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Workspace Basics

Getting to Know the BioSigRZ Main Window

BioSigRZ's main window is designed to provide customizable visual displays of the stimulus signal, raw response signals, running averages, history data, and reports.

The Start-up Window

Upon starting BioSigRZ, you will see the main BioSigRZ window. If you are running BioSigRZ for the first time, the main window will appear in its default layout, as seen below.

The window contains the following sections:

Section Description
Title Bar Displays "BioSigRZ Windows Application" and the name of the current BioSigRZ file
Menu Bar Contains a list of menus used for building, manipulating, and saving your BioSigRZ file
Toolbar Provides easy-to-use icons for the most common BioSigRZ Menu commands
Multi-Purpose Plot May be used to display a plot of the stimulus signal, the raw A/D signal, the FFT of the signal, the EEG signal, or the running average
History Plot Area Is used to display historical, averaged signal data
Current Info Displays the current SigGenRZ Index (SGI) plus variable names and their current values
History Info Displays Group information. Responses obtained during the same data acquisition session are collectively referred to as a Group. Groups are automatically sequentially numbered. For each History Plot record, the names and values of variables are displayed.
Calculator Allows you to perform mathematical operations on one or more Worksheet records
Worksheet May be used to store records for use in calculations and to build reports
Sizing Bars Allow the user to resize each area of the screen
Status Bar Provides information about the selected command

The Customized Window

BioSigRZ provides numerous displays. Depending on your needs, you may wish to enlarge some displays and reduce others.

To enlarge/reduce a display area:

  • Drag the appropriate Sizing Bar.

Below, the BioSigRZ main window is configured to provide more room in the Worksheet area. The Calculator area has been expanded so that most calculator and worksheet buttons are visible.

Using the BioSigRZ Menus

BioSigRZ provides the user with a full set of menu commands. From these menu commands, you can create, open, and save files; customize screen displays; present stimulus signals; acquire response data; and analyze data.

The File Menu

The File Menu provides a standard Windows method for creating, saving, opening, closing, and printing files.

Menu Option Description
New Config Resets all screen objects to their default states and clears all plots
Open Config. File Opens and displays an existing BioSigRZ configuration file (.acf file)
Save Config / .As These menu options save BioSigRZ configuration data in a BioSigRZ configuration file.
Files saved with this format use the default extension .acf.
Target Device Prompts the device selection window
Print Prints the current Worksheet Area
Print Preview Allows you to view the Worksheet Area as it will be printed
Print Setup Allows you to select a printer, define the paper size, and choose a page orientation

The Setup Menu

From the Setup Menu, you can define stimulus and acquisition parameters, adjust stimulus parameters, calibrate the system, enter subject information, and customize the BioSigRZ interface.

Menu Option Description
Stimulus Opens the Stimulus Setup dialog box. From this box you can specify up to two SigGenRZ stimulus signals and define presentation parameters.
Acquisition Opens the Acquisition Setup dialog box, from which you can set timing parameters, define the default record file (.arf file), and configure up to four acquisition channels.
SigGen Variables Opens the SigGenRZ Variable Control dialog box. From this dialog box, you can customize stimulus presentation.
Calibration Opens the calibration review dialog. See Reviewing Calibration for more information
Subject Info Opens the Subject Information dialog box. This dialog box contains fields where you can enter identifying information for the subject.
Default Cursor Strings Opens the Specify Default Cursor Text dialog box, from which you can customize cursor labels
Auto-Cursors Opens the Specify Auto-Cursor Equations window, from which you can specify the location of up to 10 cursors. These cursors will be automatically placed during data acquisition.
History Info Window Opens the Info-Bar Setup dialog box, from which you can customize the History Info display area
General Display Ops Opens the General Display Options dialog box. From this dialog box, you can customize background colors, plot colors, text colors, and other display characteristics of the main window, Multi-Purpose Plot, and History Plot.
Worksheet Display Ops Opens the Worksheet Display Options dialog box. From this dialog box, you can customize various display features of the Worksheet.
Layout Displays a submenu, you can use to select a screen layout
Use #1, Use # 2, Use #3 Switch between three custom defined screen layouts
To Default Returns the screen layout to its initial, default layout.
Lock Locks/unlocks the current screen configuration.

The Operations Menu

Idle Running

The Operations Menu provides a list of commands that control the presentation of the stimulus signal and the acquisition of response signals. Menu options vary, depending on the current operational mode. Operational modes consist of the following:

  • Idle - No stimulus presentation or data acquisition
  • Running - Stimulus is being presented
  • Averaging - Response data is being acquired and averaged
  • Paused - Data averaging has been temporarily suspended
Menu Option Description
Start Begins the presentation of the stimulus signal. This menu option appears in Idle mode only.
Stop Discontinues the presentation of the stimulus signal. This menu option appears in Running mode only.
Begin Begins the process of data acquisition and signal averaging. This menu option appears in Running mode only.
End Discontinues data acquisition and signal averaging. This menu option appears in Averaging mode only.
Pause Temporarily halts data averaging. This menu option appears only in Averaging mode.
Averaging Paused
Menu Option Description
Resume Resumes data averaging. This menu option appears only in Paused mode.
Advance Causes the stimulus to advance to the next SGI. This menu option is enabled in Averaging and Paused modes.
Skip Causes the stimulus to skip the current SGI. This menu option is enabled in Averaging and Paused modes.
Repeat Saves the current running average, re-presents the same stimulus, and saves the resulting averaged signal. This menu option is enabled in Averaging and Pausedmodes.
ReDo Discards the current running average, re-presents the same stimulus, and saves the resulting averaged signal. This menu option is enabled in Averaging and Paused modes.
Continuous Enables continuous data acquisition. BioSigRZ will continue to acquire and average response data for the same stimulus until Continuous is disabled or the Advance, Stop, Repeat, ReDo, or End buttons are clicked.
Repeat Each SGI Acquires two averaged signals for each SGI specified in the stimulus schedule
Threepeat Each SGI Acquires three averaged signals for each SGI specified in the stimulus schedule
Manual SGI Control Enables the Next SGI and Previous SGI buttons and menu options. These buttons can be used to manually control the SGI.
Next SGI Advances the stimulus to the next SGI
Previous SGI Moves the stimulus back to the previous SGI
Modify Schedule Opens the SigGenRZ Variable Control dialog box. From this dialog box, you can customize stimulus presentation.

The View Menu

From the View Menu, you can turn various visual displays on or off.

Menu Option Description
Tool Bar Shows/hides the Tool Bar
Status Bar Shows/hides the Status Bar
Dyn Controls Displays all active Dynamic Control windows. Dynamic controls can be enabled for the desired variable in the Signal Variable dialog.
Expand Scale Expands the scale of the focus plot
Reduce Scale Reduces the scale of the focus plot
Auto-Scale Automatically scales the focus plot
Toggle Chan - N Shows/hides Channel N on the focus plot
Only Chan-N Shows only Channel N on the focus plot

Note

Whenever you click in a plot area, that plot receives the focus. Focus is indicated by a thin frame of highlight surrounding the plot area. Plot commands affect the focus plot only.

The Multi-Plot Menu

From the Multi-Plot menu, you can specify which signal you would like to display in the Multi-Purpose Plot.

Menu Option Description
Nothing Causes no plot to be displayed in the Multi-Purpose Plot
Stimulus Causes the current stimulus to be displayed in the Multi-Purpose Plot
Raw Input Causes one or more channels of raw (unprocessed) input signal to be displayed in the Multi-Purpose Plot
Time/Freq Performs an FFT on the incoming time-domain signal, producing frequency-domain response data.
EEG Causes one or more channels of EEG signal to be displayed in the Multi-Purpose Plot. EEG signals are created by applying the specified acquisition setup parameters (such as gain) to raw input signals. See Defining Data Acquisition Parameters for more information.
Running Average Causes the running average to be displayed
Show Comparison Causes the currently defined comparison plot to be displayed superimposed with the running average. Running Average must be selected in order to view the comparison plot.

The History Menu

From the History Menu, you can load history records and perform various operations on records displayed in the History Plot.

Menu Option Description
Access Record File Loads previously saved BioSigRZ records from files known as BioSigRZ record files. These files use the default extension, .arf. BioSigRZ records are displayed in the History Plot Area.
Previous Group Scrolls the History Plot to the top of the previous group
Next Group Scrolls the History Plot to the top of the next group
To Top Scrolls the History Plot to the top
To End Scrolls the History Plot to the bottom
Clear Selection Clears all selected records from the History Plot
Clear All Clears all records from the History Plot
Edit Cursors Accesses the BioSigRZ Cursor Edit dialog box. From this dialog box, you may place cursors and obtain signal information.
Toggle Comparison Marks the most recently selected history record for use as a comparison when viewing records details from the history area.
To WorkSheet Allows you to place the most recently selected history record in the Worksheet
Export to ARF File Saves the currently selected history records in a user-defined BioSigRZ record file (.arf file)
Export to ASCII File Saves the currently selected history records in a user-defined ASCII file (.txt file)
Export to CSV Saves the currently selected history records in a user-defined CSV file
Show Cursors Displays any cursors placed in History Plot records
Pile Channels Overlays multiple channel history data
Auto Cursor Applies the selected auto cursor to the selected history record. See Auto-Cursors for more information.

The Worksheet Menu

Menu Option Description
Clear Worksheet Clears the entire Worksheet
Open Worksheet Opens a Worksheet file (.awf file)
Save Worksheet Saves an existing Worksheet file
Save Worksheet As Save a new Worksheet file
Export to Ascii Saves the currently selected records in a user-defined ASCII file (.txt file)
Export to CSV Saves the currently selected records in a user-defined CSV file
Configure Worksheet Defaults Allows you to set Worksheet preferences such as colors, plot size, and grid resolution.
Configure Tract Displays a message describing how to edit a trace
Configure Token Displays a message describing how to edit a token
Space Evenly Spaces selected plots evenly throughout the Worksheet
Spread Apart Spreads selected plots apart. Spread Apart may be used repeatedly. Each use continues to further spread apart all selected plots.
Squash Together Squashes selected plots together. Squash Together may be used repeatedly. Each use continues to further squash together all selected plots.
Pile Piles selected plots on top of one another
UnPile Unpiles selected plots
Delete Deletes the currently selected Worksheet records
Select All Selects all Worksheet records
Deselect All Deselects all Worksheet records
Toggle Comparison Marks the most recently selected worksheet record for use as a comparison in the worksheet.

The Calculator Menu

The Calculator Menu provides mathematical operations that may be applied to one or more records displayed in the Worksheet.

Menu Option Description
Scale Multiplies each point in the selected Worksheet record(s) by a specified constant.
Invert Trace Multiplies each point in the selected Worksheet record(s) by -1
Shift Baseline Creates a DC offset by adding a specified constant to each point in the selected Worksheet record(s).
Remove Baseline Removes the DC offset
Zero Points Sets all points within a specified time range to zero
Crop Trace Crops the selected trace from the specified starting point (ms) to the specified ending point (ms).
Add Adds two or more Worksheet records
Subtract Subtracts one Worksheet record from another
Average Computes the average of two or more Worksheet records
Time Align Aligns all selected records with the first record in the selected group
Time Shift Shifts the selected Worksheet record(s) along the time axis
Smooth Applies a smoothing algorithm to the selected Worksheet record(s)
Lowpass Filter Applies a low-pass filter to the selected Worksheet record(s)
Highpass Filter Applies a high-pass filter to the selected Worksheet record(s)
Bandpass Filter Applies a band-pass filter to the selected Worksheet record(s)
Notch Filter Applies a notch filter to the selected Worksheet record(s).
Hanning Window Generates a Hanning window for use with the magnitude spectrum
Cosine^2 Window Generates a Cosine2 window for use with the magnitude spectrum
Mag Spectrum Does a FFT and generates a magnitude spectrum of the data
Auto Cursor Applies the selected auto cursor to the selected worksheet record

The Help Menu

From the Help Menu, you can access the About BioSigRZ dialog box. Clicking the BioSigRZ Help option or pressing the F1 button at any time prompts the BioSigRZ Manual.

Using the Toolbars

The Toolbar

On the BioSigRZ Toolbar, you can find quick point-and-click access to the most common commands.

Click To
New Clear all plots and reset BioSigRZ to its default configuration.
Open Open an existing BioSig file.
Save Save a BioSig file.
BioSig Records Load records stored in an .arf file.
Worksheet Records Load an .awf file.
Setup Stimulus Define stimulus parameters.
Setup Acquisition Define acquisition parameters.
Modify SigGen Variables Modify the Stimulus Schedule and variables.
Calibrate Open Calibration menu.
Click To
General Display Configure general display fonts and colors.
Worksheet Display Configure Worksheet display fonts and colors.
Setup #1 Switch the screen layout to #1.
Setup #2 Switch the screen layout to #2.
Setup #3 Switch the screen layout to #3.
Default Layout Auto adjusts the current layout to the default layout.
Lock Lock the screen layout.
Print Print the current history plot.
About BioSigRZ Access about BioSigRZ dialog.
Context-Sensitive Help Context-sensitive help is not currently supported. ### The Plot Control Toolbar

The multi-purpose and history plots are controlled through the use of the Plot Control Toolbar. This toolbar is normally invisible.

The Plot Control Toolbar may be used to control the plot area that currently has the focus.

Note

Whenever you click in a plot area, that plot receives the focus . Focus is indicated by a thin frame of highlight surrounding the plot area. Plot commands affect the focus plot, only.

To display the Plot Control Toolbar:

  • Place the mouse pointer within the plot area and hold down the right mouse button.

    The Plot Control Toolbar will remain displayed while the right mouse button remains depressed.

To click a Plot Control Toolbar button:

  1. With the right mouse button depressed, place the mouse pointer above the desired toolbar button.

  2. Release the right mouse button.

    The button will be clicked. With the release of the right mouse button, the Plot Control toolbar will disappear.

Common Plot Control Toolbar Features

Scaling | Customization | Channels

The Plot Control Toolbar is customized for each BioSigRZ plot. However, there are certain common features found in all Plot Control Toolbars. Each toolbar consists of the following sections.

  • Scaling Section

  • Customization Section

  • Channels Section

Scaling Section

Located on the far left of the Plot Control Toolbar, the scaling section consists of three buttons that may be used to alter plot scaling. These scaling commands may also be accessed from the View Menu.

Click Numpad
Shortcut
To
* Auto-Scale When Auto-Scale is chosen, BioSigRZ will automatically scale the plot that currently has the focus.
+ Expand Scale Choosing Expand Scale causes the scale of the focus plot to expand. You may continue to expand the scale by repeatedly choosing Expand Scale.
- Reduce Scale Choosing Reduce Scale causes the scale of the focus plot to be reduced. You may continue to reduce the scale by repeatedly choosing Reduce Scale.

Expand Scale

Reduce Scale

Customization

Each plot area has its own specialized plot control functions. Buttons controlling these functions are found in the center of the Plot Control Toolbar. See The Multi-Purpose Plot below and See The History Plot., for more information.

Channels

You may wish to display some or all channels in the current plot. Located on the far right of the Plot Control Toolbar, the channels section consists of four buttons that may be used to show/hide channels. These channel commands may also be accessed from the View Menu.

Channel buttons are independent. That is, more than one channel button may be "on" at one time. Channel buttons act like toggle switches. Clicking a button that is "on" turns it "off." Clicking a button that is "off" turns it "on." As with Scaling buttons, "on" buttons appear depressed.

Channels are indicated in Roman numerals, I, II, III, and IV.

To show/hide a channel:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Turn the channel "on" or "off" by clicking its button.

Note

If none of the channel buttons are turned "on," no plot will be displayed. The plot area will appear blank.

Multi-Purpose Plot

The Multi-Purpose Plot may be used to display a variety of signals during stimulus presentation and data averaging. The plot is controlled through the use of the Plot Control Toolbar.

As with all other plots, you can control the scaling and channel display through use of the Plot Control Toolbar. Functions specific to the Multi-Purpose Plot are found in the center of the toolbar. These functions may also be accessed from the Multi-Plot menu.

Types of Displays

The buttons located in the center of the Plot Control Toolbar control the Multi- purpose signal display. The Multi-purpose Plot may be used to display the following signals:

Click for Display Type
Stimulus
Raw A/D
Frequency Domain
EEG
Running Average
None

Plot display buttons are mutually exclusive. That is, clicking one display button turns that function "on" and turns all other display functions "off." "On" buttons appear depressed.

Stimulus

Choosing Stimulus causes the current stimulus signal to be displayed. BioSigRZ allows up to two channels of stimulus output.

To display the Stimulus signal:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the Stimulus Signal button or press 'S' on the keyboard.

Raw A/D

Choosing Raw A/D Input causes unprocessed A/D input to be displayed. Raw input is not affected by currently defined acquisition setup parameters such as gain but will display the effects of acquisition filter settings.

To display the raw A/D signal:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the Raw A/D Input button or press 'I' on the keyboard.

Frequency Domain

Choosing Frequency Domain causes the Raw A/D input to be displayed in the frequency domain.

To display the frequency-domain A/D signal:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the Frequency Domain button or press 'T' on the keyboard.

EEG

Choosing EEG causes processed input to be displayed. EEG data is affected by currently defined acquisition setup parameters such as gain and any acquisition filter settings that are applied.

To display the EEG signal:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the EEG button or press 'E on the keyboard.

Running Average

Choosing Running Average causes the current averaged EEG signal to be displayed.

To display the running average:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the Running Average button or press 'A' on the keyboard.

None

Choosing None causes no signal to be displayed and the plot area will appear blank.

To display no signal:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the Display None or press 'N' on the keyboard.

The History Plot

The History Plot is used to display historical averaged signal data. The plot is controlled through the use of the Plot Control Toolbar.

You can control the scaling and channel display through use of the Plot Control Toolbar. Functions specific to the History Plot are found in the center of the toolbar. These functions may also be accessed from the History menu.

Scrolling Functions

History Plot data is organized into groups. Each time you tell BioSigRZ to begin collecting data, it begins a new group. Data records are appended to the end of the group until you halt data collection. When data collection is resumed, a new group is appended to the end of the History Plot.

You may quickly scroll to the top or bottom of a group using the scrolling buttons.

To scroll to the top of the previous group:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the Scroll Up button or press 'Page Up' on the keyboard.

To scroll to the top of the next group:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the Scroll Down button or press 'Page Down' on the keyboard.

Editing Functions

You may edit the History Plot using the editing buttons. You may perform editing functions on all records or just those that are selected. Selected records appear surrounded by a frame of highlight.

Selecting Records

You may select one record, multiple contiguous records, or multiple non- contiguous records for editing using standard, Shift+click and Ctrl+click Windows methods.

Editing

To clear selected History Plot records:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the Clear Selected Record button.

To clear all History Plot records:

  1. Display the Control Plot Toolbar.

  2. Click the Clear History button or press Ctrl + 'X' on the keyboard.

Note

BioSigRZ maintains a file of historical records knows as the BioSigRZ record file (.arf file). As history records are acquired, they are appended to this file. Clearing a record from the History Plot does not remove the record from the BioSigRZ record file. Records stored in the BioSigRZ record file can be retrieved and viewed in the History Plot by choosing Access Record File from the History menu.

The Calculator and Worksheet Buttons

BioSigRZ provides mathematical functions that may be applied to one or more Worksheet record(s). These functions may be accessed from the Calculator menu or from buttons displayed in the area of the main window known as the Calculator.

Calculator functions are described in detail in a later section. For more information about the Calculator, see Using the Calculator.

Calculator Functions

Button Menu Option Action
Scale Multiplies each point in the selected Worksheet record(s) by a specified constant.
Invert Trace Multiplies each point in the selected Worksheet record(s) by -1.
Shift Baseline Creates a DC offset by adding a specified constant to each point in the selected Worksheet record(s)
Remove Baseline Removes the DC offset
Zero Points Sets all points within a specified time range to zero
Crop Select a crop point for the selected record
Add Add two or more Worksheet records
Subtract Subtracts one Worksheet record from another
Average Computes the average of two or more Worksheet records
Time Align Lines up selected Worksheet records along the time axis
Time Shift Shifts the selected Worksheet record(s) along the time axis
Button Menu Option Action
Smooth Applies a smoothing algorithm to the selected Worksheet record(s)
Lowpass Filter Applies a low-pass filter to the selected Worksheet record(s)
Highpass Filter Applies a high-pass filter to the selected Worksheet record(s)
Bandpass Filter Applies a band-pass filter to the selected Worksheet record(s)
Notch Filter Apply a notch filter to the selected Worksheet record(s)
Hanning Window Applies a Hanning window to the selected worksheet record for use with the magnitude spectrum
Cosine^2 Window Applies a Cos2 window to the selected worksheet record (smoothes the start and end). Used with magnitude spectrum
Mag Spectrum Generates an FFT of the data using 1024-8192 points per FFT
Auto Cursor Applies the selected auto cursor to the selected worksheet recor

Worksheet Functions

Located below the Calculator, the five Worksheet buttons can be used to format and organize the Worksheet. These functions may also be found in the Worksheet menu.

Button Menu Option Action
Space Evenly Spaces all selected plots evenly throughout the Worksheet
Spread Apart Spreads all selected plots apart
Squash Together Positions selected plots closer together
Pile Piles all selected plots on top of one another
UnPile Unpiles all selected plots
Delete Deletes the currently selected Worksheet records

The Worksheet

The Worksheet is an area of the main window where you can place records for reporting. Calculator functions may also be applied to records in the Worksheet. For more information about the Worksheet, See Using the Worksheet..

Customizing Your Display

BioSigRZ provides various types of visual data on one easy-to-use main window. Depending on your data display needs and your type of monitor, you may find it useful to alter the default BioSigRZ screen configuration. Some common screen configuration problems and their solutions are listed below.

Problem Solution
Plot text seems too big or too small Change the size of the font
Plots cannot be seen clearly against the plot background Change the plot background color and/or the plot color
One or more plot is not large enough Maximize the window and/or change one or more plot sizes
Multi-purpose plots cannot be differentiated from one another Change one or more plot colors

To customize the Worksheeet:

  • Select Worksheet Displays Ops from the Setup menu or click the Worksheet Display button. This prompts the Worksheet Display Options dialog box.

To customize all other areas:

  • Select General Displays Ops from the Setup menu or click the General Display button. This prompts the General Display Options dialog box.

From either Display Options dialog box you may configure the font types and sizes and colors using standard Windows techniques.

Customizing the Layout

You may wish to re-size screen display areas.

To manually customize a screen area:

  • Drag one or more Sizing Bars until the desired size is reached.

Using Setups

You may configure up to three layout setups.

To use a setup:

  • Select the desired Setup # by hovering over the Layout option in the Setup menu.

To configure a setup:

  1. Select the desired Setup # by hovering over the Layout option in the Setup menu or click the desired Setup # button.

  2. Ensure that the desired Setup # is currently unlocked prior to any modifications. To do this, click the Lock button if it is currently enabled.

  3. Manually customize the layout.

  4. Select Lock by hovering over the Layout option in the Setup menu or click the Lock button. This layout is now associated with the chosen Setup #.

Returning to the Default Layout

To return to the default layout:

  1. Select To Default hovering over the Layout option in the Setup menu or click the Default Layout button.

Customizing Cursor Strings

BioSigRZ provides a means for placing cursors in history/worksheet records. This process is known as Cursor Editing.

When a history or worksheet record is selected for Editing, it is possible to place up to 10 cursors within the signal. Each cursor is associated with a text label. You may customize the first five labels. These labels are known as cursor strings.

To customize a default cursor string:

  • Select Default Cursor Strings from the Setup menu. You will see the Default Cursor Text dialog box.

Cursor strings may be defined as follows:

  • One set for all acquisition channels.

  • One set for each acquisition channel.

To specify one set of cursor strings for all acquisition channels:

  1. Check the One Set Only check box.

  2. Type in the desired cursor strings.

  3. Click OK.

To specify one set of cursor strings for each acquisition:

  1. Make sure the One Set Only check box is not checked.

  2. Select the desired acquisition channel.

  3. Type in the desired cursor strings.

  4. Click OK.

  5. Repeat for each acquisition channel.