Making Heatmaps

Load the data

The data can be prepared in csv or text file to load the data in to R. For example, to load list.csv:

heatmapname <- read.csv (“list.csv”)

The "file directory" can be easily found by dragging the file to the active window of R, then it will be shown with an error report. Ignore the error, but copy and paste the file directory.

Name the rows

You can then name the rows of the heatmap like so:

row.names(heatmapname) <- data$Name

To exclude the first column from the heat map, use a command of similar form to the following:

heatmapname <- heatmapname [,2: n]

In the above command, n is the number of columns to be included in the heat map.

Another simpler way is to combine this step with the file importation by adding two command after the import:

row.names=1, header=TRUE

Build a data matrix

Use the following command to build a data matrix for making the heat map:

heatmapname_matrix <- data.matrix (heatmapname)

Plot the heat map

Note: Gnuplot package must be installed in R before heat maps may be displayed! Run the following command to load in the gplots library.

library("gplots")

To make heat map, run the following command:

heatmap.2 (heatmapname_matrix, dendrogram="row", col= redgreen (75), scale="none",
key = TRUE, keysize = 1.0, margins = c(4,30),
density.info="none", trace="none")

Note: To rescale the color key, add break function to the heatmap.2.

breaks=c(seq(-1,0.8,length=10),seq(0.8,1.2,length=10),seq(1.2,3,length=10),

This will define the color range:

"red=[-1,0.8]

black=[0.8,1.2]

green=[1.2,3]"

Run from text file

Note: It is also possible to write all the steps in txt file as a single script.

Open the script

• In the file menu click open script
  • Choose the proper directory and script file name
  • The script file will be opened in the R Editor window
  • If necessary changes can be made on the R Editor window

Run the script

• Click Run all or Run line or selection form the Edit menu