Files

In OptiPath, a file refers to a permanent file retained on your computer which holds all of the data for all your data sets and seriations. A data set refers to a single set, or sample, of archaeological artifacts which you are trying to seriate. You may have many data sets (for example, separate data sets for Hohokam pottery, Hawai'ian fish hooks and Inuit spear points), but they can all reside in a single file (for example, OptiPath.ops).

Files are the permanent repositories of your data on your computer system, storing the data when OptiPath is not running. OptiPath files have an extension of ".ops" (for example, OptiPath.ops). OptiPath files are in a format compatible with Microsoft Access database (.mdb) files. The default file (OptiPath.ops) is included with the software. It will be installed in the same folder as OptiPath. When OptiPath starts up it will look in its own folder for the OptiPath.ops file. If it cannot find the file, OptiPath may reinstall the original ops file if it is available. Otherwise, a standard Windows Open File dialog will appear.

From this dialog you can locate and open another file, so long as it is of the expected format (the name of the file does not matter). A copy you have made of an ops file should work fine.

Since the tables in the database require a very specific format there is probably not much use in your trying to create your own data file outside of OptiPath. However, feel free to copy the included file (OptiPath.ops) at any time to create a backup of your data. If you have Access, you can poke around in the database but be careful of adding/deleting/editing anything in Access because it might throw OptiPath for a loop.

Files Menu

The Files menu contains a number of items:

New - allows you to create a new file. The current file will be closed automatically and a new, empty file created.

Open - allows you to open an existing data file. The current file will be closed automatically and the new file opened.

Close - allows you to close the current new file. After closing the current file, you will have to open an existing file or create a new file to continue.

Save - allows you to save the current file. This will force the copy of the database, which resides in the currently open file, to be brought up-to-date with any changes you may have made to the data on the screen. Normally you will not have to save your file as OptiPath saves it automatically at opportune times (including when you exit OptiPath). However, it is difficult to know exactly when the operating system will execute database queries and to be sure the data file is up-to-date you can use the Save feature.

Save As - allows you to save the current file to a new file name and location.

Backup - allows you to make and save a copy of the current file. By default the backup file will have the name "OptiPath" plus the current date - but you will have an opportunity to enter any name and folder you want.

Import - allows you to import a data set from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. This data set will be added to the current file. A new file will not be created.

Export - allows you to export a data set to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The current file will not be modified in any way.

Path - allows you to see what the current path (active folder) is.

Exit - allows you to quit OptiPath.