Export file formats

This section describes the format of files created by various Export menu commands (for exporting data). The following formats are covered:

Notes:

See also: About exporting analyses

Echogram Data export files (.csv)

Data values (Sv values, TS values, dB values, linear values, Boolean values, angular positions, color values) can be exported from echograms to .csv files.

The first line of the .csv file lists the names of the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). No column heading is provided for the list of data values. Each subsequent line contains the value for each variable for a single ping and the data value for each sample in the ping.

Single beam, split beam and dual beam data value exports

Data can be exported for an entire echogram, a region, or a selection made using the vertical band tool vertical selection tool. The following data are exported.

Variable

Description

Ping_index

Sequential ping number

Note: Echoview numbers pings sequentially beginning with 0 for the first ping in an echogram.

Distance_GPS

nmi

Distance_vl

nmi

Ping_date

yyyy-mm-dd

Ping_time

hh:mm:ss

Ping_milliseconds

ms

Latitude

degrees

Longitude

degrees

Depth_start

m

Depth_stop

m

Range_start

m

Range_stop

m

Sample_count

Number of samples to follow

List of data values

Data value for each sample (separated by commas)

 

Note: For "color" variables, the red, green and blue color intensities of each datapoint are exported as a single number. The exported number is a decimal representation of a six digit hexadecimal number 'bbggrr'; where 'bb' represents the intensity (0-255) of blue, 'gg' represents the intensity of green and 'rr' represents the intensity of red.

Notes:

Multibeam data value exports

Data values from all types of multibeam variable can be exported to .csv files. The export can be for an entire echogram or for a range of pings selected from the Export Data - Select Range of Pings for Export dialog box.

The first line of the file is a header row that contains the names of the variables that are exported (see below). The remaining lines contain the corresponding variables for a single ping.

Variable

Description

Ping_index

Sequential ping number

Note: Echoview numbers pings sequentially beginning with 0 for the first ping in an echogram.

Distance_gps

Distance (nmi) from the first GPS fix in the data file

Distance_vl

Distance (nmi) travelled according to the vessel log at the time the ping was transmitted

Ping_date

The date (yyyy-mm-dd) on which the ping was transmitted

Ping_time

The time (hh:mm:ss) at which the ping was transmitted

Ping_milliseconds

The millisecond (0..999) at which the ping was transmitted

Latitude

The latitude (degrees) of the GPS antenna at the time the ping was transmitted

Longitude

The longitude (degrees) of the GPS antenna at the time the ping was transmitted

Heading

The heading of the platform at the time the ping was transmitted

Note: Heading values are taken from the heading variable selected on the Attitude_page of the Platform Properties dialog box.

Range_start

Range (m) of the nearest sample in the ping (measured along the beam-axis)

Range_stop

Range (m) of the farthest sample in the ping (measured along the beam-axis)

Sector_angle

Angle (degrees) scribed between the outer edges of the two outer beams.

Number_of_beams

Number of beams in this ping

Samples_per_beam

Number of samples in each beam of this ping

Ping_mode

A number identifying the ping mode.

Variable_name

The name of the variable which was exported.

Full_sector_angle

The description of a beam subset.

Full_sector_beam_count

First_beam_number

Tilt_angle

The tilt angle of the beam.

Bearing_angle

The bearing angle of the beam.

Datafile_ping_number

The number, if any, asssigned to the ping in the original data file from which Echoview read the data.

List of datafile values

If and only if data is being exported from a raw variable of ping mode 3, 4 or 5 (H-, V-, S-mode) in Furuno .fsv files then certain values read from the data file will be exported here in a series of columns headed "datafile_X" where X is the name of the variable in the data file.

Note: The Furuno FSV 30 (Research version) data format is not supported in Echoview 5.0.

Target_lock_beam

The number of the beam in the beam in the target-locked variable if any.

Note: This is only exported from variables with ping mode 3 or 4 (H- or V- mode).

Ping_group

A number identifying the ping group .

Note: This is only exported from variables with ping mode 3 or 4 or 5 (H- or V- or S- mode).

List of data values

Note: No title in the header row of the file

On the remainder of this line, the data value for each sample arranged as follows (for x+1 samples and y+1 beams):

<beam0 sample0>, <beam1 sample0> ... <beamy sample0>,

<beam0 sample1>, <beam1 sample1> ... <beamy sample1>,

...

<beam0 samplex>, <beam1 samplex> ... <beamy samplex>

Notes:

  • For "multibeam color" variables, the red, green and blue color intensities of each datapoint are exported as a single number. The exported number is a decimal representation of a six digit hexadecimal number 'bbggrr'; where 'bb' represents the intensity (0-255) of blue, 'gg' represents the intensity of green and 'rr' represents the intensity of red.

  • For "multibeam boolean" variables, each datapoint is represented by 0 or 1 (for false and true respectively)

Notes:

Data type

File extension

magnitude (raw - not beamformed)

.csv+

phase (raw - not beamformed)

.csv

magnitude (beamformed)

.mag.mb.csv+

phase (beamformed)

.phase.mb.csv

Sv

.sv.mb.csv+

unspecified dB

.db.mb.csv

TS

.ts.mb.csv

Boolean

.boolean.mb.csv

color

.color.mb.csv

+Sv and magnitude variables may also be exported in Matlab format (*.mat) .

See also

Exporting data values
Text data files

Underlying data export files (.csv)

Underlying data can be exported to .csv files from most Echograms (a notable exception is variables produced by Echoview's beamformer).

Single beam, split beam and dual beam underlying data exports

Underlying data values from Sv, TS, angular position variables can be exported to .csv files. The export can be for an entire echogram or a selection made using the vertical band tool vertical selection tool.

The first line of the .csv file lists the names of the six data properties that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). No column heading is provided for the list of data values. Each subsequent line contains the value for each variable for a single ping and the underlying data value for each sample in the ping.

The following data are exported.

Data property

Description

Ping_index

Sequential ping number

Note: Echoview numbers pings sequentially beginning with 0 for the first ping in an echogram.

Depth_start

m

Depth_stop

m

Range_start

m

Range_stop

m

Sample_count

Number of samples to follow

List of data values

Sample values (separated by commas)

Notes:

Multibeam underlying data exports

Underlying data values from all multibeam variables not formed by Echoview's beamformer can be exported to .csv files. The export can be for an entire echogram or for a range of pings selected from the Export Underlying Data - Select Range of Pings for Export dialog box.

The first line of the .csv file lists the names of the six data properties that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). No column heading is provided for the list of data values. Each subsequent line contains the value for each variable for a single ping and data values for each sample in the ping.

Data property

Description

Ping_index

Sequential ping number

Note: Echoview numbers pings sequentially beginning with 0 for the first ping in an echogram.

Range_start

m

Range_stop

m

Sector_angle

The angle of the sample from the transducer axis

Number_of_beams

The number of beams in the multibeam echogram.

Samples_per_beam

Number of samples per beam in the echogram.

List of data values

Note: No title in the header row of the file

Depending on the variable and echosounder from which the data was collected, data may consist of:

  • magnitude data: signal strength of each sample.

  • amplitude and phase data: alternating magnitude and phase information for each sample.

  • in-phase and quadrature data: alternating in-phase and quadrature components of the complex voltage signal for each sample. The signal magnitude is the square root of the sum of the component squares and the phase is the trigonometric tangent of the quadrature to in-phase component ratios.

To determine which format your echosounder stores, see Echosounder data files

The data values are ordered as follows:

each line contains the sample values for a whole ping. If the ping data is seen as a matrix with one column per beam and one row per distinct sample range, then the data are written one row at a time to the data file (on the one line). If the data are complex then the values are further, written as pairs (in-phase and quadrature values or magnitude and phase values respectively).

Thus, samples are ordered from lowest range across each beam, i.e. they are reported in the following order:

range0-beam0, range0-beam1, ... range0-beamN,
range1-beam0, range1-beam1, ... range1-beamN,
range2-beam0, range2-beam1, ... range2-beamN,
rangeM-beam0, rangeM-beam1... rangeM-beamN for N-1 beams and M-1 ranges.  

Notes:

Bathymetric data export files (.csv)

Bathymetric data can be exported to .csv files. The export can be for an entire line or the part of a line that falls within a selection made using the vertical band tool vertical selection tool.

The first line of the .csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the value for each variable for a single ping.

The following data are exported.

Variable

Description

Ping_date

yyyy-mm-dd

Ping_time

hh:mm:ss

Ping_milliseconds

ms

Latitude

degrees (999.0 if unknown)

Longitude

degrees (999.0 if unknown)

Position_status

Position status of ping as follows:

 1 =  Interpolated position good

 3 =  Interpolated position uncertain

 4 =  Interpolated position unknown

Depth

meters

Line_status

Line status of ping as follows:

 0 = Bad

 1 = Good

 2 = Unverified

 3 = No line

Sound_speed

m/sec
(only exported for sounder-detected bottoms)

Ping_status

Ping status (1-11)

Altitude

m (-9999.99 if unknown)

GPS_UTC_time

hh:mm:ss (-1 if unknown)

Example line

19930115,15:09:58.10,999.00000000, 999.00000000, 4,00000.0,3,5959,0,-9999.990000,-1

See also

Exporting lines
Line definition file format

Multibeam bottom detections export files (.bottom.mb.csv)

Multibeam bottom detections data can be exported to .csv files. The export can be for an entire echogram or a specified ping range.

The first line of the .csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the value for each variable for a single ping.

The following data are exported.

Variable

Description

Ping_number

a sequential ping number

Ping_date

yyyy-mm-dd

Ping_time

hh:mm:ss

Ping_milliseconds

ms

Major_axis_angle

degrees

Range

meters

Beam_number

a sequential beam number

Note: The multibeam bottom detection settings that produce the export data are specific to the EV file. You can preview the detected bottom and change the bottom detection settings. See Multibeam echograms - Multibeam bottom detection preview for more information.

See also

Multibeam bottom detections dialog box

GPS fixes export files (.gps.csv)

GPS data can be exported from a cruise track window or position GPS fixes table to a .gps.csv file.

The first line of the .csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the value for each variable for a single gps fix.

The following data are exported.

Variable

Description

GPS_fix

A sequential fix number (Optional data*)

GPS_date

yyyy-mm-dd

GPS_time

hh:mm:ss

GPS_milliseconds

ms

Latitude

degrees

Longitude

degrees

NMEA

altitude data (Simrad files only) or any NMEA GPS-fix letter groups identified by Echoview (Optional data*)

GPS_status

GPS fix status, (Optional data) as follows:

0 = Good
1 = Bad
2 = Good (but position between the previous fix and this one is considered uncertain)
3 = Unknown (Echoview 3.10 and earlier only)

GPS_filename

Name of the data file from which the GPS fix is sourced.(Optional data)

Note: This will be blank for GPS fixes that are not sourced from a data file.

Notes:

See also

Exporting position data
Text data files

Raw variables derived from text data files

Vessel log data export files (.log.csv)

Vessel log data can be exported from a vessel log table to a .log.csv file.

The first line of the .log.csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the values for each variable for a single log point.

The following data are exported.

Variable

Description

Log_data

A sequential number

Log_date

yyyy-mm-dd

Log_time

hh:mm:ss

Log_milliseconds

ms

Log_distance

distance in nautical miles

See also

Exporting vessel logs
Text data files
Raw variables derived from text data files

Heading data export files (.heading.csv)

Heading data can be exported from a heading graph or heading table to a .heading.csv file.

The first line of the .heading.csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the values for each variable for a single heading determination.

The following data are exported.

Variable

Description

Heading_data

A sequential number

Heading_date

yyyy-mm-dd

Heading_time

hh:mm:ss

Heading_milliseconds

ms

Bearing

degrees (output to 3 decimal places). Measured clockwise from north, i.e. 0 is north and 90 is east.

Note: Files in this format (.heading.csv) can be added into an EV file and read by Echoview as a raw variable.

See also

Exporting heading data
Text data files
Raw variables derived from text data files

Pitch data export files (.pitch.csv)

Pitch data can be exported from a pitch graph or pitch table to a .pitch.csv file.

The first line of the .pitch.csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the values for each variable for a single roll determination.

The following data are exported.

Variable

Description

Pitch_data

A sequential number

Pitch_date

yyyy-mm-dd

Pitch_time

hh:mm:ss

Pitch_milliseconds

ms

Pitch_angle

degrees (output to 3 decimal places). Measured as a clockwise rotation of the minor axis about the major axis when viewed in the positive direction of the minor axis.

Note: Files in this format (.pitch.csv) can be added into an EV file and read by Echoview as a raw variable.

See also

Exporting pitch data
Text data files
Raw variables derived from text data files

Roll data export files (.roll.csv)

Roll data can be exported from a roll graph or roll table to a .roll.csv file.

The first line of the .roll.csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the values for each variable for a single roll determination.

The following data are exported.

Variable

Description

Roll_data

A sequential number

Roll_date

yyyy-mm-dd

Roll_time

hh:mm:ss

Roll_milliseconds

ms

Roll_angle

degrees (output to 3 decimal places). Measured as a clockwise rotation of the major axis about the minor axis when viewed in the positive direction of the minor axis.

Note: Files in this format (.roll.csv) can be added into an EV file and read by Echoview as a raw variable.

See also

Exporting roll data
Text data files
Raw variables derived from text data files

 

Frequency distribution export files (.csv)

The frequency distribution of the target strength of single targets within a selection or region on a single targets echogram can be exported to a .csv file.

The first line of the .csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the exported data.

The following data are exported.

Variable

Description

Region_name

Name assigned to region. Empty if export of a selection

Region_Classification

Classification of exported region. Empty if export of a selection

Attribute

Attribute that follows for each bin, either Bin_Count or Bin_TS_mean

Targets_Binned

See About analysis variables for descriptions

Targets_Failed_Thresholds

Targets_Failed_Filter

Targets_Excluded

Targets_Missed_Bins

Bin1 midpoint

BinN midpoint

The first line then has the median TS value for each bin from the first to last bin

Binning is determined by the Frequency distribution settings on the Analysis page of the Variable Properties dialog box

Example file

Region_name, Region_Classification, Attribute, Targets_Binned,Targets_Failed_Thresholds,Targets_Failed_Filter,Targets_Excluded,Targets_Missed_Bins,
-85.0, -75.0, -65.0, -55.0
"IntegrationRegion3", "unclassified", Bin_Count, 20, 3, 0, 7, 10, 5, 5, 5, 5
"IntegrationRegion3", "unclassified", Bin_TS_mean, 20, 3, 0, 7, 10, -82.3, -77.4, -65.0, -54.25

Tip: It is possible to view a graph of the frequency distribution prior to exporting.

See also

Exporting data
About analysis variables

Single target detection export files (.target.csv)

Single target data for a selection, region or entire echogram can be exported into a .csv file. The .target prefix is added to the csv file extension (e.g. filename.target.csv) to identify single targets exports from other data exports.

The first line of the .csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the value for each variable for each single target detection.

 

Variable

Description

Ping_date

See Single targets variables for descriptions.

Ping_time

Ping_milliseconds

Target_depth and Target_range under Echogram depth mode

- OR -

Target range under Echogram range mode

TS_comp

TS_uncomp

Angle_minor_axis*

Angle_major_axis*

PulseLengthDeterminationLevel

Samples_above_PLDL

StandDev_angles_minor_axis

StandDev_angles_major_axis

PulseLength_normalized_6dB

PulseLength_normalized_12dB

PulseLength_normalized_18dB

PulseLength_normalized_PLDL

Pulse_start_normalized_6dB

Pulse_start_normalized_12dB

Pulse_start_normalized_18dB

Pulse_start_normalized_PLDL

Transmitted_pulse_length

Target_true_depth

Target_latitude

Target_longitude

Target_northing

Target_easting

Exclude_below_line_depth+

Target_length

Target_length_uncompensated

Target_length_manual

Target_perimeter

Target_area

Target_intensity_variation

Target_compactness

Target_thickness

Target_length_across_beams

Target_range_extent

Ping number

Target_class

Target_orientation

* For targets derived from multibeam data the angular postion is derived for the geometric center of the multibeam target.

+ A value is exported if an Exclude below line is selected on the Analysis page of the Variable Properties dialog box. Otherwise, the value is set to the no data export value.

Notes:

Multibeam target export files (.targets.mb.csv)

Multibeam targets can be exported to a .csv file. The targets.mb prefix is added to the csv file extension (e.g. filename.targets.mb.csv) to identify multibeam targets exports from other data exports.

The first line of the file is a header row that contains the names of the variables that are exported (see below). Each additional row contains the corresponding variables for a single ping.

Variable

Description

Ping_index

Sequential ping number

Note: In Echoview, pings are renumbered sequentially beginning with 0

Distance_gps

Distance (nmi) from the first GPS fix in the data file

Distance_vl

Vessel log (nmi) at the time the ping was transmitted

Ping_date

The date (yyyy-mm-dd) on which the ping was transmitted

Ping_time

The date (yyyy-mm-dd) on which the ping was transmitted

Ping_milliseconds

The date (yyyy-mm-dd) on which the ping was transmitted

Latitude

The latitude (degrees) of the GPS antenna at the time the ping was transmitted

Longitude

The longitude (degrees) of the GPS antenna at the time the ping was transmitted

Heading

The heading of the platform at the time the ping was transmitted

Note: Heading values are taken from the heading source selected on the Attitude_page of the Platform Properties dialog box.

Range_start

Range (m) of the closest sample (measured along the beam-axis) in the operand variable.

Range_stop

Range (m) of the farthest sample (measured along the beam-axis) in the operand variable.

Sector_angle

Angle (degrees) scribed between the two outer beams in the operand variable.

Number_of_beams

Number of beams in each ping in the operand variable.

Number_of_targets

Number of targets in the ping.

Ping_mode

Ping mode of the multibeam target variable.

Variable_name

Name of multibeam target variable.

Datafile_ping_number

The number, if any, asssigned to the ping in the original data file from which Echoview read the data.

Target values

Note: No title in the header row of the file

Five values are exported for each target:

  • target range (m)

  • target mean Sv (dB re 1m-1)

  • target major-axis angle (degrees)

  • target minor-axis angle (degrees)

  • target status:

  • 1 = excluded from the echogram by the thresholds on the Data page of the Variable Properties dialog box

  • 0 = included on the echogram

The values are exported as follows:

<target 0 range>, <target 0 mean Sv >, <target 0 major-axis angle>, <target 0 minor-axis angle>, <target 0 status>,
<target 1 range>, <target 1 mean Sv >, <target 1 major-axis angle>, <target 1 minor-axis angle>, <target 1 status>,
 ...
<target n range>, <target n mean Sv >, <target n major-axis angle>, <target n minor-axis angle>, <target n status>

For Number_of_targets=n+1.

Target length export files (.length.csv)

Target length data for a selection or entire echogram can be exported into a .csv file. The .length prefix is added to the csv file extension (e.g. filename.length.csv) to identify target length exports from other data exports.

The first line of the .csv file lists the variables that are exported (these will be used as column headings if the file is loaded into a spreadsheet program). Each subsequent line contains the value for each variable for each single target.

Variable

Description

Ping_date

The date (yyyy-mm-dd) on which the ping was transmitted

Ping_time

The time (hh:mm:ss) at which the ping was transmitted

Ping_milliseconds

The millisecond (0..999) at which the ping was transmitted

Target_depth

See About Target_depth

Target_length

See About_Target_length

Target_length_uncompensated

See About_Target_length_uncompensated

Target_length_manual

See About_Target_length_manual

Exclude_below_line_depth

A value is exported if an Exclude below line is selected on the Analysis page of the Variable Properties dialog box. Otherwise, the value is set to the no data export value.

 

EchoIMPACT export files (.nav and .sonar)

The .sonar format is a binary format specified by Quester Tangent Corporation for import into the EchoIMPACT software.

The .nav format contains one line of comma separated values for each GPS fix with the following values:

For example: $GPSON, 1, 2000-03-01, 00:00:01, 0.0, 0.00102301, 0.00102301, 1

Note: In Echoview version 4.70 and above, EchoImpact exports the range value for bottom detections. Earlier versions exported the depth+draft value. You will need to apply draft or other position offsets before loading into EchoIMPACT, or adjust for them in post-processing.

Georeferenced samples as 3D points export files (.points.csv)

You can export georeferenced sample data from acoustic variables.

Variable

Description

Ping_index

Ping number

Note: In Echoview, pings are renumbered sequentially beginning with 0

Beam_index

The beam index number.

Note: Only exported for multibeam data.

Latitude

The latitude (degrees) of the GPS antenna at the time the ping was transmitted.

Longitude

The longitude (degrees) of the GPS antenna at the time the ping was transmitted.

Depth

Depth of sample in meters.

Sample value

 

Sample value for the acoustic variable:

  • Sv (dB re 1m-1)
  • TS (dB)
  • Angular position
    • Minor (axis) in degrees
    • Major (axis) in degrees

Notes:

3D object analysis files (.csv)

You can export analyses of 3D objects from the Scene manager dialog box to  .csv files.

See Exporting 3D objects for more information.

VRML world files (.wrl)

You can export an entire scene or individual 3D objects from a scene to the VRML world format (.wrl). This is an accepted standard format for representing 3D scenes and these files can be viewed using a supported VRML viewer outside of Echoview.

See Exporting 3D objects for more information.

Volume data set files (.dat and .raw)

You can export volume data set files for 3D regions in scenes.

See About inspecting 3D regions and Volume data set format for more information.

Text region inspection files (.csv)

You can export text region inspection files for 3D regions in scenes.

These are text files in the comma seperated variables (CSV) format.

The first row contains Header file entry names. The second row contains the Header file entry (paired) values. The next row is blank. The following rows are divided into row blocks separated by a blank rows. A row block contains the data for a node in the Z direction; columns represent the nodes in the X direction and rows represent the nodes in the Y direction (this is identical to the layout of the Data file in the volume data set).

See About Inspecting 3D regions for more information.

Echoview data export files (.eve)

You can export Echoview echogram data to the .eve format. This is a binary data format specified by Myriax for import into the Eonfusion software.

Eonfusion is powerful software for visualizing, exploring and analyzing and managing environmental research data. It offers exceptional features that enable the integration, juxtaposition and data mining of diverse spatio-temporal data sources.

For information about the variables and data you can specify to export in the .eve format refer to the Export to Eonfusion dialog box.

Refer to Exporting to Eonfusion for more screenshots of Eonfusion visualizations.

See also

About file formats
2D Region definition file format

About exporting analyses