Main Screen

Figure 1.1 - Main Screen

Up to three tree-ring sample files may be displayed in the main screen. Each sample panel displays the sample's skeleton plot. The time series index value plots are overlaid on each other in the top panel. Each panel contains applicable information and control menu buttons.

Keyboard and Mouse Functions

Tree-Ring Selection

The red dots shown in Fig. 1.1 indicate which ring is currently selected. The ring selection may be changed by:

1. Clicking the left mouse button over the desired ring.
2. Pressing the left or right arrow key on the keyboard while the mouse pointer is in the sample panel moves the ring selection one position to the left or right per key press.

See Fig. 1.4.4 for the data displayed for the currently selected tree-ring.

Sample Positioning

The position of the sample on the screen is indicated in sample information. The number indicates the offset (in years) from the left edge of the display (position 0). A sample's position may be changed by:

1. Clicking the left mouse button in the sample panel, keeping the mouse button depressed, and dragging the sample to the required position.
2. Pressing the up or down arrow key on the keyboard while the mouse pointer is in the sample panel moves the sample one position to the left or right per key press.

The sample's time series index value plot overlay is moved as the sample's position moves.

Display Scrolling

The entire display may be scrolled to the left or right by clicking and dragging the scroll bar in the desired direction. Clicking the right or left arrows on the scroll bar will result in scrolling the entire display one year to the left or right.

Main Menubar

Figure 1.2 - Main Menubar and Selection Options

See Session FIles for a discussion of File and Edit menu commands.

See Correlate Tool for a discussion of the Correlate menu commands.

See Compose Tool for a discussion of the Compose menu commands.

See Check Tool for a discussion of the Check menu commands.

Time Series Panel

Time Series Plot

Figure 1.3.1 - Time Series Plot

Time Series Controls

Figure 1.3.2 - Time Series Control Menu

The time series plot display may be toggled between raw index values and normalized index values using the Time Series control menu button. Raw index values indicate the width of the ring relative to the series mean ( = 1.0) after detrending. Normalized index values indicate the width of the ring as the number of standard deviations from the series mean after detrending.

Since the standard deviation may be significantly different from one sample to another, normalized index values may not be appropriate for pattern matching for dating purposes.

Sample Panels

Sample Skeleton Plot

Figure 1.4.1 - Sample Skeleton Plot

Each sample panel contains a graphic display for the sample's skeleton plot. The skeleton plots may be inverted and repositioned as required to determine matching positions.

Sample Controls

Figure 1.4.2 - Sample Controls Menu

The CROSSDATE program opens the following file types:

1. TREES Data Files (.tdf extension)
2. CROSSDATE Master Chronology Files (.xmf extension)
3. ITRDB Import Chronology Files (.crn extension)

After a sample file is opened, the following menu commands are available:

• Close - Closes the currently open sample file.
• Re-Read - Re-reads a sample file from disk. Useful if the TREES program has changed a sample file while it is opne in the CROSSDATE program.
• Sample Info - Displays header information applicable to the sample file currently open. (See Fig. 1.4.3)
• Ring Info - Displays ring information applicable to the currently highlighted (with a red dot) ring for the sample. (See Fig. 1.4.4)
• Invert - Changes the bottom of the skeleton plot display to the opposite screen position. (Bottom goes to top, and vice-versa) (See Fig. 1.4.1)
• Hide Timeseries - Hides the display of the sample's time series plot in the time series panel. When the time series is hidden, the button reads Display Timeseries.
• Color - Provides for changing the color of the sample's skeleton plot display and time series display. (See Fig. 1.4.5)
• Dates - Provides for changing either the starting or ending date for the sample. Changes are immediately displayed in the sample panel. The new dates may be saved to disk for the sample. (See Fig. 1.4.6)
• Skeleton Plot Cut-Offs - Provides for changing the absolute (AB) and first difference (FD) cut-off values for a skeleton plot. The new values are immediately displayed in the skeleton plot panel. The new values are for display purposes only and are not saved to disk for the sample. (See Fig. 1.4.7)
  Click here for an interactive skeleton plotting tutorial.

Figure 1.4.3 - Sample Information

Figure 1.4.4 - Ring Information

Figure 1.4.5 - Color Selector

Figure 1.4.6 - Set Start/End Date

Figure 1.4.7 - Set Skeleton Plot Cut-Offs

Session Files

Figure 1.5 - Session Information

A CROSSDATE Session File (extension .xds) is a user convenience for storing and retrieving a CROSSDATE Session. The Session File makes a record of the sample files that are open, including their color, position, currently highlighted ring, invert status, and time series plot display status. Notes may be stored with a session file using the Edit -> Display Session Notes function. Session information is shown above in Fig. 1.5.

Sessions are opened, closed, and saved to disk using the File commands from the main menu.