Highlighting Feature Enhanced for Genome Browsers

[Cath Tyner]

In March of 2014, a new highlight feature was released, allowing an option to drag-and-select a single

​vertical ​

highlight color in genome browsers. This highlighting feature has been enhanced with new additions, as displayed on the enhanced "Drag-and-select" menu that appears when conducting "shift+drag" or "click-drag" within the genome browser (for example, when zooming into a region).

​ Among other features, it's now possible to add

multiple vertical highlights in custom regions, set to various

​custom ​

colors

​ that can be selected with a color picker. ​

Main features in drag-and-select menu:

• Use shift+drag or click-drag to enable the new "Drag-and-select" dialog box menu.
  
• In the menu, a checkbox controls behavior for drag-and select; you can hide the menu and always zoom with shift+select. If selected, re-enable via 'View - Configure Browser' (keyboard shortcut: c then f).
  
• Hold Shift+drag to show the menu (or single mouse-click + press, hold, and drag to new region).
  
• Hold Alt+drag to add a highlight (without displaying the menu).
  
• Hold Ctrl+drag (Windows) or Cmd+drag (Mac) to zoom (without displaying the menu).
  
• We've added a "color picker" for easy color selection of each highlight; you can also create multiple highlights (each with various colors if desired).
  
• To cancel, press Esc anytime or drag mouse outside image.
  
• Highlight the current position with the keyboard shortcut "h then m."
  
• Clear all highlights with View - Clear Highlights (or keyboard shortcut "h then c"), or simply right-click on a highlight to remove all highlights.

In the genome browser, there are also options for right-clicking:

• Remove highlighting
  
• Zoom in to a highlighted region
  
• Highlight a gene - right-click on the gene (e.g., SOD1) and select "Highlight SOD1"

Resources:

News article for feature release

Highlighting documentation​

View a screenshot of enhanced highlighting in the hg38 browser ​

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​Enjoy,​

Cath
. . .

Cath Tyner

UCSC Genome Browser, Software QA & User Support

UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute

UCSC Genome Browser