Importing Resonance Spectra

PRAP can import resonance spectra stored in the ASCII text file format. These text files can be laid out in two ways. The first file layout is to simply include the measurements (impedance, admittance, etc.) and their frequencies in separate columns. The Import Settings command of the File menu will then define the contents of each column, the column delimiters used, and the dimensions, geometry, and density of the measured specimen.

Though not recommended for first time users of PRAP, the sample and text file format can be defined in a header that precedes the columns of data in the text file. The import text file header supersedes the settings of the Import Settings dialogue box, and is useful when many samples are to be imported and analysed. See the PRAP on-line help for details about the PRAP import text file header.

Once the layout of the imported ASCII text file has be defined and specified in the Import Settings dialogue box or in a header section within the import file, the import can be performed with the Open command of the File menu. This invokes the File Open dialogue box where the File Type pull-down menu should be changed to 'PRAP Import Resonance Files'. The default extension for PRAP import files is '.DAT'. Selecting and opening an ASCII text file will then open the resonance spectrum within PRAP. Sample and measurement settings can then be changed with the Spectrum Settings command of the Window menu (or the Sample Settings command for version 1.6 of PRAP).

The imported resonance spectrum can then be saved to a PRAP binary Resonance File (with extension '.PZF') with the Save As command of the File menu.

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