Open Files into Serial Sections

Watch a demonstration on YouTube.

Use to combine multiple data files into one file that includes serial sections.

Before you start

To perform serial section reconstruction, our recommendation is 1 specimen=1 data file.

But if you created a data file for each section in a specimen (i.e., 1 section=1 data file), use this command to combine the different files associated with the sections of your specimen into a single file.

You can use two types of data files:

Files without defined sections: Microlucida generates one section per file.
Files with previously defined sections: Microlucida identifies the existing sections and generates one new section per existing section.

Opening files into serial sections

Click File>Open Files into Serial Sections. Microlucida displays the Open File dialog box.
Use the SHIFT and CTRL keys to select all files to be opened into sections, and then click OK; Microlucida displays the File Import Order dialog box.
To arrange the files in the desired order, select a file in the list and click Move Up or Move Down.
When complete, click OK; Microlucida displays the Section Mapping dialog box .
- Section Name (file): For files without defined sections: Microlucida generates a section called None; double-click None to name the new section.
- In New Section: To assign multiple objects containing data to a single section; select a section number from the drop-down list.
- Z Level Change:
  - Relative: Use to preserve the precise Z location of objects within a section.
  - Flatten objects: Use if you need to generate a map for visualization purposes; all objects within the section are mapped at the same Z depth.

Microlucida merges previously existing sections with the same Z value into a single section.
On the other hand, newly generated sections are not merged with other sections, even if they have the same Z value.