qiime/qiime — pull request #545 by jrrideout (2012-12-15 18:35:11+00:00)
Title: Support for remote mapping files

This pull request adds support for exporting and downloading mapping files from Google spreadsheets. This includes a new script called load_remote_mapping_file.py and a new module ```qiime.remote``` containing the library code. I also added a tutorial.

Most of the unit test code requires an active Internet connection (otherwise the tests just pass). I'm not sure what the best way is to handle this, and am open to suggestions for how to improve the unit tests in this regard.

I would also like to add support for seamless integration of remote mapping files by modifying ```qiime.parse.parse_mapping_file``` to download and parse remote mapping files, but figured it would be good to issue this pull request first to get feedback before continuing.

I've tested this on both small and large mapping files (the overview tutorial and student microbiome project mapping files) and it works well in either case.

This resolves issue #461.