Exporting single target TS frequency distribution analyses

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.

• Preparation
• Frequency distribution exporter
  • Single target frequency distribution by regions
  • Single target frequency distribution by cells
  • Single target frequency distribution by regions by cells
• Single instance: Single target frequency distribution for a region or selection
• File format

Preparation

1. A single targets variable is required as Operand 1 for the exporter.
2. Set the range of TS values that will be included in the analysis and the number of bins into which this range is divided using the settings under Frequency Distribution on the Analysis page of the Variable Properties dialog box of the variable intended for Operand 1 of the exporter.
3. Hint: You can graph the frequency distribution prior to exporting to visualize the binning and target information that will be exported. Configure the on-screen axes, bins and labels with Graph Properties.
3. You can export either the number of targets in a bin and/or the TS mean of targets in a bin. Select which values to export on the Export page of the EV File Properties dialog box. An exporter object on the Dataflow window can be configured to override the Export page global settings.

1. If you select one option, the exported file will contain a single line for each domain that is analyzed. If you select both options, the exported file will contain two rows (one after the other) for each domain that is analyzed.
4. Under a cells based export, select an export file format on the Export page of the EV File Properties dialog box before using this command. You can select:
   • spreadsheet format: to export to a single .csv file for analysis using a spreadsheet application.
   • database format: to export data to multiple .csv files for analysis using a database application.
5. When exporting a cells analysis or a region-cells analysis, configure the cells by specifying the Show time/distance grid and Show depth/range/line-referenced on the Grid page of the variable intended for Operand 1.
6. When exporting a regions analysis, define the regions for the export and set the region type to analysis (use the Region Browser dialog box).
5. Ensure the region classes for your export are visible on the Regions page of the variable intended for Operand 1.

Frequency distribution exporter: regions export, regions by cells export and cells export

The Frequency distribution exporter on the Dataflow window allows you to retain and repeat a configured export analysis.

Notes: Regions export

• The column heading for each TS bin column represents the midpoint of the target strength values included in the bin, e.g. a bin that includes targets with target strength between -50 dB and -60 dB, would have '-55' dB as the column heading.
• The regions for which a frequency distribution will be exported are affected by the exclusion lines selected on the Analysis page of the Variable Properties dialog box.
• Regions that do not contain any targets will not be analyzed.
• All settings in the Variable Properties dialog box except those on the Echogram Display page are applied to calculations.
• You can only export single target frequency distribution if you have purchased an Essentials module license.

Notes: Cells export

• The column heading for each bin represents the mid point of the TS values of the bin, e.g., a bin that includes targets with TS values between -50 dB and -60 dB, would have '-55' dB as the column heading.
• The cells for which a frequency distribution will be exported are affected by the exclusion lines selected on the Analysis page of the Variable Properties dialog box.
• The cells for which a frequency distribution will be exported are not affected by the output empty cells option on the Export page of the EV File Properties dialog box, i.e., empty cells will not be analyzed or included in the export.
• All settings in the Variable Properties dialog box except those on the Echogram Display page are applied to calculations.
• You can only export single target frequency distribution if you have purchased an Essentials module license.

Notes: Regions by cells export

• The column heading for each bin represents the mid point of the TS values of the bin, e.g., a bin that includes targets with TS values between -50 dB and -60 dB, would have '-55' dB as the column heading.
• The region-cell intersections for which a frequency distribution will be exported are affected by the exclusion lines selected on the Analysis page of the Variable Properties dialog box.
• The region-cell intersections for which a frequency distribution will be exported are not affected by the output empty cells option on the Export page of the EV File Properties dialog box.
• All settings in the Variable Properties dialog box except those on the Echogram Display page are applied to calculations.
• You can only export single target frequency distribution if you have purchased an Essentials module license.

To create and configure the Frequency distribution exporter object

1. Open (or click to bring into focus) the single targets echogram.
2. On the Echogram menu, select Export, New Analysis Exporter ...
3. On the New Exporter dialog box, select Frequency distribution and click OK.
4. Configure the settings on the Frequency Distribution page. The Name and notes page settings allow the customization of the export object name and a place to add text information.
5. The key settings for a regions export are:
   • Analysis domain: Regions.
   • Specified Region classes.
   • Analysis variables to export: Override the analysis variables specified within the EV File Properties dialog overrides the global values on the Export page of the EV File Properties dialog box. For further information see Preparation 3.

• The key settings for a cells export are:
  • Analysis domain: Cells
  • Analysis variables to export: Override the analysis variables specified within the EV File Properties dialog overrides the global values on the Export page of the EV File Properties dialog box. For further information see Preparation 3.
  • Cells are configured on the Grid page of the Variable Properties dialog box of the single targets variable used as Operand 1.
• The key setting for regions by cells export are:
  • Analysis domain: Regions by cells.
  • Specified Region classes.
  • Analysis variables to export: Override the analysis variables specified within the EV File Properties dialog overrides the global values on the Export page of the EV File Properties dialog box. For further information see Preparation 3.
  • Cells are configured on the Grid page of the Variable Properties dialog box of the single targets variable used as Operand 1.
• Output section: For all the analysis domains (above), the Output section works in the same way as the Analysis variables to export section. Select Override the output settings specified within the EV File Properties dialog to configure exporter-specific output settings for Empty cells handling, Biomass units and file format. When the Override setting is cleared, the section shows the global output settings from the EV File Properties as a read-only preview.
• Click OK.
• - OR -
• On the Datalow Toolbox, under the Exporters section, select the Frequency distribution analysis exporter object and drag and drop it onto the Dataflow window.
• Right-click the Frequency distribution analysis object, select Exporter Properties.
• Specify Operand 1.
• Configure the settings on the Frequency Distribution page. See 'The key settings' for this type of export, in this section.
• Click OK.

To output an export file

1. Double-click the Frequency distribution analysis exporter object.
2. Specify the file name and file path.
3. Click Save.

Single instance: Single target frequency distribution for a selected region or selection on an echogram

To export single target frequency distribution for a region:

1. Select the region.
2. On the Shortcut menu (right-click), point to Export Region, and then click Target TS Distribution.
3. Choose a folder and enter a file name.
4. Click Save.

To export single target frequency distribution for a selection:

1. Make a selection using any selection tool.
2. On the Shortcut menu (right-click), point to Export Selection, and then click Target TS Distribution.
3. Choose a folder and enter a file name.
4. Click Save.

To export single target frequency distribution for multiple analysis domains at the same time, see Frequency distribution exporter.

TS frequency distribution file format (*.csv)

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.

Example file

Widen the browser window to view unwrapped field rows and exported results.

Region_ID,Region_name,Region_class,Process_ID,Attribute,Targets_Binned,Targets_Failed_Thresholds,Targets_Failed_Filter,Targets_Excluded,Targets_Missed_Bins,Region_bottom_altitude_min,Region_bottom_altitude_max,Region_bottom_altitude_mean,Region_top_altitude_min,Region_top_altitude_max,Region_top_altitude_mean,-55,-45,-35,-25
57,"Region 57","Small region",4318,Bin_count,60,0,0,0,0,38.988512,39.312884,39.132643,70.753799,71.078171,70.89793,0,6,45,9
57,"Region 57","Small region",4318,Bin_TS_mean,60,0,0,0,0,38.988512,39.312884,39.132643,70.753799,71.078171,70.89793,-9.90E+37,-45.322011,-32.908052,-26.904587

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

The export single target frequency distribution commands are used to export a frequency distribution of the single targets in selected analysis domains by their target strength.

See also

Exporting data
Special Export Values
Exporting single targets analyses