Batch processing

Most analysis types in ANSLAB can be run non-interactively in batch mode for an arbitrary number of files. This is especially useful for channels, that don not require heavy editing, like emg, accelerometer, temperature and marker. Other analysis types can also be automatized, but very likely need to be checked afterwards.

ANSLAB offers a fully automated batch mode, needing no intervation by the user, and a semi-automatized mode, that gives you full control of editing features, but saves you a few loading dialogs. Both types are described below in more detail.

Fully automated batch processing

This type of batch processing is run from the 'batch'-tab in the dynamic section of ANSLAB command window. A number of checkboxes can be activated for the corresponding anaylsis types. These analysis types are run for every file in the batch.

The list of files to be processed is specified by loading a batch file (see file menu and preparing a batch analysis for more details).

If a file in the batch is not found at the specified location, ANSLAB continues with the next file.

Usually the batch analysis is done file by file. But you may also choose to perform the analysis based on segments by changing the batch type accordingly. In this case you must ensure that for each raw file a timing file, specifiying the segments, is present.

Note: in case of accelerometry and marker analysis the presence of timing files is ignored even if the batch type is set to 'segments'. Hence, in this case the complete files are analyzed at once.

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Semi-automatic batch processing

This type of batch processing is similar to manual processing, except that a batch file must be loaded beforehand and that instead of using the 'open data file(s)'-button, the 'next'- button is used for starting the analysis.

You are prompted to select a type of batch processing with the dialog shown below:

This allows you to choose whether files should be processed as multiple segments or as a whole. If you choose 'Segments', ANSLAB reads the associated timing file and processes the next segment of the file, when you hit the next button. Once all segments have been processed, ANSLAB jumps to the next file. If you choose 'Files', ANSLAB jumps directly to the next file in the batch.

Note that during the analysis of a file, you still have to use the 'resume'-button to advance in the processing steps, just like during manual analysis. You can navigate through the files or segments, e.g. after changing settings in the options dialog or to skip bad data files/segments, using the 'jump'- and 'back'-button in the dynamic section of the ANSLAB command window.

You can also jump to specific file/segments by entering a number in the edit-box on the right of these buttons. Whether files or segments will be the navigation unit is set using the files/segments-dropdownlist.

To make processing even faster, the red-colored button on the command window (the default command at a certain point of an analysis) can also be selected by hitting the "." (period) key on the keyboard.

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