Reduction of scans in GEF files

Skipscans allows the user to reduce the number of scans in a file. As a rule of thumb drawing a graph, 1000 data points in an A3 sized graph will be sufficient. A black dot on a sheet of paper remains black, even when another black dot is superimposed on it. An exception to this rule occurs when a signal is subjected to rapid variations.

To reduce the number of scans within a file, without removing an entire range of scans, another technique is used. Intermittently scans are deleted, over the entire range of scans. E.g. each second, third or even Sixtieth fourth scan is kept within the file, reducing the number of scans by two, three or sixty.

Installation

You can dowload the program by clicking with the right mouse button on 'download it now'. Installation is straight forward.

• Wait untill you have received your (free) key via e-mail.  
• Navigate to the directory where you have saved the downloaded file.
• Unzip the file you have downloaded. Paste the key in the password window. See left figure.
• Run the program skipscan.exe once. A filedialog will pop up, where to save the file. See right figure. You are free to choose a location you like.
• Skipscans.exe is now ready for use.

Optionally you can create a shortcut on your desktop. If you are not familiar with this technique, ask your administrator how to do it, or let him do it.

Usage

Run the program from the command line or double click it on your desktop. A window will pop up:

1. Load the file in which you want to skip scans. Press button "Choose input file". A file dialog will popup, which allows you to browse to your file. When you have pressed OK, the file is read.
2. In the box reading "Information" a message will appear, stating that the file has been read. If not, an error has occurred and nothing will be done.
3. Choose the skipfactor, the factor for the reduction of the number of scans. Any integer number larger than 1 will do. Fractions are not allowed.
4. Choose the name of the output file, by pressing the button "Store reduced file". A file 'save as' dialog will appear. Browse to the directory where you want to save your data.

In the box reading "Information" two messages will appear:

By pressing button "Stop" or "Cancel" you can end the program. If you have another file, go to "Load input file"

Remarks

1) Binary only This program will only process binary files. It is designed not to read all data, allowing the user to reduce the size of files, which are too large for the available amount of memory in your PC. If the header of an ASCII flavoured GEF file has been read, an error message will appear in the "Information" window:

2) Overwriting files Never overwrite your original file, it's not just that you will loose your original file, but also the program will crash!