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 Wiki page
Main .atf artifact coefficients After setting up artifact correction (right mouse click, "Define artifact topography" menu) Handling Artifacts in BESA
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 in "File → Head Surface Points and Sensors → Save Electrode File for Current Montatage"
Main .evt Events external text file. Can be loaded by selecting "ERP → open event file…" (and saved by "ERP → save event file…"). After loading information is copied to .ftg and .fst file is updated. More info: Event File Format
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" More info: BESA Research Montage Editor
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 → 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 → coherence tab")
Time Frequency Analysis .tfcs Single trial time-frequency data Can be created when Time-Frequency Analysis is used ("ERP → coherence tab")
Source Analysis .bmp bitmap file Save of current state of 3D window ("File → Save 3D window as a bitmap...")
Source Analysis .bsa Source analysis solution (i.e. dipoles) can be loaded or saved in menu of source analysis window ("File → 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 → 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 → 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 ("File → 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 → Export Image as…")
Source Analysis .vtc BrainVoyager VTC File for all latencies Can be exported in 3D window of Source Analysis ("Image → 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 → 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)