MULTISENS ANALYZER Tips and Tricks
Various Tips and Tricks for the MultiSens Analyzer software.
Feature Extraction Methods
| Feature | Description | Version |
| Area | Calculates the area of the response curve above the baseline (= value of first measurement point). | Base |
| AreaAt | Calculates the area of the response curve above a baseline. Allows to set start point, end point, and base line determination for the calculation. | Base |
| AreaMax | Calculates the area of the response curve above the baseline (= value of first measurement point) from the first point to the point at which the maximum of the response is reached. | Base |
| Average | Calculates the aveage of the response curve. | Base |
| Base | Returns the baseline = value of the first measurement point. | Base |
| Base3 | Returns the baseline = average of the first 3 measurement points. | Base |
| EndDev3 | Returns the difference between the maximum of the response and the measurement point that occurred 3 points before the maximum. | Standard |
| EndDev5 | Returns the difference between the maximum of the response and the measurement point that occurred 5 points before the maximum. | Standard |
| FindSig | Returns the maximum deviation to the baseline that is found between the start point and the end point. Start point, end point and the point where to determine the baseline can be set. Additionally averaging can be set, which will average for the selected number of measurement points to calculate baseline and signal. | Base |
| Max | Returns the maximum of the response curve. | Base |
| Max-Min | Returns the span of the response curve. | Base |
| MaxDev | Returns the maximum derivative found in the response curve. The derivative is calculated by subtracting the predecessor point for each measurement point. | Base |
| Min | Returns the minimum of the response curve. | Base |
| PascalScript | Allows to write feature extraction algorithms in Pascal. | Professional |
| Sig/Base | Returns the Signal divided by the baseline. Signal is determined as the maximum deviation to the baseline in the response curve. Baseline is determined as the value of the first measurement point. | Base |
| Sig/Base3 | Same as Sig/Base, but averages over 3 measurement points to determine signal and baseline. | Base |
| SigAt | Returns the signal at a measurement point. The signal is calculated by subtracting the baseline (= first measurement point) from the selected measurement point. Additionally averaging can be set, which will average for the selected number of measurement points to calculate baseline and signal. | Base |
| SigAt-BaseAt | Returns the difference of two measurement points in the response curve. Typically this is used to calculate a signal at a certain point by subtracting the baseline that is determined at another point. Additionally averaging can be set, which will average for the selected number of measurement points to calculate baseline and signal. | Base |
| Sig-Base | Sig-Base is determined as the maximum deviation to the baseline in the response curve. Baseline is determined as the value of the first measurement point. | Base |
| Sig-Base3 | Same as Sig-Base, but averages over 3 measurement points to determine signal and baseline. | Base |
| T3dB | Returns the number of the measurement point, at which the signal has returned to 3dB (= 70%) of the maximum in the response curve after the maximum had been reached. The signal is calculated by subtracting the baseline (= value of the first measurement point) from the value of each measurement point. | Standard |
| T50 | Returns the number of the measurement point, at which the signal has returned to 50% of the maximum in the response curve after the maximum had been reached. The signal is calculated by subtracting the baseline (= value of the first measurement point) from the value of each measurement point. | Standard |
| T90 | Returns the number of the measurement point, at which the signal has returned to 90% of the maximum in the response curve after the maximum had been reached. The signal is calculated by subtracting the baseline (= value of the first measurement point) from the value of each measurement point. | Standard |
| TMax | Returns the number of the measurement point, at which the maximum of the response is reached. | Base |
| W3dB | Returns the number of measurement points from the T3dB point to the point after the maximum when the response curve has again fallen below 3dB (=70%) of the maximum. | Standard |
Importing Files
Advanced Text Import
Advanced Text Import allows to define import settings for text files with more flexibility that the standard text import functions.
The settings dialog is available from the main menu under Options -> Default Import Settings…
Into File Extension the extension of the data files, that you want to import, has to be entered.
Description may contain a short description for the data file. You could enter the name or type of the instrument that generates the data files that you want to import. There are various import methods for data in MultiSens Analyzer. The content of this field is used to identify this method whenever you import data.
Many data files contain a header that cannot easily be imported. By setting the value of Number of lines to ignore you can skip these lines during import.
Separators define how individual values are separated. Enter any charactes into List to set them as separators. Additionally Tab and Space may be activated as separators. If Ignore consecutive separators is activated a new value will only be generated, if a non separator character is read from the text file. If Ignore consecutive separators is not activated, every separator will create a new valu, that may be empty.
The Decimal Separator discrminates the integral from the fractional part in a numeral value. Either a point “.” or comma “,” may be chosen. If set to Automatic the first comma or point, found in the numeral value, will be taken as decimal separator. Thousands separators are not supported!
Device Name lets you set the name of the device, that is used to generate the data.
Parameters is a list of arbitrary parameters that you can add to the import. These are fixed value parameters (all imported files will have the same values (entered in this dialog).
The measurement data in the text file is expected to have the form of a two dimensional array. The format is defined under Data:
If Rows contain measurements is checked, then each row in the data array contains an independent measurement. For each sensor/device only one measurement point is included in the file. If Rows contain measurements is not checked, then only one measurement is included in the file, but for each sensor/device a complete response curve may be included.
The input grid Columns contains the definitions for the column of the data matrix in the text file. The number of columns in this grid must match the number of columns in the text file.
For each column we have to assigne a Name and optionally a Type/Unit.
Action defines what to do with the data in the column. Following actions are available:
| Action | Description | Format |
| Value | Sets the Value of the sensor/device. | Decimal number |
| Measurement | Sets the name of the measurement. | String |
| Ignore | Ignores the column. | – |
| DateTime | Sets date and time of the measurement. | Date and time according to Windows language settings |
| Date | Sets date of the measurement. | Date according to Windows language settings |
| Time | Sets time of the measurement. | Time according to Windows language settings |
| Year | Sets the year of the measurement. | number |
| Month | Sets the month of the measurement. | 1 .. 12 |
| Day | Sets the day of the measurement. | 1 .. 31 |
| Hour | Sets the hour of the measurement. | 0 .. 23 |
| Minute | Sets the minute of the measurement. | 0 .. 59 |
| Second | Sets the second of the measurement. | 0 .. 59 |
| Sample | Sets the name of the sample. | String |
| Parameter | Sets the content of a parameter. | String |
| Float Parameter | Sets the content of a parameter. | decimal number |
| Integer Parameter | Sets the content of a parameter. | number |
| Class | Sets the class that the measurement is assigned to | String |
| Target Value | Sets the target value that the measurement is assigned to. | Decimal number |
CSV Import
Advanced Text Import allows to define import settings for text files with more flexibility that the standard text import functions.
The settings dialog is available from the main menu under Options -> Default Import Settings…
Into File Extension the extension of the data files, that you want to import, has to be entered.
Description may contain a short description for the data file. You could enter the name or type of the instrument that generates the data files that you want to import. There are various import methods for data in MultiSens Analyzer. The content of this field is used to identify this method whenever you import data.
Many data files contain a header that cannot easily be imported. By setting the value of Number of lines to ignore you can skip these lines during import.
Separators define how individual values are separated. Enter any charactes into List to set them as separators. Additionally Tab and Space may be activated as separators. If Ignore consecutive separators is activated a new value will only be generated, if a non separator character is read from the text file. If Ignore consecutive separators is not activated, every separator will create a new valu, that may be empty.
The Decimal Separator discrminates the integral from the fractional part in a numeral value. Either a point “.” or comma “,” may be chosen. If set to Automatic the first comma or point, found in the numeral value, will be taken as decimal separator. Thousands separators are not supported!
Device Name lets you set the name of the device, that is used to generate the data.
Parameters is a list of arbitrary parameters that you can add to the import. These are fixed value parameters (all imported files will have the same values (entered in this dialog).
The measurement data in the text file is expected to have the form of a two dimensional array. The format is defined under Data:
If Rows contain measurements is checked, then each row in the data array contains an independent measurement. For each sensor/device only one measurement point is included in the file. If Rows contain measurements is not checked, then only one measurement is included in the file, but for each sensor/device a complete response curve may be included.
The input grid Columns contains the definitions for the column of the data matrix in the text file. The number of columns in this grid must match the number of columns in the text file.
For each column we have to assigne a Name and optionally a Type/Unit.
Action defines what to do with the data in the column. Following actions are available:
ActionDescriptionFormatValueSets the Value of the sensor/device.Decimal numberMeasurementSets the name of the measurement.StringIgnoreIgnores the column.-DateTimeSets date and time of the measurement.Date and time according to Windows language settingsDateSets date of the measurement.Date according to Windows language settingsTimeSets time of the measurement.Time according to Windows language settingsYearSets the year of the measurement.numberMonthSets the month of the measurement.1 .. 12DaySets the day of the measurement.1 .. 31HourSets the hour of the measurement.0 .. 23MinuteSets the minute of the measurement.0 .. 59SecondSets the second of the measurement.0 .. 59SampleSets the name of the sample.StringParameterSets the content of a parameter.StringFloat ParameterSets the content of a parameter.decimal numberInteger ParameterSets the content of a parameter.numberClassSets the class that the measurement is assigned toStringTarget ValueSets the target value that the measurement is assigned to.Decimal number
Standard Text Import
Data can be imported into MultiSens Analyzer in a number of different formats.
To import a file with measurement data into MultiSens Analyzer follow these steps:
- Create a new evaluation (e.g. Classification) by selecting “File->New->Classification” from the menu.
- On the “Reference Data” tab click on “Add”.
- In the Open dialog choose the import format, e.g. “Text file (*.txt, *.dat, *.asc) format.
- Select the file and click on “Open”
A simple text file
The easiest format is probably the text format. Here is an example of how a the most simple text file for import into MultiSens Analyzer would look like:
It consists of a single line containing the word DAT and subsequently an array of data, with the sensors in the columns and the acquisitions in the row. For each measurement/sample that has been measured, an individual file needs to be created.
DATA
1.23 4.54 2.15 3.29 2.78 2.96 3.01 3.45 4.89 2.22 5.23 3.08 5.21 3.87 3.68 5.12
A more elaborate example
The following example also contains information about the sensors, the device used, the sample and the date, as well as parameters used during the acquisition.
#The text file always starts with a header that allows to describe #the measurement system, the sample, date and parameters.
#Only one measurement can be included in one text file.
#For each measurement you will have to create an independent text file.
#Remarks start with an "#" sign. MultiSens Analyzer will ignore these lines.
#Lines can be left empty
#The next line describes the sample:
Sample = Apple Juice
#The next line contains the source of the sample
Source = Crop 123
#Date contains the measurement date (and time) of the measurement.
#This data is imported using the language / date and time settings of Windows!
Date = 2.2.2009 12:20:02
#Device describes the instrument that has been used in the measurement
Device = JLMQ
#Sensors contains a list of the sensors, that are installed in the device.
#Sensors are separated by a space.
Sensors = QMB1 QMB2 QMB3 QMB4
#Next we add a number of parameters, that were used during the measurement
#MultiSens Analyzer will read the parameters, and store them within the evaluation
Acquisition interval = 1
Chamber temperature = 5
#The measurement data from the sensors is contained in an array,
#with the sensors in the columns and subsequent acquisitions in the rows.
#The individual values have to be formated as integers or floating points
#with a point "." as decimal separator.
#A space or tab should separate the values in a line
#The measurement data starts with the word DATA in a line
DATA
1.23 4.54 2.15 3.29 2.78 2.96 3.01 3.45 4.89 2.22 5.23 3.08 5.21 3.87 3.68 5.12
XML Import
MultiSens Analyzer recognizes 2 different XML file formats:
- It’s own XML file format:
You may import any evaluation into another evaluation. In this case all the measurement data is imported, but none of the settings for the evaluation. - NOSE II XML files:
Measurement files stored in the standard NOSE II XML file format version 0.4.