.01r
When conf() is used in the configuration file to retrieve the value of a parmameter (any parameter, not
just those set by -param), you get a flexible system for changing the configuration at the command line.
species = human
karytotype = data/karyotype/karyotype.conf(species).txt
-param species=rat
Multiple parameters can be redefined, each with its own "-param" flag
-param show_ticks=no -param image/radius=2000p
Merging Blocks
Multiple instances of the following blocks are automatically merged: "<ideogram">, "<colors">, "<fonts">,
"<paterns">, "<image">, "<links">, "<plots"> and "<highlights">.
The purpose of this is to allow you to add to canonical definitions.
# this file defines default <colors>, <fonts> and <patterns>
<<include etc/colors_fonts_patterns.conf>>
# add to the colors block
<colors>
mycolor = 150,25,25
</colors>
OPTIONS
Configuration
-configfile FILE
Name of configuration file. This is required.
Circos will attempt to guess the location of this file, searching for "circos.conf" in ".", "..", and
"../..".
Output Format
-png, -nopng
-svg, -nosvg
Toggles output of PNG and SVG files.
Image Elements
-show_ticks, -noshow_ticks
-show_tick_labels, -noshow_tick_labels
Override the display of ticks and their labels. These are both usually defined in the <ticks> block.
Output Paths
-outputdir DIR, -dir DIR
-outputfile FILE, -file FILE
Change the output directory and filename. The FILE can contain a path.
Debugging
-debug
Turn on basic debugging output. Reports information from
image, io, layer, summary, timer
debug groups (see below).
-debug_group {+-}GROUP1,[{+-}GROUP2,...]
Turn on debugging output for specific groups. For a list of groups, see
L<http://www.circos.ca/documentation/tutorials/configuration/debugging>
To add a group to the output prefix it with +. To remove it, with -.
# use default debugging groups but exclude layer and io
-debug -debug_group -layer,-io
# use default debugging groups and add spacing
-debug -debug_group +spacing
# explicitly specify the groups
-debug_group png,io,timer
To list the groups that are supported, use the flag without an argument
-debug_group
-time
Report timing information. Same as -debug_group +timer
-silent
Generate no reporting.
-paranoid, -noparanoid
Run in paranoid mode (default), or not. The default for this setting is defined by 'paranoid' in
etc/housekeeping.conf.
-warnings, -nowarnings
Display warnings, or not (default). The default for this setting is defined by 'warnings' in
etc/housekeeping.conf.
-fakeerror =item -fakeerror CAT =item -fakeerror ,ID =item -fakeerror CAT,ID
Fake an error by displaying the error message for category CAT and error name ID. If one or neither
are specified, lists which errors are available.
Unless you truly enjoy seeing error messages, there should be little reason for you to want to use
this.
Usage
-version
Show the version.
-help
Show brief usage synopsis.
-man
Show man page.
Goofing Around
-randomcolor [color1,color2,...]
Randomize the color of every element in the image, except for an optional list of colors.
For example, to keep the background white and anything that is black,
-randomcolor white,black
AUTHOR
Martin Krzywinski martink@bcgsc.ca <http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca>
RESOURCES
<http://www.circos.ca>
CITING
If you are using Circos in a publication, please cite as
Krzywinski, M., J. Schein, I. Birol, J. Connors, R. Gascoyne, D. Horsman, S. Jones, and M. Marra. 2009.
Circos: an Information Aesthetic for Comparative Genomics. Genome Res 19:1639-1645.
CONTRIBUTORS
Ken Youens-Clark kyclark@gmail.com
SEE ALSO
Hive plots <http://www.hiveplot.com>
COPYRIGHT & LICENSE
Copyright 2004-2015 Martin Krzywinski, all rights reserved.
This file is part of the Genome Sciences Centre Perl code base.
This script is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General
Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your
option) any later version.
This script is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the
implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public
License for more details.
You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with this script; if not, write
to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA