# sample-classifier support for presence/absence tables

**URL:** <https://forum.qiime2.org/t/sample-classifier-support-for-presence-absence-tables/28618>\
**Category:** User Support\
**Tags:** sample-classifier\
**Created:** [December 15, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/sample-classifier-support-for-presence-absence-tables/28618 "2023-12-15T01:10:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![matt\_rogers](https://forum.qiime2.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@matt\_rogers](https://forum.qiime2.org/u/matt_rogers)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 1:10am UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/sample-classifier-support-for-presence-absence-tables/28618/1 "2023-12-15T01:10:20Z")

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Hi! Sorry if this is a duplicate but I have searched through the forum and can't find an answer to this question:

I have been trying out the qiime2 sample-classifier methods as an alternative to running classifiers with different R packages.

I'm wondering why the methods implemented by this plug-in require FeatureTable[Frequency] artifacts and don't accept presence/absence or relative abundance data?

If I import a presence/absence table as a FeatureTable[Frequency] artifact the methods seem to work fine, but I am worried that I am violating assumptions somewhere in the method and can't be sure.

Thanks for any advice/help!

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**Author:** ![Nicholas\_Bokulich](https://forum.qiime2.org/user_avatar/forum.qiime2.org/nicholas_bokulich/32/19937_2.png) [@Nicholas\_Bokulich](https://forum.qiime2.org/u/Nicholas_Bokulich)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2023, 6:19am UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/sample-classifier-support-for-presence-absence-tables/28618/2 "2023-12-15T06:19:22Z")

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Hi @matt_rogers ,

No you are not breaking any assumptions. This is something that has been on the to-do list to add, but just at low priority so it has not happened yet. It would be an easy fix if you would like to contribute to the [q2-sample-classifier plugin source code](https://github.com/qiime2/q2-sample-classifier) 😉

In the meantime, your workaround should be fine (just don't use that fake frequency table for anything else! Because for most other methods it would break assumptions!)

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**Author:** ![system](https://forum-qiime2-org.s3.dualstack.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/original/3X/2/1/21af5fe23cb6f4579467c66a9ed94e55274ca7bd.svg) [@system](https://forum.qiime2.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2024, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.qiime2.org/t/sample-classifier-support-for-presence-absence-tables/28618/3 "2024-01-15T12:19:26Z")

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