New in Echoview 4.40 for all users

Introducing our new company name Myriax

Ten years on, your Echoview team has a new name!

Echoview grew from the idea that a small team of fisheries acousticians and computer programmers based in the Tasmanian wilderness could be the “programmers to the world fisheries acoustics community” and provide service that would exceed expectations. We created a company called “SonarData Pty Ltd” and promised to take the best of your research and ideas – and give it back to you in a software program that you could use for large surveys and research programs – serious software for professional scientists.

That 297 professional scientists working for 181 organizations now use Echoview proves that you have some very  good ideas! We thank and acknowledge you for the support you have given us for ten years. We particularly acknowledge the courage and trust of those who bought Echoview version-1 in 1997 and 1998 – your bold acquisition enabled the development of the Echoview that exists today.

From now on Echoview will be brought to you by Myriax Software Pty. Ltd. Myriax is the same people with the same dedication to service and the same passion for echograms and backscattering strength - with a new name, renewed energy and a bigger vision.

Rachel and our administration team are working to ensure that our name change is smooth for your administration and purchasing departments. Contact Rachel at sales@myriax.com if you have any questions (that’s right, any question at all) about this change. All previous email addresses and web sites will continue to work.

Ian Higginbottom, General Manager, Myriax Software Pty. Ltd.

Welcome to Echoview 4.40!

Myriax is very pleased to announce the release of Echoview 4.40. This version contains many new enhancements across a broad range of program features. We are excited to bring it to you in the knowledge that it is almost guaranteed to improve the depth and efficiency of your acoustic data post-processing, regardless of your processing methodology.

New features are presented in two categories:

New features for all users
New features for users of specific echosounders

New features for all users

Feature

How it works

Benefit

User interface enhancements

New Data page setting:
Minimum TS threshold

Implements an unbiased threshold based on a TS value for Sv echograms, via the Data page of the Variable Properties dialog box.

This setting includes a choice of TVG range correction algorithms so that you can use the algorithm most suited to your data.

For more information refer to the Minimum TS threshold algorithm page.

Speeds up the thresholding out of unwanted TS sources in Sv data.

Tape measure tool for single beam echograms

The Tape measure tool has been implemented for single beam echograms.

For more information refer to About measuring distance.

A quick onscreen visual measurement tool to further facilitate analysis of your data.

Enhancements to region viewing in echograms

There is a new option on the Preferences page of the Echoview Configuration dialog box that allows you to synchronize echograms to the activated region.

Open echograms will bring the activated region into view when a region is selected on the Regions window or the Region Browser dialog box.

Synchronizing echograms to the activated region was previously automatic in the Regions window but is now an option. Synchronizing echograms to the activated region in the Region Browser dialog box is a new option.

Linked region analysis results is implemented for the activated region in the Regions window.

This enhancement increases flexibility for region management and viewing.

Removal of Edit on the 3D Regions page of the Detect 3D schools dialog box

The Edit button has been removed from the:

Multiple instances of the EV File Properties dialog box will no longer occur (and destabilize Echoview) when doing a 3D school detection.

If you want to define a new region class, use the Classes page of the EV File Properties dialog box before you configure the parameters for a 3D school detection.

This design change fixes a bug that can destabilize Echoview.

Improved visualization for selections

All selections are now drawn with a transparent blue fill and a dynamic border.

Drawing selections in Echoview is easier, clearer and more aesthetically pleasing.

Echoview version with License Information

The Echoview version is now available on the License Information dialog box.

Complete and easily accessible information about Echoview saves you and us time when you require Echoview support.

 

New Operators and Operator enhancements

Enhancements to the Formula operator

Multiple input operands and new formula elements greatly enhance the power and scope of the Formula operator.

New features for the Formula operator include:

  • Support for boolean data
  • User selectable multiple operands
  • New mathematical, logical and operand elements
  • Documentation has been added to define the evaluation of the formula element xy.

Refer to About the formula operator for more information.

A more flexible and powerful analysis tool for your data. It offers a quick way to create mathematical and boolean classification expressions.

Design change for DLL operators

The Formula operator has been built into the Echoview application and no longer requires a separate DLL file.

The Plug-in Operators page on the Echoview Configuration dialog box has been removed as a result of this design change.

Echoview is easier to use:

  • You don't need to think about DLL files for operators.
  • The Echoview Configuration dialog box is simplified.

Enhancement to XxY convolution operator

XxY convolution operator convolution algorithm performance times have been improved.

  • The Top hat algorithm can be two to six times faster.

  • The Gaussian algorithm is twice as fast.

The display and computation times of an XxY convolution virtual variable are faster.

 

Line enhancement: new Statistical combination operator

A Statistical combination operator allows you to create a virtual line that combines multiple lines using a choice of statistical operations.

A divergence limit allows you to filter out 'bad' areas of lines that deviate too far from the other operand lines.

Using the best line data from multiple frequencies is now possible.

 

Line enhancement: new Smoothing filter operator

A Smoothing filter operator allows you to apply a statistical algorithm to line data using a choice of smoothing modes.

Undesirable fluctuations in lines can be filtered.

Smoothing a line can cut down your manual editing time.

 

Fish length operator: design changes and new allied operators

Design changes streamline the estimation and display of:

  • target length for single targets detection data
  • target length for targets in multibeam data

The new export variable Target_length records the estimated target length for each single target.

A new Target length calculator operator implements the fish length estimation algorithm used by the now deprecated Fish length operator. Fish length virtual variables from previous versions of Echoview will continue to work but no new Fish length virtual variables can be created.

The fish length data type will now be called the target length data type.

Further analysis is facilitated by the new Parameter threshold operator which allows you to threshold with respect to a minimum and maximum Target_length.

To display Target lengths you can create a virtual variable with the new Target length conversion operator.

For more information refer to About target properties.

These design changes streamline and add new analysis tools for target length derived from single targets detection and detected targets in multibeam data.

New Single targets detection dual beam (method 2) operator

Uses the "method 2" target detection algorithm and dual-beam compensation. Method 2 algorithm gives correct results without the need to apply TVG range correction to the input TS data.

For more information refer to Single targets detection dual-beam (method 2) algorithm.

An important and easier to use single targets analysis tool for dual-beam data.

 

Enhancement to the Motion correction (Dunford) operator

A new setting for the Motion correction (Dunford method) operator that allows you to threshold data below the practical limit for the separation angle.

Introduces flexibility for the application of motion correction to your data while maintaining the strictness of the algorithm.

Enhancement to the TS substitution operator

The TS substitution operator now offers greater choice when you want to display related single targets information. Values for substitution may be selected from calculated single targets data or from .csv custom data fields.

Flexible single targets data display can lead to more fruitful ways to analyze your data.

Variables and Geometry window enhancements

These enhancements to the Variables and Geometry Window are aimed at speeding up and simplifying workflow when working with variables, virtual variables and geometry objects. We are pleased to add the following:

Custom Views

Flexibility in the Variables and Geometry Window has been vastly improved with the introduction of custom views.

You can now design your own views showing the objects you want and hiding others. Flexibility extends to a choice in the type of data relationship to display between objects in a view.

Custom views replace the pre-set views (Variables, Virtual variables, Lines, Geometry, Calibration inheritance, and Hidden objects) from previous versions. When you open EV files saved in previous versions, only the views you have used will be restored, with some small differences.

This enhancement improves flexibility in workflow and display options on the Variables and Geometry window.

Grouping objects

A new facility to group objects and apply group display properties within views on the Variables and Geometry window.

Groups can be collapsed to simplify the view display and expanded as desired.

This enhancement improves your display options on the Variables and Geometry window.

Delete and Use Calibration Inheritance for multiple objects

Delete and calibration inheritance can be applied to multiple selected objects in the Variables and Geometry window.

Making adjustments to variables in the Variables and Geometry window is faster and easier.

Workspace improvements

Zoom and scroll settings for all views on the Variables and Geometry window are now remembered and restored when the window is re-opened.

This improvement saves you lay out time.

Terminology change

A hidden variable in previous versions is now called an unavailable variable.

This change clarifies the difference between a variable that is hidden from a view on the Variables and Geometry window and a variable that is unavailable for other reasons.

Terminology is kept clear and meaningful.

Microsoft Windows Vista and Echoview

We are continuing to work on support for the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system in version 4.40 and beyond. Refer to Echoview and Microsoft Windows Vista for known issues and information on how to run Echoview under Microsoft Windows Vista.

Scripting and COM object enhancements

We continue to develop support for scripting using COM object automation. The key advantage of this automation model is that Echoview can pass information back to the script. It is now possible for scripts to make informed decisions, request decisions from the user, and pass information from Echoview to the user.

 

It is important to note that COM automation is in a developmental state and that we cannot guarantee backwards compatibility in future versions.

For more information about the COM objects in Echoview 4.40 refer to Scripting with COM objects.

If you are interested to know more about COM automation, please contact us for further information.

COM object enhancements

  • Echoview COM objects now replicate all existing Echoview export scripting commands.
  • We have provided seven example COM scripts in the help file to demonstrate how COM objects are used with Echoview.
  • Additional documentation on Echoview COM objects.

Clear information about Echoview COM objects makes writing COM scripts easier.

Performance improvements and other changes

Improved file reading performance

Changes the way Echoview updates its EVI files.

This change minimizes the occurrence of a common performance issue. See Echoview slows down after an upgrade for details.

Opening existing EV files in upgrade versions of Echoview will usually be faster than before.

 

New capability that optimizes use of the cache based on ping generation time

The decision to cache a ping is now based on ping generation times, so that space in the cache is saved for pings that take longer to generate.

A new Performance page on Echoview Configuration dialog box has a setting to threshold the faster generated pings out of the cache. Ping generation times and cache statistics are shown to help you determine the best setting.

Performance will improve for many virtual variables and can be further optimized based on your particular work flow.

C-MAP objects no longer supported

EV files from previous versions that contained C-MAP objects will open as before, but without the C-MAP objects.

The size of the Echoview application is reduced.

Bug fix for Best bottom candidate line pick

A Best bottom candidate line pick bug has been fixed. The bug resulted in the last ping in an echogram not being considered when a Best bottom candidate line pick was applied to the whole echogram. This occurred during onscreen analysis and in scripts.

Bug fix for Resample operator unweighted calculations

A Resample operator bug has been fixed. The bug resulted in an error in unweighted range calculations and occurred when sample boundaries perfectly matched resampled cell boundaries. Weighted calculations were not affected.

The Resample operators resample pings in both the range and the along-track directions. Resampling works by creating cells based on the settings specified on the Resample page of the Variable properties dialog box, identifying which samples fall within each cell and applying a statistical operation to those samples - very typically a mean operation which can be weighted.

A selection of other statistical operations or interpolation is also offered.

For more information about the variety and nature of the resample operators offered by Echoview refer to:

Bug fix for Resample operators

A Resample by distance and Resample by time operator bug have been fixed. All three versions of the Resample operator now use the correct ping geometry algorithm. The bug resulted in incorrect ping geometry being created for the virtual variable. It occurred when the start and stop range of a ping changed between pings. This would be a problem with data from the towed body operator or data where the echosounder settings changed while logging.

Dropped support for SM utilities

From Echoview 4.40 on, the utility programs in the Echolog SM module will no longer be distributed or supported.

Further documentation

  • New documentation on How to work with TVG. The topic discusses nominal TVG, TVG range correction and TVG in Echoview. The TVG range correction section links to a set of summary, theory and spreadsheet documents.
  • Additional documentation for the Using scripting to automate export tasks page (deprecated scripting model for Echoview 5.0). The new documentation aims to make the page easier to use and shows how to create a new EV file from a template.
  • Further documentation for Run commands (deprecated scripting model for Echoview 5.0) associated with data exports has been added to clarify the effect of parameters that affect results.
  • A new note for the settings on the Schools page of the EV File Properties Dialog box, discussing the linking of schools.
  • The documentation for the Biosonics dual-beam compensation page has been corrected. The documentation of several equations was incorrect. Echoview calculations were not affected.
  • Additions to Echoview and Windows Vista known issues.

New features for users of specific echosounders

There may be specific 4.40 features for your echosounder, please take a minute to check what's new!

DIDSON imaging sonars

Simrad echosounders

Biosonics echosounders

Furuno echosounders

Kaijo echosounders

See also

 Echoview Release History