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Datasets Panel

Datasets panel

The Datasets panel manages all open datasets in MIB. It provides numbered buffer buttons to switch between datasets, a sets dropdown to organise buffers into named groups, and a dataset-type selector that controls how each dataset is stored in memory.

Overview

The panel contains three areas from top to bottom:

  1. Buffers 1–10 — individual dataset slots within the active set.
  2. Sets — named groups of buffers, with controls to add and manage them.
  3. Dataset type — memory/access mode for the dataset in the active buffer.

Buffer buttons

Buffers

Ten numbered buttons (1 through 10) represent the dataset containers (buffers) within the active set.

  • to make it the active buffer — its dataset is shown in the Image Document.
  • to open a context menu with additional options (see below)
  • Hover over any button to see the filename of the dataset loaded in that buffer

Button color indicates the state of each buffer:

Color Meaning
Bright green Active buffer — currently displayed in the Image Document
Light green Buffer contains a loaded dataset
Light orange Buffer contains a loaded but not saved dataset
Default Buffer is empty

Buffer context menu

Buffers

any buffer button for per-buffer operations:

Menu item Action
Duplicate Copy this dataset to another buffer (prompts for destination set and buffer)
Sync XY Copy view position and zoom from another buffer
Sync XYZ Copy view position, zoom, and current Z-slice from another buffer
Sync XYZT Copy view position, zoom, Z-slice, and time frame from another buffer
Link view with… [Unlinked] Link this buffer's view to another buffer — scrolling one updates the other
[Linked: A ↔ B] press to unlink Unlink the currently linked pair
Close Close the dataset in this buffer (resets it to an empty placeholder)
Close Set Close all datasets in the entire current set

Duplicate

Buffer duplicate

Copies the full dataset (image, labels, mask, selection, annotations) to a destination buffer. A dialog lets you choose the destination set and buffer number.

Warning

Duplicating to a non-empty buffer overwrites the existing dataset after a confirmation prompt.

Sync views

All three sync modes align the view of one buffer to match another:

Mode Dimensions synced
Sync XY Pan position + zoom
Sync XYZ Pan + zoom + Z slice
Sync XYZT Pan + zoom + Z slice + time frame

Warning

Both datasets must be in the same orientation (XY, ZX, or ZY) for sync to work.

When two buffers are linked, navigating in one (slice, zoom, pan) automatically mirrors the same view state in the other. Useful for comparing two registered datasets side by side.

Toggle buffers with Ctrl + E.
Demonstration

Warning

Both buffers must be in the same orientation before linking. Linked-view state is shown in the button tooltip and in the context menu label.

Sets

Sets context

A set is a named group of 10 buffers, each capable of holding one dataset. Multiple sets allow you to organise unrelated groups of datasets independently. Each set corresponds to one Image Document tab in the main workspace.

Sets dropdown

Set 1 Selects the active set. Switching sets also switches the visible Image Document tab.

the dropdown to open the sets context menu:

Menu item Action
Add set Create a new set (prompts for a name)
Rename set Rename the currently active set
Sort sets Sort all sets alphabetically
Remove set Close all datasets in the set and remove it

Warning

Remove set closes all datasets in that set without additional confirmation per buffer.

Add set button

+ Shortcut to add a new set, equivalent to Sets context menu → Add set.

Dataset types

Dataset types

Standard Sets the memory/access mode for the dataset in the active buffer: Standard (whole dataset in RAM), Virtual (read on demand, browse-only), or BigData (read on demand, pyramidal, with a disk-backed editable model).

When a real dataset is open, switching the type shows a confirmation first (the current dataset is closed or converted); switching the type of an empty/placeholder buffer happens silently. Choosing BigData while a dataset is open offers Convert current or New.

Type In memory? Editable model? Typical use
Standard whole dataset in RAM ✅ full small–medium datasets
Virtual read on demand ❌ browse-only quickly browse datasets too large for RAM
BigData read on demand, pyramidal ✅ disk-backed model segment datasets far larger than RAM

Full details

See Getting Started → Dataset types for each type's benefits and limitations, and for how BigData is implemented (pyramids, live writes, the level map and sidecar file, and the Save model options) to stay efficient on multi-gigapixel data.

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