title: How to load GEO methylation (450k) datasets without sample sheet provided?
body: <p>I downloaded some Illumina 450k methylation datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO)</p>
  
  <p>The R Bioconductor packages minfi and ChAMP seem to require something called a "sample sheet"</p>
  
  <p>Most TAR files on GEO do not seem to contain such a sample sheet - they only contain the .idat files</p>
  
  <p>Would any kind soul provide some advice? I would like to know how to run the ChAMP / Minfi pipeline without a sample sheet; otherwise, if there is any way to generate the sample sheets from the .idat files?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>