How LifeFlow handle data?

LifeFlow allows the users to load multiple data files into the system at the same time. Each loaded data file is called dataset. Having multiple datasets loaded, the users can switch between datasets easily. Users can also create a new dataset from a subset of the loaded dataset (Section 3.3). For example, users loaded the dataset and remove patients who survived from the dataset then save it as new dataset called "dead patients". All datasets are listed in the Data Manager Tab.

To start the analysis, let's load the dataset (Section 3.2).

Loading dataset

  1. Click "Open" on top right corner of Data Manager tab, which brings up a pop-up dialog.
  2. Select the input file and click "Open".
  3. If the input file is loaded successfully, the dataset will show under "Loaded datasets". Click the name of the dataset ("untitled" is the default value), the total number of records will be displayed to give an estimate of the size of the dataset.
  4. Click the button "Explore in this window" and the visualization of the selected dataset will appear.
  5. If this is the first time that you are using LifeFlow, we recommend you to skip the rest of this chapter and read the next chapter that will help you perform basic analysis first.

Manipulating dataset

Locating an interesting subset of data is an iterative process, and may involve a number of selection/de-selection actions, in a trial-and-error manner. Therefore, LifeFlow supports setting up checkpoint versions of the data, and enables the users to revert to the dataset to the previous checkpoint, or to the original (from file) version. After the users successfully locate an interesting subset of records, they can also rename or save the data as a new dataset. All manipulation actions can be reached from the menu "Dataset" on the top of the application.

Figure: Dataset manipulation menu

Rename dataset

This operation changes the name of the dataset. For example, after selecting all the records end with event "Die" and removing the others. The data can be renamed into "ends with Die" as a note to the users.

  1. Click the menu "Dataset".
  2. Click "Rename dataset".
  3. Type the new name for the dataset in the dialog.
  4. Click "OK".

Save the dataset as a new dataset

This operation creates a new dataset with the current data.

  1. Click the menu "Dataset".
  2. Click "Save current data as new dataset...".
  3. Type the name for the new dataset in the dialog.
  4. Click "OK".

Setup a checkpoint

  1. Click the menu "Dataset".
  2. Click "Save current data as a checkpoint".

Revert to checkpoint

  1. Click the menu "Dataset".
  2. Click "Revert to checkpoint".

Revert to original data

Revert the visualization to the original stage, where all records are visible and none is selected. Note that renaming the dataset does NOT change the original stage. In case the users want to change the original stage, the dataset must be saved into another file.

  1. Click the menu "Dataset".
  2. Click "Revert to original".

Saving dataset

After you have finished exploring the dataset in LifeFlow, you may want to save your work. LifeFlow supports saving the dataset after it has been modified (e.g. selection of a subset of the original dataset), so the users can load the modified dataset and continue the analysis later. LifeFlow provides two ways to save the dataset: save to the original file, or save to a new file.

Figure: Save dataset to file from the Data Manager Tab.

Save data to original file

  1. Click "Save to File".
  2. Click "Yes" to confirm overwriting the file.

Save data as a new file

  1. Click "Save as New File". Specify a folder, where you want to create the file.
  2. Click on an existing file name, or type the file name in the text field.
  3. Click "Save".

Configuration file

LifeFlow allow users to save configurations, such as colors of the events and other display options, which makes it more convenient when the users want to perform the analysis later, or copy the same configuration to use with other datasets.

By default, when the users load the data file, LifeFlow will try to load configuration (config) file with the name <filename>_config.xml in the same directory with the data file. If the file does not exist, it will try to find the default config file (default_config.xml) in the same directory with the data file. If the default config file also does not exist, no config file will be loaded automatically. However, users still can load other config files manually (Section 3.5.1). If the config file is loaded, the Data Manager Tab will show the name of the current config file. (See Figure)

The config file is XML, so users can also modify it manually outside of LifeFlow.

Figure: Managing config file from the Data Manager Tab.

Load config file

  1. Click the button "Load".
  2. Select the config file in the dialog.
  3. Click the button "Open". LifeFlow will apply configurations from the config file to the visualizations.

Reload config file

This feature is useful when the users modify the XML config file manually outside of LifeFlow.

  1. Click the reload icon in.
  2. LifeFlow will reload the config file and apply configurations from the config file to the visualizations.

Save config file

  1. Click the button "Save".
  2. If no config file is already loaded, the rest of the procedures are identical to the "save as" operations. Otherwise, click the button "Yes" to confirm overwriting the config file.

Save as another config file

  1. Click the button "Save as...".
  2. Specify a name for the config file in the text field. Remember that LifeFlow can automatically load the config file if the name is <filename>_config.xml or default_config.xml.
  3. Click the button "Save".

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