The Data Manager may be used to manipulate more than three data sets. While only three data sets are ever visible at one time, post-processing operations on multiple data sets. The system memory is the limiting factor in the number of simultaneously loaded data sets.
There are three methods to open the Data Manager. The first method is using the "DM" thumbnail in the controls palette of the Main Window.
The Data Manager may also be reached via the Tools Menu. Finally, the Data Manager is also available by using the keyboard shortcut F7
The primary function of the Data Manager is to allow the manipulation of multiple data sets (i.e., > 3) simultaneously. The number of data sets that may be simultaneously loaded in IVS is limited only by system memory. Note that only 3 data sets at any time are displayed in the Main Window. However, it is possible to apply several operations -- including Cropping, Smoothing, Quantification, Cutting, and Reorientation -- to all data sets visible in the Data Manager.
To load multiple data sets into the IVS, just select as many data sets as desired from the DICOM Browser.
After loading the data, only three data sets are visible in the Main Window. However, opening the Data Manager reveals the eight data sets that have been loaded into the IVS. The Data Manager displays some pertinent information for each data set, including the Type (i.e., NM, CT), Name, Description, Dimensions, and Voxel size.
To manipulate data from within the Data Manager, just select the data sets of interest (using the Ctrl and Shift keys to select multiple data sets just as in the DICOM Browser), and then right-click for a set of options, including:
Multiple data sets may be re-ordered using a convenient "drag and drop" feature. Select the data sets of interest (using "Ctrl-click" to individually select multiple sets or "Shift-click" to select a group of data sets), drag them to the desired order position in the set, and release. The data sets will be automatically re-ordered. If the re-ordering changes the three viewable data sets, then the new viewable data sets will be automatically opened in the Main Window.
Reorientation of multiple data sets may be accomplished by selecting the "Trans Input *" option in the Options menu of the Reorientation operator. Selecting this option will cause all reorientation operations to be applied to all non-visible data sets available in the Data Manager.
The Quantification operator automatically applies all quantification tasks to each data set loaded into the Data Manager.
Similarly, the Profile function in the Distance Measure operator, displays the profile through all data sets loaded into the Data Manager.
With the Smoothing operator, select the "Input *" checkbox to apply smoothing to all non-visible data sets loaded into the Data Manager.
See How To Make a Dynamic Movie for a practical example that makes use of the Data Manager.