BESA files extensions

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Module information
Modules BESA Research Basic or higher
Version 5.2 or higher

One of the most important rules in BESA software is that the original data will never be changed during data processing (unless user explicitly want to do it by himself). All the changes (i.e. signal processing like filtering) performed in BESA are kept in PC memory and not saved to the file. Such approach has a drawback, that all the settings have to be regenerated whenever the data file is reopened. Therefore to keep all the settings and reload them whenever file is opened BESA saves the additional files beside original one (with the same name, but with different file extension). Note that Such approach has one additional advantage: whenever user want to start his analysis from a scratch he or she just need to delete file responsible for particular setting (or all files to get completely initial state). Therefore good understating of BESA file nomenclature might be useful for advanced BESA users.


Besa Research file extensions

Application File extension File function When generated/changed
Main .atf artifact coefficients After setting up artifact correction (right mouse click, "Define artifact topography" menu)
Main .bad bad channels Whenever any of the electrode is marked as bad or is interpolated
Main .cot Head center coordinate external file loaded to BESA. Information about file localization saved in .fst file
Main .ela, .elp, .eps additional electrode configuration files When electrodes configuration was loaded (File menu, Load Channel Configuration). *.elp file can be manually saved for later use in BESA Statistics in File->Head Surface Points and Sensors -> Save Electrode File for Current Montatage
Main .evt Events external text file. Can be loaded by ERP menu, open event file… (and saved by save event file…). After loading information is copied to .ftg and .fst file is updated
Main .fst File general setup File opened for first time, updated whenever various settings changed (i.e. filtration parameters, surface point file localization)
Main .ftg Triggers On file close
Main .ica ICA topography Can be saved after ICA analysis by clicking with right mouse button on selected component and selecting "Save Topography"
Main .mtg Montages If montage was changed, just .fst file updated. Mtg files are kept in "C:\Users\Public\Documents\BESA\Research_6_1\Montages"
Main .pdg paradigm after loading or creating the paradigm
Main .pmg MEG sensor coordinates external file loaded to BESA. Information about file localization saved in .fst file
Main .pos MEG sensor coordinates external file loaded to BESA. Information about file localization saved in .fst file
Main .sfh coregistration info created when coregistration with MRI is started (File menu, MRI Coregistration..). Can be loaded externally, then information about file localization is saved in .fst file
Main .sfn labels assigned to electrode configuration .eps external file loaded to BESA. Information about file localization saved in .fst file
Main .sfp digitalized head surface points coordinates external file loaded to BESA. Information about file localization saved in .fst file
Export .avr ASCII vectorized data file Can be generated by File->Export…
Export .dat simple binary matrix with data Can be generated by File->Export…
Export .edf EDF+ (European data format) data file Can be generated by File->Export…
Export .foc BESA continuous native data file Can be generated by File->Export…
Export .fsg BESA averaged native data file Can be generated by File->Export…
Export .generic Additional header file for binary data (.dat) file automatically created when binary data file was exported.
Export .mul ASCII multiplexed data file Can be generated by File->Export…
Export 0.001, 0.002 … ASCII vectorized or multiplexed epochs around triggers Can be generated by File->Export… File extension indicates epoch number
Top Viewer .bmp bitmap file Save of current state of Top Viewer (File menu, Save as Bitmap...)
Top Viewer .eps EPS graphic file Save of current state of Top Viewer (File menu, Save as eps file...)
Top Viewer .tva Top viewer arrangement On Top Viewer close, if settings or electrode position was changed
Top Viewer .tvs Top Viewer settings On Top Viewer close, if settings or electrode position was changed
Time Frequency Analysis .tfc Averaged time-frequency data Can be created when Time-Frequency Analysis is used (ERP menu, coherence tab)
Time Frequency Analysis .tfcs Single trial time-frequency data Can be created when Time-Frequency Analysis is used (ERP menu, coherence tab)
Source Analysis .bmp bitmap file Save of current state of 3D window (File menu, Save 3D window as a bitmap...)
Source Analysis .bsa Source analysis solution (i.e. dipoles) can be loaded or saved in file menu of source analysis window (Save Solution..)
Source Analysis .dat 3D Image ASCII file or voxel values for each dipole orientation Can be exported in 3D window of Source Analysis (Image menu, Export Image as…) if sources for more than one latency was computed you can select option to save voxel values for each dipole orientation
Source Analysis .hdr 3D Image ANALYZE file Can be exported in 3D window of Source Analysis (Image menu, Export Image as…) if sources for more than one latency was computed you can also choose option for all latencies
Source Analysis .laura result file of LAURA After compiling computation of LAURA in Source Analysis
Source Analysis .loreta result file of LORETA After compiling computation of LORETA in Source Analysis
Source Analysis .swf Source waveforms can be saved in file menu of source analysis window (Save Source Waveforms..)
Source Analysis .vmp 3D Image BrainVoyager File (can be written with current resolution or with 1 mm) Can be exported in 3D window of Source Analysis (Image menu, Export Image as…)
Source Analysis .vtc BrainVoyager VTC File for all latencies Can be exported in 3D window of Source Analysis (Image menu, Export Image as…) if sources for more than one latency was computed
Source Analysis .vts Image ASCII voxel time series Can be exported in 3D window of Source Analysis (Image menu, Export Image as…) if sources for more than one latency was computed
FFT .faa, .fap, .far, .fai Exported amplitude (fma), power (fmp), real (fmr) and imaginary part(fmi) of spectrum for average reference (Interpolated-81) montage One of export options in FFT window File->Export FFT data menu with "Interpolated-81" menu item selected (in the same menu)
FFT .fba Exported Amplitude in Bands In FFT window menu File->Export Amplitude in Bands
FFT .fbp Exported Power in Bands In FFT window menu File->Export Power in Bands
FFT .fft result of FFT In FFT window File->save…
FFT .fma, .fmp, .fmr, .fmi Exported amplitude (fma), power (fmp), real (fmr) and imaginary part(fmi) of spectrum for current montage One of export options in FFT window File->Export FFT data menu with "Current montage" menu item selected (in the same menu)