EDIT menu

This describes the portion of the EDIT menu covering topics other than respirometry.  See the Respirometry submenu for gas exchange calculations.

The small pop-up menu in the upper right corner of the plot area is one of several ways to select the 'active' channel from a list of available channels, which is updated whenever you alter the current channel labels (by loading a new file, editing a channel label, creating or removing a channel, etc.).
        The effect of selecting a new active channel depends on whether you are in single- or multiple-channel display mode.   In single-channel mode, the new active channel replaces the old one in the plot area, and the active channel indicator at the upper right of the plot area is updated.   In multiple-channel mode, only the active channel indicator is changed.

Other methods for channel selection:

  • Use the number keys:   Press the key that corresponds to the number of the channel you wish to use (press '1' for channel 1, etc.).   Use the 0 (zero) key for channel 10.   For channel numbers above 10 (to a maximum of 20), use a combination of the shift key and a number key (i.e., press shift 1 for channel 11, shift 2 for channel 12, etc.).

  • Use the up and down arrow keys: The 'up' arrow sets the active channel to the next higher channel number, and the 'down' arrow sets the active channel to the next lower channel number.
            Note that this method will 'wrap' at channel 1 and at the highest-numbered channel.   In other words, if the active channel is 1 and you press the 'down' arrow key, the active channel is set to the highest-numbered channel available.   Similarly, if the active channel is the highest-numbered channel and you press the 'up' arrow key, the active channel is set to 1.

  • In multiple-channel mode, the pushbuttons on the floating 'toolbar' at right of the plot area indicate the channel in use (active channel) and let you select new active channels by button clicks.  The other means of changing channels also work.

  •    UNDO   ⌘Z     Replaces the most recently changed channel with its previous value.  This allows you to recover, without reloading the original file from disk, if you make a mistake during a transformation or other manipulation.

     When performing a complex sequence of manipulations on data, remember that only one level of UNDO is available.

    This means you can only reverse the most recent change, and for some operations that affect all channels, NO UNDO is possible.

    •   RESET LAST BLOCK     ∆ ⌘Z (shift +⌘>Z)     Replaces the most recently selected (and deleted) block. This is not the same as the typical 'Redo' command in Mac programs.

  •     CUT   ⌘ X     COPY     ⌘C     PASTE   ⌘V     SELECT ALL  ⌘ A    These act like standard Apple functions, but most work on text only (not on other program items).   SELECT ALL will select all text in an active edit field.

  •    SELECT ALL DATA   Creates a block encompassing all of the cases in the currently active data file.

  •    CLEAR BLOCK   ['clear', 'esc']    Clears any currently selected block and closes the block window (if open).  Note: hitting the 'esc' or 'clear' key has the same effect.

  •    EDIT FILE DATA...    ⌘E     Allows editing of channel labels (within the limit of 30 characters -- including spaces -- per label), along withmass, barometric pressure, effective volume, temperature, time, date, and comments.  You can also change the sample interval, but do so carefully as this affects all timing calculations.  The edit window looks like this:

    By clicking one of the 'channel x' buttons, you can change to the selected channel.  Comments can also be edited up to the maximum of 32K characters (240 characters if you want to save in Sable SSCF format).

    Clicking on the 'comments' window in the main display takes you directly to the 'edit comments' window.

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  •    CORRECT BASELINE...   ⌘B          (Active channel only)   There are seven methods of baseline correction.  You should select the one most appropriate for your data set.   In all, the goal is to set the baseline (reference) values to some constant value, usually zero.

            

    1.  Automatic -- The program selects blocks at the start and/or end of the data and uses them in a regression to compute the baseline.  You can change the number of cases in these blocks by editing the value in the box (the default is 15).  Use the automatic method only if the beginning and end of the file contain nothing but true baseline values.  If this condition is not met, use another method (such as #2 or #3, below).

    2.  Automatic (periodic) --     The program uses one of three methods to identify baselines:

    (a)   The program uses markers in each reference as a cue for baseline setting.  You can chose which marker is the reference indicator, and whether the reference adjustment should begin on either side of that marker (and by how much).  In my experience, this usually works more reliably than the second method and can deal with user-induced alterations in the reference vs. sampling schedule, but it does require markers at the appropriate points in the file.   The LabHelper and Sable Systems acquisition programs will do that automatically, if properly set up.
    (b)   You use the cursor to select a starting point and time interval between reference readings, and the program uses them to 'step' from reference to reference.   This method does not require any markers to indicate references, but it works well ONLY if all reference intervals in the file are exactly the same.
    (c)   You use the cursor to select a block, starting at the beginning of a reference point and lasting exactly as long as the interval between reference readings.   Similar to method (b), the program uses the staring point and the interval (= block duration) to 'step' from reference to reference.   This method does not require any markers to indicate references, but it works well ONLY if all reference intervals in the file are exactly the same.
    Only the first method (using markers) can be scripted.

    3.  Use the mouse to select a sequential series of baseline blocks (multiple points), starting from the 'left' end of the file and moving to the 'right' end.  This method corrects the baseline in a series of segments (up to 300 in a given file; you can repeat the process if you need to handle more than that).  Alternately, you can click on single points (instead of selecting blocks).

    4.  Use the mouse to select beginning and ending blocks, which LabAnalyst then uses in a linear regression to compute the baseline.  Alternately, you can click the single point button to pick baseline points (instead of selecting blocks).

    5.  Use the mouse to select a single block which the program uses to calculate a flat baseline.  Alternately, you can click on a single point (instead of selecting a block).

    6.  Keyboard entry of beginning and ending baseline values.

    7.  Keyboard entry of a constant baseline value.

    For all methods except #2 (automatic periodic references) or #3 (multiple blocks), the baseline is drawn on-screen (if it fits within the current Y-axis scale) and you can cancel, reselect, or accept it.  The final baseline is drawn across the entire file.

    See the Reference removal section for an easy method of eliminating baseline sections for analysis.

  •    LAG CORRECTION...      (Active channel only).  Asks for the number of seconds of lag time (for example, if the response of one channel is delayed relative to some other channel).  The channel is 'left-shifted' (time is advanced) by the chosen amount.  On the right end of the trace, a group of samples equal to the lag interval is set to zero.

    The main goal of lag correction is usually to correctly synchronize two channels.  To determine how much lag time to use, follow these steps:

    • Identify a short-duration event (a sudden change) that affects both of the channels in question.
    • With either the Overlay command or the Multi-Channel Display command (in the VIEW menu), place both channels on the screen.
    • Mark a block that extends from the event on one channel to the same event on the other channel.
    • Use the Basic Stats option (ANALYZE menu) to determine the time difference (the block duration can also be read at the top of the Results window).  This value should be used as the lag correction for the delayed channel.

    • A much simpler method is available, provided you have selected a block that includes an appropriate event (as described above).  Just click the 'Compute Best-fit Lag Time…' button, and a window opens that requests the maximum search time in seconds; to speed up the search process, enter the smallest value that should encompass the best-fit lag (if you want to delay the channel instead of advancing it in time; enter a negative number of the search time):

      You are then asked to select the second channel; when that has been done, the program steps through the possible lag times until it finds the best one, which is displayed as in the right image.

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  •   INTEGRATE...             Sequentially adds all points from the first to the last to get a cumulative curve (this is not 'true' mathematical integration).  The window looks like the example shown here (note that the program places an integral sign in front of the original channel label):

  •   DERIVATIVE...              Goes from the last point to the first point (right to left), computing and storing the change between successive points (this is not 'true' mathematical derivation).  The derivation window is nearly identical to the one shown at right for integration (and the program places a derivation symbol in front of the original channel label).

    • For both integration and derivation, if the number of channels is less than program maximum (40), you can place results in a new channel. 

     NOTE: Because numbers are stored in floating point format with 8-10 digit precision, integration may result in loss of least-significant digits, particularly if the numbers are large (i.e., if their cumulative sum contains more than 8-10 decimal digits).  Thus integration followed by derivation of the same data will not necessarily produce a result identical to the original data.  Normally this poses no problems to users.

  •   SMOOTHING...    ⌘F          (Active channel only) Performs nearest-neighbor smoothing with a choice of 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15, 19, 25, 35, or 51- point averaging intervals with one or more smoothing repetitions (the default is 1). The smoothing interval is the number of adjacent cases averaged for each smoothed point. For example, 5-point smoothing includes the data point itself, the two immediately earlier points, and the two immediately later points in the averaged value.

    The program makes a memory copy of the channel and uses it as its data source (this insures that within a given smoothing iteration, previously smoothed data are not part of the calculations).  When smoothing is complete, the channel is redrawn.  If a block has been selected, you can smooth either all the data or just within the block.  You can also smooth conditionally, changing only those data within a certain range (i.e., greater than or less than user- specified values).  If the file contains less than 40 channels, you can copy the active channel to a new channel before smoothing.

    The example at right shows 19-sample smoothing to be repeated over six cycles.  Notice that the indicated smoothing interval (calculated from the sample interval and the averaging interval of 19 samples) is 28.5 seconds.  Conditional smoothing is selected, and smoothing will be applied only to data points will values less than 10.5.

    Smoothing can be repeated as often as necessary, but be very careful that you do not obliterate useful information from the data.  For example, smoothing a high-frequency waveform may result in a substantial decrease in the peak amplitude, although this should not affect frequency calculations.  Remember that you can undo only the last smoothing operation performed.

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  •    REMOVE SPIKES...      (Active channel only) Allows you to remove voltage 'spikes' or other inaccurate data, either automatically or interactively.  There are several options for removing spikes:

  • Automatic:   Single-point spikes that exceed a user-defined amplitude are easily removed with the spike sweep operation.  However, this will not work effectively for multiple-sample spikes.  Spike sweep searches for single data points that differ from their nearest neighbors by the threshold value or greater (in absolute units).  Points meeting these criteria are converted to the average of the two nearest neighbors.   You can use the popup menu to select whether to fix 'upward' spikes (those attaining larger values than neighboring points), 'downward' spikes, or all spkes.

    Two options are available for sweeping: 'Single scan' makes a single pass through the data; 'Spike sweep' repeats scanning until all appropriate spikes are removed.

    • The trim data option searches for data points that are greater or less than preset limits; all data outside these limits are set to user-defined values.  Both sweep and trim can be performed within blocks only (if a block has been selected).

    • The Absolute Value option converts all data to its absolute value (positive or zero); this is also available in the transforms window.

    In this example, the user has performed a spike sweep with a threshold value of .002, and the program found and removed 1132 spikes.  Also, the trim data options have been set such than any value exceeding 2 will be set to equal 2, and any value less than -.15 will be set to zero.

     

     

    Interactive:   In Spike mode, spikes are selected by clicking on them with the crosshair cursor.  The program replaces the selected point with the average of the two values on either side.  This is most effective for spikes of short duration (optimally, a single sample).

  • An alternate noise-removal method is 'Data Linearizing'.  This mode linearizes all data points between two selected points (as shown schematically in the example plot).   Points can be selected by single clicks, or by the standard click-hold-drag method.   Optionally (as shown here), you can select the 'Interpolation markers' option to automatically insert the standard double-arrowhead interpolation markers at the beginning ("»") and end ("«") of linearized intervals (this lets you avoid using interpolated data in most analyses).

    If you want to conserve the short-term variation in the data within the 'linearized' area, select the 'Conserve variation' option.   This uses a 3-point nearest-neighbor smoothing operation to reduce the amount of deflection within the defined area, but it preserves the point-to-point variation.   You can select how much linearizing will occur with the pop-up menu of smoothing repetitions ('smooth once' = 1 smoothing pass, i.e., the most variance preseved, and 'smooth X5' is 5 smoothing passes, resulting in the greatest degree of linearizing).   As more smoothing passes are added, the corrected data increasingly resemble a straight line between the beginning and ending points (this is best visualized by experimenting with the three options, using the 'delete' key after each one to eliminate the correction).

    You can alternate between spike removal mode and linearizing mode by first clicking in the lower left window, then clicking the desired mode button, and finally returning to the plot area.  Accessing the 'Quit' button is done similarly.

    If you are in multi-channel display mode, the program will shift to single-channel display (of the currently active channel) for spike removal operations.  If the file contains more than screenwidth cases and you are in Entire File display mode, the program will shift to Active Screen mode when interactive spike removal is selected.  Use the screen slider to shift between screenfulls of data (note that the data linearizing option can work across screen boundaries).

  •    REMOVE REFERENCES...      (Active channel only)   Reference readings are a common method of checking measurements against a known value.  Typically one reads sample data for a certain period, after which the instrument is switched to read some standard condition (perhaps a known temperature or gas concentration).  After the reference reading, more sample data are recorded, and the process is repeated as necessary (the LabHelper program can do this automatically, for example).  References help insure accuracy, but may be inconvenient during analyses.  This routine lets you eliminate most kinds of reference readings from a channel. 

    The Remove references window is shown above.  To use it you need to specify:

    • Whether references are 'downwards' or 'upwards'.  A 'downwards' reference -- such as in the example -- is one in which the reference data have lower values than the sample data, and an 'upwards' reference is one in which the reference data have higher values than sample data.

    • The reference index value.  If you have specified a 'downwards' reference, the program assumes all data with values less than the index value are to be considered reference data (vice versa if you specified an 'upwards' reference).  In the example, the index value is set at 0.022. 
              You can also use the cursor to select a reference index cutoff, using the 'Set reference cutoff with cursor' button. Move the cursor until the indicated line is acceptable, and then click the mouse.

    • The number of extra cases.   Reference readings are seldom instantaneous events; usually there is a gradual change -- over a fairly constant number of samples in a particular data channel -- between 'true' sample and 'true' reference values.  This period of change needs to be excluded from reference removal calculations.  The value you specify as 'extra cases' is the number of excluded samples on either side of points identified using the reference index value -- in this case, 12 samples on the left and 15 on the right.

    • Whether reference data are interpolated between initial and final values, or replaced with a fixed value.  In interpolation, the computer fills in the reference gap by 'drawing' a line between the initial and final values.  This is essentially the same operation as can be done manually using the 'linearizing mode' option in the spike removal window. 

    Reference removal is performed and the new values are displayed in the plot area when you click the 'Fix references' button.  You can then undo the results, or exit the function.

  •   RESPIROMETRY       This selection is a submenu.  See the Respirometry page for details.

  •    SIMPLE TRANSFORMATIONS...    ⌘T          This option allows various mathematical manipulations such as logarithms (base e and base 10), inverses, exponentiation, multiplication, division, square-roots, Q10 correction, etc.  Several cross-channel operations are also possible (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division).  A polynomial conversion with one to nine degrees is available.  Results are stored in the first source channel, or optionally (if the number of channels is less than 40) in a new channel.
           If a block is selected, a button and edit field (not shown here) will let you set all the values within the block to a fixed value (the default is zero).

    This sample window shows the addition of two channels, with the result stored in a new channel.  The multiply/divide option is set to 1 (meaning that no action is taken on the result of the addition operation).  If you set this number to something other than 1.0 and click either of the multiply or divide buttons, the result of the 'main' operation will be adjusted accordingly.

    Two buttons at left toggle between transformations and unit conversions. The operations for transformations are selected from the smaller (right-most) of the two pop-up menus shown at near right.  Note that the last five transformations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with different channels, and Q10 correction from a temperature channel) are only available if the file contains more than one channel.

    Alternately, you can use a range of unit conversions from the pop-up menu shown at near right.  These pertain to commonly-used units of energy, flow rate, pressure, mass, speed, temperature, water vapor pressure, gas volume, and so forth.  Conversion into mass-specific units is also available.  The 'STP converter' option does not affect the channel data, but allows you to calculate an appropriate correction for temperature and pressure effects on gas volume (useful in respirometry).

    For most of these operations, the conversion factors (i.e., the numerical coefficients in the conversion equations) can be edited as desired prior to calculations.  For example, you may wish to adjust the conversion factor for the heat of vaporization of water (which is set for a default evaporative surface temperature of 37 °C) to a value accurate at some other temperature.

    Many of the conversions will attempt to adjust the channel label as appropriate.  For example, if you have chosen to convert a channel to mass-specific units, the program will append a "/g" or "/Kg" to the end of the current label.  Similarly, if you are converting a channel with units of watts to units of KJ/day, the program will search the label for the word "watts" and replace it with "KJ/day".  Keep in mind that automatic label modification is not always successful (depending on the format of your channel labels), so be sure to check.

    Note that the transformations routines do not make any attempt to adjust labels to reflect changes.  You should be diligent in correcting the file labels appropriately in order to avoid confusion later on.

    During mathematically complex operations that are time-consuming (such as calculating logs or computing vapor pressure from temperature), a progress bar appears.  This isn't shown for faster operations, since drawing the progress bar often is slower than the computations themselves!

    Some special considerations for transformations and conversions:

    • If the file contains less than 40 channels, you can copy the active channel to a new channel before transforming or converting it (this is a convenient way to duplicate channels), or route the converted file to a new channel.
    • If a block has been selected, it can be set to a user-selectable value (default = zero) with the 'set block' button.
    • If a block has been selected, you can optionally transform the all the data or just within the selected block.
    • With many transformations, you can scale the results by multiplying or dividing them by a user-defined constant (select the 'multiply' or 'divide' button, as described above).
    • The 'STP converter' option in the conversions menu is a small calculator that computes the flow rate at Standard Temperature and Pressure (STP) from the prevailing conditions of temperature, pressure, and flow.  It does not modify any channel data.
    • The 'Info' button shows the A-D conversion data for the file.

    The response correction option is similar to the 'effective volume' computation used for gas exchange.  It compensates for capacitance-like characteristics that slow response times and obscure rapid changes in measured variables, using the "Z-transformation."  The algorithm compares successive values and corrects them according to the following equation:

    corrected value = [(value-last value)/Z factor] + last value

    Typical Z factors are between 0.1 and 1.0 (other values are accepted).  It is reasonable to determine the correct value by trial-and-error, if you have a recording that contains a known step change (or near-instantaneous change).  Apply different Z factors until the results approximate a step change.

    The breakpoint transforms option lets you use different transformation equations depending on whether data are less than or greater than a user-specified 'breakpoint' value. You enter the equations and the breakpoint in the following window (which appears whenever you select the breakpoint option):

    After entering the breakpoint value, pick the type of equation for data below the breakpoint value, using the radio buttons at left.   Then click the 'use this equation for data < breakpoint' button, and enter the a, b, and c values in the first set of edit fields at the bottom of the window.   Then select the equation type for data equal to or greater than breakpoint, click the 'use this equation for data > breakpoint' button, and enter the a, b, and c values in the second set of edit fields.  In this example, a 2-way polynomial will be applied to data < breakpoint, and an exponential equation will be applied to data > breakpoint.   When all is correct, click the 'OK to transform' button to return to the main Transformations and Conversions window.

    • If the screen width is sufficient, a scrolling edit field with instructions appears at the right of the window
    • For all equation types, initial values always leave the data unchanged (i.e., they multiply by 1.0).

    NOTE:  LabAnalyst tries to prevent invalid or meaningless mathematical operations, such as division by zero, taking the log of a negative number, or using a non-integer exponent on a negative number.  If LabAnalyst encounters these situations during a transformation, the offending cases are set to zero, the computer beeps, and a warning message appears.  At this point you can click the 'Cancel' button to discard the transformed data, or accept the (partially invalid) transformation.

  • Custom transformations:   In addition to the standard transformations and conversions accessible within the ‘Transformations’ option, users can save and retrieve up to 40 custom transformations. These use the mathematical operations available as standard transformations (e.g., absolute values, exponentiation, square roots, division, multiplication, polynomials, etc.) but the user can ‘pre-load’ them with specific numeric coefficients.   This can be handy if, for example, one needs to repeatedly apply a polynomial conversion to the output of a particular instrument.   When selected from the EDIT menu, the custom transforms window looks like this:

               

  • To use a custom transformation, select the desired transform from the list in the window.   Edit the channel label if appropriate, and click the ‘Apply To Active Channel' button.   The main window should then be updated to show the applied transformation.

  • NOTE: when custom transforms are selected from the EDIT menu, they apply ONLY to the current active channel, and affect all data in that channel.  Also, only single-channel operations are allowed -- no adding, subtracting, multiplying, etc. of two channels.   Finally, scripting is unavailable.   If you want to use any of these options, or transform only a selected block, go to the standard Transformations window and access custom transforms from there.

  • Custom transformations can be accessed, edited, deleted, and run from the EDIT menu, but can only be created from within the standard Transformations window.   To do this, set up the transformation as you would normally (i.e., select the mathematical operation and supply the correct coefficients).   Then select ‘Add new custom transform’ from the ‘Custom transformations’ popup.   A window will open asking for a name for the new transformation; you can enter anything you like, up to a maximum of 40 characters.

    NOTE:   At present, the custom transformations options do not work for ‘breakpoint’ conversions.

  • For related operations, see also the SCALE RESULTS option (ANALYZE menu).


  •    EXPRESSION TRANSFORMS:    This routine lets you write a mathematical expression to transform a channel, or make a new channel, using data from one or two channels.  The program parses the expression into components and performs the operations.   The expression evaluator logic understands the following symbols (upper or lower case entries are OK):

    • Simple operators: + - * / ^ ( )
    • Complex operators: EXP, LOG or LN, LOG10, SIN, COS, TAN, ATN or ATAN, ABS, INT, SQR (square), SQRT (square root)
    • Two special variables (i.e., channels) named "X" and "Y", chosen with push-buttons (see image below)
    • PI (or the equivalent Greek letter)
    • Numbers (such as 5, -3.1889, and 1e-10)
    • If you wish you can add a comment at the end of your expression, delineated with the " ` " character.

    Results are stored in the first of the source channels, or optionally (if the number of channels is less than 40) in a new channel (edit the file label as appropriate).  If a data block has been selected, you can transform all the data or just within the block.   A typical expression transforms window looks like this:

    Some general considerations:

    • You can store and retrieve up to 4 expressions using the 'Retrieve Expression x' and 'Store as Expression x' popup menus.   This will save the trouble (and error potential) of re-entering frequently-used expressions at each use.

    • The 'Check expression' button does a preliminary parsing of the expression and indicates if there are any syntax errors (in the above example, this button has been clicked).

    • The 'undo' button reverses the effects of the last transformation.
    • If a data block has been selected, you can transform all the data or just within the block.

    NOTE: This will only 'catch' errors in the basic numeric expression. It may not detect invalid or meaningless math operations that may be attempted when channel data are processed, such as division by zero, or taking the log or a non-integer exponent of a negative number.  If such situations occur, results may be unpredicatable.  The algorithm does find most such errors during processing, however.

    The window looks like this after a successful transformation run:

    The underlying code for the expression evaluator was largely developed by Robert Purves (deceased a few years ago, and greatly missed by the FB community).  I borrowed it -- with his permission -- and made some modifications for LabAnalyst.            But Robert P. deserves all the creative credit.

  •    SCALE TO BLOCK...    

    Resets the scale and range of the data to values specified by the user, based on a block of data.  For example, you can rescale a block of data with an initial range of -.134 to .335 to a new range of zero to 100% (or any other upper and lower limits).

    Note: although calculations are based on data within the selected block, the scale and range adjustment is applied to the entire file.

    If you use the 'Block only' option, the rescaling is applied only to the selected block -- but keep in mind that it will now be out of calibration with the rest of the data in the channel.

  •    BLOCK SCALE, 0-100%    

    This option automatically scales the selected block to a range of zero to 100.

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  •   COMPACT & AVERAGE...      Makes a compact version of the data by breaking it into a series of blocks of user-specified length (with length specified either in terms of number of samples, or of duration), and then computing a mean and S.D. for each of the blocks.  Each block contains a fixed number of cases. If you use the Sample averaging option, the block duration (in time units) depends on this number and the sample interval.   If you use the Time averaging option, the number of samples averaged depends on your specified duration and the sample interval.   Depending on the sample interval the duration may not be exactly what you specify, but the program will do its best.   For example, if you sampled every 3 seconds and you want a block duration of 40 seconds, the program will use 39 seconds (since 3 does not divide evenly into 40).

  • Compacted data can be saved as tab-delineated text files containing both means and standard deviations.  It is also shown on-screen in the regular plot area.  This can make it easier to see trends in noisy data, and is also useful for preparing data for publication -- a figure broken into a series of means and S.D.s is frequently easier to read than a simple line plot (particularly if the raw data are somewhat noisy).

    NOTE:  although the plot area on the screen shows the compacted version, any analyses are performed on the original data, which is shown as normal in the block window.

    The first example shows a 20-fold sample averaging compaction, which equates to a 'block size' of 30 seconds for each mean and S.D. computation.  The 'highlight data means' and 'show S.D.' options are selected; this will show the mean values as a dot, and the SDs as vertical lines in the plot area (in active screen mode only if there are more than screenwidth cases).

    The second example shows a 60-second time averaging compaction, which equates to a 'block size' of 30 samples for each mean and S.D. computation.  The 'highlight interval means' and 'show S.D.' options function as described above for sample averaging compaction.   Note that in this example the sample interval was 2 seconds, but the user entered a desired interval of 60.1 seconds to get the necessary 30-sample average (this apparent inconsistency is due to the way floating-point arithmetic is handled).

    Some operations, like Baseline with user-selected points, are difficult to use if the data are shown in compacted form (although you can still read the uncompacted values for the cursor position in the data bar).  It's probably best to shift to the regular display ('normal plot') for these operations.

  •   CHANGE OR REMOVE      This selection is a submenu with three items:

  •   CHANGE BLOCK     This option allows you to replace the values within a selected block with a user-defined constant.  Optionally, you can do this to multiple blocks simultaneously.  This is useful in many situations.  One example is if you wish to apply the 'minimum value' analysis operation, but your data contains some reference readings.  By marking the references and then changing them to some arbitrary large value, you can scan the complete data set and the analysis will be restricted to 'real' data instead of being confused by reference points.

  •   REMOVE BLOCK     This option removes the data within a marked block, either within a single channel or for all the channels (the 'entire file' option).  In either case, the elapsed time and time-of-day readouts in the data bar are no longer accurate for data points later in the file than the removed segment.   The one exception to this rule is if you deleted a block at the beginning of the file (i.e., starting at the first case).

      • If you apply this operation to a single channel of a multi-channel file, any markers are not adjusted, and therefore are no longer accurate for the adjusted channel (they are OK for the other channels).  Also, data in the adjusted channel are no longer correctly synchronized with data in the other channels.  It is possible to 'undo' a block cut from a single channel. 
      • If you cut a block from the entire file, any markers are adjusted so that they are correctly synchronized with the data, and data in all the channels remains synchronized.  The 'undo' option does not work if a block is cut from the entire file.

  •    REMOVE CHANNEL   K     This option removes one or more entire channels from the file.  At least one channel must remain.  The 'undo' option cannot restore a channel or channels after they are removed from the file.

  •   CROP FILE TO BLOCK...     If you have a selected block, this option will delete all of the cases outside of the block (like 'cropping' a photograph).   The crop is applied to all channels, and cannot be 'undone' (however, it does warn you of this risk).   After the crop, the time indicators remain accurate but in some circumstances (drastic crops of long-duration files) the date indication may be incorrect (you might lose a day; this can be fixed in the EDIT FILE DATA option).

  •    DUPLICATE CHANNEL     Makes an identical copy of the currently active channel, and makes the new copy the active channel (this only works if the number of channels is less than 40).

  •    RE-ARRANGE CHANNELS     

  • This window lets you shift the order of the channels in a file (it also allows channel duplication and channel deletion). The window shows the current channel order; you click channel-selection buttons ('next...') in the order you desire the new arrangement to be.   This image shows channel order selection in progress, with six channels chosen out of twelve:

            

    The 'Add 'ReAr' to Default File Name' button lets you opt to have a suffix indicating re-arrangement appended to the file name.   This will be permanent only if you save the file after re-arrangement.   When you are satisfied with the new channel order, click the 'Re-arrangement OK' button.

    NOTE:   This operation is not undo-able, so if you re-arrange the channel order and then save the file, the change is permanent.

  •    RECORD EDITS      This option (on by default) records every action that changes a file's data in the file's comments, so they can be reviewed later.

  •    FIX ENDIAN BYTE ORDER      PowerPC and Intel processors store numeric data in different formats (most significant bit first or last).   If you try to read data obtained on a PPC on an Intel machine, the information will be wildly incorrect.   LabAnalyst usually finds and fixes any such problems transparently, but this option lets you perform the conversion manually.

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