# FAQ: Create a Qiime2 qza artifact from a Galaxy collection in ONE STEP!

**URL:** <https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/faq-create-a-qiime2-qza-artifact-from-a-galaxy-collection-in-one-step/17506>\
**Category:** Resources\
**Tags:** gtn-tutorial, collections, resources, tool-help, qiime2, qiime2\_core\_\_tools\_\_import, collection-shape, qiime2\_core\_\_tools\_\_import\_fastq\
**Created:** [February 25, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/faq-create-a-qiime2-qza-artifact-from-a-galaxy-collection-in-one-step/17506 "2026-02-25T21:06:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jennaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jennaj/32/27_2.png) [@jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jennaj)\
**Post date:** [February 25, 2026, 9:06pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/faq-create-a-qiime2-qza-artifact-from-a-galaxy-collection-in-one-step/17506/1 "2026-02-25T21:06:11Z")

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# 🥳 Try the new QZA creation method!

Creating a **Qiime2 qza artifact** 🪄 _directly_ from a **Galaxy Collection**

### 1. Create your Galaxy Collection!

Single end will have the collection shape **List**

Paired end reads will have the collection shape **List of Pairs**

How to create a collection? Easier than clicking on hundreds of datasets! 😵‍💫 → [Why collections?](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/why-collections/16411)

### 2. Create your Qiime2 qza artifact!

Go to your history with the collection

🔎 Activity bar → Tools → search for **qiime2 tools import-fastq** Import fastq data into a QIIME 2 artifact

**Select your collection** on the form and ➡ **Run Tool**

### All done! Enjoy! 🚀

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## Screenshots

 ![Collection-to-QZA-One-Step](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/galaxy/original/2X/a/a3dcde32045e076fd124772c3a0e98c273d9bd4c.png)

A history with a list of accessions (dataset 1), which was submitted to **Faster Download and Extract Reads in FASTQ** format from NCBI SRA to result in a paired end List of Pairs collection (dataset 2). This collection is selected on the form for **qiime2 tools import-fastq** Import fastq data into a QIIME 2 artifact.

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 ![Collection-to-QZA-One-Step-result](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/galaxy/original/2X/a/ac92352e3f279ea244c7375fae464c76c2847fd7.png)

**Results!** The first few times through, or if you encounter an error with a downstream tool, be sure to double check your artifact **metadata** by clicking on the dataset to expand!

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 ![Collection-to-QZA-One-Step-versions](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/galaxy/original/2X/0/05f967a4c20740319c4742de177542e8bbc2d99a.png)

Use the **Versions** menu at the top of the tool form to navigate to the _version of the artifact_ you will need for the downstream tools you plan to use! Using the same version throughout your analysis is a best practice to avoid odd results or errors.

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## Troubleshooting 🪲

Did you get an error? Review your messages [using the i icon](https://galaxyproject.github.io/training-material/faqs/galaxy/datasets_icons.html) → **Details** tab

 ![Collection-to-QZA-One-Step-troubleshooting-1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/galaxy/original/2X/a/aaeafea6d860b2817144413671910ff799c8d617.png)

Our job message is reporting that the tool was expecting _compressed_ fastqsanger reads! Our inputs are in **fastqsanger** not **fastqsanger.gz** format. Easy! [Use the pencil icon](https://galaxyproject.github.io/training-material/faqs/galaxy/datasets_icons.html) on our input collection and [change the datatype for the entire collection](https://galaxyproject.github.io/training-material/faqs/galaxy/collections_convert_datatype.html) in a batch! Now, try the conversion into **qza** format again!

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## 🎓 Collections at the Galaxy Training Network (GTN)

> **[Using Galaxy and Managing your Data / Tutorial List](https://galaxyproject.github.io/training-material/topics/galaxy-interface/)**
>
> A collection of microtutorials explaining various features of the Galaxy user interface and manipulating data within Galaxy.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jennaj](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/help.galaxyproject.org/jennaj/32/27_2.png) [@jennaj](https://help.galaxyproject.org/u/jennaj)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://help.galaxyproject.org/t/faq-create-a-qiime2-qza-artifact-from-a-galaxy-collection-in-one-step/17506/4 "2026-08-13T21:05:58Z")

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