Section

The Section option in the Data menu or the main toolbar is used to section the data into active and inactive regions, or to disable or enable specific data points. Only active regions are preserved when the sectioning is accepted. Sectioning is available from the Data menu, as a global option that alters the main data table. It is also available from many AutoSignal procedure as a local option that alters the data only for the duration of the specific procedure in use.

The option will present a dual coupled AutoSignal Graph. The upper graph is scaled for only the active points, those that will be used by AutoSignal. The lower graph is scaled for all data points. You may graphically section either graph, and the changes will be reflected in both. Inactive points are shown in the current inactive point color. You may section for active or included bands, or inactive or excluded bands, in one of three ways.

Numeric Sectioning

When you know exactly which ranges to include or exclude, numeric sectioning may be simplest. The sectioning can be set to either Include or Exclude the points in the specified region. A sectioning region consists of 2D box which is defined by an initial X [Xi], a final X [Xf], an initial Y [Yi], and a final Y [Yf]. If no entries are made for a given variable, the program assumes the full range of the variable when including points, and no range on the variable when excluding points. To apply the numeric sectioning to the data, you must select either the Apply Existing or Apply New button. The Apply Existing applies the given region to the current status of the points whereas the Apply New option resets all points prior to the sectioning.

Graphical X-Sectioning

It is often simpler and faster to section graphically. When the X Sectioning mode is selected, the mouse is used to select the x range of interest. To exclude points, place the mouse cursor at the initial point to be excluded, click and hold the left mouse button down, and slide the mouse to the right. As you do so, the points will be grayed (indicating that they have been deactivated or excluded). Once the left mouse button is released, both graphs will reflect the sectioning. To reinstate a band of points, start at the rightmost point desired, click and hold the left mouse button down, and slide the mouse to the left. As you do so, the points will be restored to an active state.

Graphical X-Y Sectioning

There may be times where the portion of the signal of interest is defined by bounds in both x and y. When the XY Sectioning mode is selected, the mouse is used in the upper graph to enclose the x-y region of interest. To include the region that is to be graphically defined, click and hold down the left mouse button at one corner of the x-y rectangle in the upper graph and drag the rectangle so that it encloses the region desired. To exclude the region that is to be graphically defined, the same graphical procedure is followed except that the right (rather than the left) mouse button is used.

Graphical Toggling of Points

To toggle a single point between active and inactive, the AutoSignal Graph must be in either X Sectioning or XY Sectioning mode. In either mode, place the mouse cursor on the point desired. The mouse cursor changes to a crosshair with a point in its center. If you have the hints active, the hint color changes and indicates the point under the cursor. If the graph's status bar is active, you will see the point under the cursor also indicated there. Click the left mouse button without moving the mouse to toggle the point on or off.

Zoom-Mode

In cases of highly concentrated data, you may want to zoom-in a given region prior to sectioning. The zoom mode is provided for this purpose. Either graph can be zoomed in this mode by clicking and holding down the left mouse button while enclosing the zoom-in region desired. To restore normal scaling, click the right mouse button anywhere within the graph region.

Local and Global Sectioning

If the sectioning is local, the altered active or inactive states persist only for the duration of the specific AutoSignal procedure. The main data table is not modified. This is convenient when you want to briefly explore how a given procedure processes a subset of the data record.

If the sectioning is invoked from the main Data menu or toolbar, the main data table will be revised. This allows a given subset of data to be conveniently available for use in multiple procedures.

Reset

The Reset button restores all data points to an active state. If the sectioning is local, this button will be in the control panel of the procedure. If the sectioning is global, the full data stream can be restored using this same button in the main toolbar.

Accepting the Sectioning

Use OK to accept the sectioning shown in the graph. The inactive points will be automatically removed from the data table. The Reset in the main menu can be subsequently used to restore the full data set.

Use Cancel to exit without adopting any modifications.