def send_to_output(master_dict, mash_output, sample_id, assembly_file):
    """Send dictionary to output json file
    This function sends master_dict dictionary to a json file if master_dict is
    populated with entries, otherwise it won't create the file

    Parameters
    ----------
    master_dict: dict
        dictionary that stores all entries for a specific query sequence
        in multi-fasta given to mash dist as input against patlas database
    last_seq: str
        string that stores the last sequence that was parsed before writing to
        file and therefore after the change of query sequence between different
        rows on the input file
    mash_output: str
        the name/path of input file to main function, i.e., the name/path of
        the mash dist output txt file.
    sample_id: str
        The name of the sample being parse to .report.json file

    Returns
    -------

    """

    plot_dict = {}

    # create a new file only if master_dict is populated
    if master_dict:
        out_file = open("{}.json".format(
            "".join(mash_output.split(".")[0])), "w")
        out_file.write(json.dumps(master_dict))
        out_file.close()

        # iterate through master_dict in order to make contigs the keys
        for k,v in master_dict.items():
            if not v[2] in plot_dict:
                plot_dict[v[2]] = [k]
            else:
                plot_dict[v[2]].append(k)

        number_hits = len(master_dict)
    else:
        number_hits = 0

    json_dic = {
        "tableRow": [{
            "sample": sample_id,
            "data": [{
                "header": "Mash Dist",
                "table": "plasmids",
                "patlas_mashdist": master_dict,
                "value": number_hits
            }]
        }],
        "plotData": [{
            "sample": sample_id,
            "data": {
                "patlasMashDistXrange": plot_dict
            },
            "assemblyFile": assembly_file
        }]
    }

    with open(".report.json", "w") as json_report:
        json_report.write(json.dumps(json_dic, separators=(",", ":")))